Is it possible to work full time and own a dog, and if so are there any breeds that are more suitable to being left at home all day than others?

Yes - lots of people own dogs and work full time.
Suitability is more down to the individual dog than a breed generalization. If you're not around and about to train a youngster to be accustomed to being left, then it may be better to adopt an older dog already used to an owner not being around all the time! :)

Not sure I agree, although dogs will tollerate being left it can't be a good live for them to be left for a long time on their own, they are pack animals and it is against their nature. A lot depends on how long working all day is. Could be up to 10 + hours for some with travel and whether some one can call to walk or play with the dog or if the dog has another animial as a companion. Think it is OK for 2 or 3 dogs in a kennel to be left for 6 or 7 hours but to plan to leave a single dog in a house for a long time I think unwise and may well be regretted. I would be suprised if a rescue socity would allow a dog to go to a home where it will be left for long hours on its own. If the quest can make an arrangement for someone to see to the dog every 4 to 5 hours or is only out for a short days work themselves then may be. Jackie H

I would not have a dog at all if I were working full tie its just not fair on the dog. however if you must go ahead, dont get a puppy. An older dog who may be used to being left for longer periods just might be happy, but if you were thinking of a puppy - please dont. :-)

Dogs can adapt very well to different environments and circumstances. Pack theory is often mentioned to people who ask for help with wanting dogs - I don't totally agree. Dogs are pack animals, yes, but so too are horses! and how many of those have you seen living happily alone in a field being left for hours at a time?
I used to have a dog who would try and spend as much time away from my other dogs as he could. If they were all in the lounge then he would troop off and lie in the kitchen. They all got on like a house on fire but he just craved his own space.

I think an awful lot depends on the individual situation .....also, if one works then after working really it is only fair to give the dog quality time and attention, training and games etc.

I would not recommend it for any dog with a guardy personality, because it can lead to neighbour problems - I know! I started wanting to keep my first 2 dogs in a run in the garden whilst at work, the run was large with a nice warm kennel area - toys and bones etc.

They had a walk before i left them, and I was home at lunch time, but it was a complete disaster. BSD's aren't that keen on being left anyway, and they barked at the neighbours (they never barked when I WAS there!!!)

To cut a long story short, I felt i had thought up a really good plan to leave my dogs whilst at work, but I learnt the hard way. I refused point blank to consider giving them up, as once mine, mine forever.....so I changed my whole life, and became a landlady which I loathed, but at least my dogs were happy!!!

Non -guardy types may well be happy/accepting, and of course many do leave their dogs whilst at work.

Difficult decision. Good luck!

Lindsay

Just because ahnorse is in a field on its own doesn't mean its happy!!! Very few horse s are happy living without other horses for company.(Fortunately i own one of them!)

Too true Sam you only have to watch a horse when some one rides by they gallop up the field following and then neigh for long after its passed. Horses seem happier when they have a sheep, goat or donkey in the field with them but are not content on their own. Jackie H

I totally agree with Sam and Jackie - but was trying to be tactful !!

Personally, to be blunt, I feel it is wrong to leave a dog all day, without company. Maybe the best idea is if the dog can be taken to work, as some lucky people can manage to arrange.

LIndsay

ps a horse on its own in a field is a very sorry sight - tantamount to cruelty I feel!!!

Sorry if you feel I was not tactfull, but I feel if someone asks a question they deserve an honist answer, I do try to do that with tact. Having recieved their answers it is up the the person whether or not they accept some or all of the replies or just go off and do their own thing. Jackie H

HI Jackie

No, I certainly didn't mean you weren't being tactful, I just meant I myself was trying to be :)

I suppose that i personally dislike the thought of any dog being left all day (if it is all day), but I also feel that as Lara suggested, all dogs are different, there are different situations and environments, owners have different amounts of knowledge and time upon returning home, and so on.

From what i understand there are many dogs who do cope with being left, maybe some are actually fine with it if it is a routine, and they have a canine pal, but over all I feel most dogs are very much happier when their owner is at home.

Lindsay

My Golden Retriever bitch is alone in the house for about six hours in the day four days a week and seems quite happy. This said, she wasn't left when she was a puppy till she was about 18 months old and she is walked first thing in the morning and as soon as I get home and she likes a good long walk! She is a particularly placid and easy going girl and gets loads of attention when we are all at home, but I agree it depends on the individual animal and I wouldn't have left her if I didn't trust her completely.

Jane

6 hours 4 days a week is not as bad as being away for a full days work, I'm sure she copes well and I'm sure you have to be away but I bet she would be happier if you were at home. I'm not being silly, I know people have to work and I know dogs can cope it all depends on HOW LONG a dog is left and on the dogs ability to cope with it. Jackie H

I hear what you're saying, and actually I'd be happier if I were at home too! Barring winning the lottery, I can't see that happening though.
Jane

If you mean normal full time work ie out of the house for say nine hours five days a week - then personally I say no, part time is a much better option if you can do it. I waited 16 years for my dogs for when I went part time so they could get the attention they needed, and then they weren't left for more than an hour or so until they had been with me for two months and then no more than three hours until they were about 6/7 months old. This can be terribly hard to arrange but is better for the dog.

Just mho

Pam n co