I know people have talked alot on these forums about dog ownership when owners work full time and such but i was jus wondering if you think this would work.
My family(my husband, 14 year old girl and 12 year old boy) and i would all love a dog not necciserily a puppy though. My husband and i work from 8-4 so there would be no-one in between these times. We have a close friend who is a keen dog walker and would be able to walk the dog for and hour or so, once or twice while we are out at work. We would give it lots of love and attention when we got in and as we love walking it would get lots of excerise when we arrive home.
Do you think this would work out?

Thanks
Heather Beechman

Have you considered a rescue greyhound, there are so many and they are such fab dogs - they like nothing better than to curl up on a big comfy cushion all day long, they really do not need all the excercise people think they may - have a look here if you are interested if anything it gives you loads of info ;)

http://www.watchkennelsrgt.co.uk/currentnews.php

Whatever dog you decide to get, the fact is, you will be out of the house for 8 hours a day. :)

You say you have a close friend who is a keen dog walker, but what happens when your friend has other commitments, is ill or one of you moves away? This dog will be your responsibility from the day it comes into your life until the sad day that it leaves and I wouldn't be happy relying on a friend to walk my dog/s a couple of times a day in case of the unknown happening. I would have to have a contingency plan and know that if the circumstances changed I could cater for my dogs need without relying on outside sources.

This may sound harsh but it does need to be considered.;)

There is no way that I am saying it won't work, just to think a bit more realistically about it. I myself work full time and so do a lot of other dog owners. Ask yourself these questions:

What happens if your friend lets you down at the last minute?

How would you or your friend feel if something were to happen to the dog whilst it was in her/his care?

What if your dog was ill?

Have you got time for grooming/vet appointments, etc?

IMHO, dog ownership needs to be considered as carefully as when we decide that we're going to have kids.

Good luck with whatever you decide :)

I agree with Hairypooch.
You can't rely on someone to look after your dog every day as things will always crop up, then what would you do?
I do understand the logistics of having a dog and working. I work full time from 9 to five. Last year I actually moved house and moved within an area close to work simply so that I could get home at lunchtimes to walk the dogs. I'm also lucky as I can bring the dogs to work with me.
You also have to think about your weekend commitments. Does the dog fit in with your life.
Hope this doesn't sound lecturing. It's honestly not but dogs are a big commitment and need alot of thinking about. And you are obviously are thinking about it sensibly just by posting on here. Good Luck

A lot will depend on the individual dog -and if you get an adult its most likely a rescue where you may not know a lot about the background. Quite a few rescue dogs have problems with separation anxiety. At the same time of course there is no way it could work with a puppy, so if it should work at all, and if you can be sure that somebody can take the dog out every day, then you'd need to be sure the dog is right -and I'm not sure how you would do that.

I got my first ever dog this way. I was paid (as a teenager) to walk a Golden Retriever twice a day whilst his owners were at work. Lunchtime and afternoon. Yet after about a year they gave the dog to me as he was so destructive in the house and unhappy when they weren't there.

I dont know if there are professional dog walkers where you live, but that is something to perhaps think about -that way you'd know there was always somebody available even if your friend wasn't. However you'd still need to be sure the dog was suitable.

One last thing: this time of year it's not so bad to consider having to go for a long walk with your dog when you come home from work. But in the winter, it will be dark by the time you come home, and also before you leave.

Marianne

I would echo the post by enfielrotts regarding greyhounds, when I got my boy the rescue are very open to people who work full time having a dog as long as you can spend about 30 mins to an hour with them in the day to let them out (and it sounds like you have this covered), they are not distructive because most of them are aged over 2 and they do not suffer from seperation anxiety because when kenneled they have minimum contact with people (this doesn't mean they are not affectionate though, my boy loves nothing more than being loved and cuddled and they are all the same). They walk wonderfully on the lead and are obediant, they are very placid and love children. All mine does during the day whether I am in the house or not is sleep.

Nikki

We got our pup several weeks ago and we really thought hard about it, I work full time and my wife part time so my little fella is only alone from 9am till midday so thats not to bad but it really is a life changing commitment you have to commite so much time and effort to them( but you get rewards with the love they give back) we had to change our holiday abroad this year to a break in this country where he came with us and have to accept no more holidays abroad for several years (dont want to put him in kennells so young ) no more shopping trips for hours on end now our weekends are totally given to our pup but like I say we get rewards with the love and affection he gives us all and couldn't imagine life with out him now its like having another baby!!! ( I thought 2 kids where enough!!!) LOL

John.

I have always been lucky that my Mam has looked after my dogs over the years. I've always worked so its been a case of dropping off & picking up. I lived on my own for a lot of years so I loved my nightly company. Now Im fortunate to be a dog groomer so I take mine to work. My Mam is older now so I dont have to bother her at all for them, but she goes mad if I dont take Macey down Every Day!
It is so unfair to leave them alone with no company, even if its an elerly relative, it's company for both.