Hi
It is great to be back on the board again on this lovely sunny day but I am in a quandry.
There is a course that I want to study which lasts for a year but requires me to leave my dog for 2 days a week on tues and thurs  9.30 - 16.00.  I really want to do it and could walk her early in the morning but I am worried about the rest of the day.  I have met a dog walker who has offered to come in around midday and walk her again and stay with her for about 1.5 hours but I don't know whether to accept or not.  I hate the thought of leaving her and wondered what other people on the forum do if they have to leave to go and study, work etc and how do the dogs cope.  Should I do the course? 
All advice would be so grately welcome cause I don't know what to do.
Thank you

It sounds as though your arrangements would be fine - if as you say it's a course you really want to do, then go for it!

I'd go for it especially as it's something that you really want to do.  Maybe you could start adjusting things now so that the dogs are left that bit long on their own?

Hi Goat,

how old is your girl?  If she's an adult now then I think arranging for her to be exercised and have company during the day for 1.5 hours is completely OK for her :)  If she's still at the puppy age, then you may find that there are a few toilet accidents and/or chewing problems.

Most dogs adapt to a change in routine better than we give them credit for and 2 days out of 7 is not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things -  providing you've got reliable arrangements in place I'd say take the course and enjoy!

best wishes, Teri 

If the dog walker can come in I'd go for it - espesh if it's something you're dead keen on!

Dogs do adjust - and 2 days a week isn't the end of the world.  My dogs are left for 9 hours anything from 1 to 5 days a week (depending on hwo abdly organised my boss is at the time :rolleyes:), and they don't complain - and my dad is usually in the house for a couple hours while I'm out, so it's a fairly similar arrangement to what you're looking at.  It works well, the dogs are used to it and once I come home we are training, playing or walking once it's cool enough.  As long as the quality time you spent with your dog is quality then she'll be okay!

Go for it.  If you get a dog walker to spend hour and half with her during the day then thats great.  If you really want to do the course then go for it.  It's not like your leaving her everyday all on her own! :)