Because he will be alone from 9-6 on weekdays. Is this a bad plan?
I’ve always loved dogs, but have never had one of my own, precisely for the reason you’re laying out. Dogs, much more so than cats, are very social animals, and I’ve always thought it was a little cruel to leave a dog alone in a house for hours and hours every day. Even now that I’m retired, I go away on long trips, and would have to put a dog in a kennel.
It might be different if there are some young, but responsible kids in your neighborhood who could take the dog out during the day, and give him a good run for his money. Then, it might be a workable arrangement.
I did it with no problem. Until recently, I had a dogwalker come every day, though, because he’s get a little neurotic if he didn’t get a walk during the day, and of course as a puppy a walk was required anyway. But he’s gotten really lazy in the last year, so I stopped the walks recently and he’s doing fine.
If you’re willing to put the time into training the dog and playing with him when you get home and on weekends, you should be fine. Provided, of course, you pick the right dog. An adult will prove a lot easier than a puppy in general. Some breeds are much more laid back than others, and some tend to adjust better to being alone than others. Beagles, for example, are notorious for being unhappy alone.
Sure, astro, you should think about it.
Assuming that’s the only thing holding you back, you just need to get the right dog. No puppies, because they need to be constantly supervised. No panicky dogs - you need a dog who can wait patiently.
But other than that, dogs in general aren’t high maintenance. Most dogs just need a walk in the morning and a walk in the evening. More than that is a bonus, but not really necessary (for most dogs).
If you decide to get a dog and go to, say, the local pound, just let them know that no one is home during the day, and they’ll take that under consideration (i.e., they might be able to direct you to particular dogs they have).
[porcupine, my beagle wasn’t too pleased at first, but he quickly got used to my schedule. Then his problem was when I’d leave for a few minutes, but that too has been more or less overcome. I think almost any dog will get used to his master’s schedule in due time. Just takes time.]
Do you have a lawn? Is this a big or little dog?
Dogs are pack animals, and can be content if they have a companion (either you or another dog). Nine hours isn’t a particularly long time (dogs can sleep a lot) but what about the other issues of well being? Like potty breaks. That is why I asked about the lawn. Dog care is so much easier if they have a place to run, as it tires them out a lot easier.
I’ve read that English Bulldogs are well-suited to this sort of lifestyle, that they’re content to sleep all day while their owners are away at work.
For about a month, I dated a woman who worked long hours, and had a Papillon. This was the most neurotic, uptight, needy dog I ever met in my life, and this dog meant more to that woman than a child… she kept the dog in a kennel cage all day, and let him out at night. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for it. But it was a smart, very smart, well-trained dog, and they seem to have adjusted to their lifestyle.
Depends on your housing situation and the kind of dog.
I’d say it would probably be better to get an older dog. Puppies need a lot of attention and training; also, there’s no telling how their personalities might turn out.
However, if you get an older dog, the person you get the dog from can often tell you about its personality–i.e., whether or not it would be happy in a home that keeps the schedule you describe.
I wouldn’t get a puppy, and there are certain breeds I would avoid, like Malamutes (which should be avoided by everyone anyway). Some people will tell you that you should get two dogs together, to keep each other company. But there are many dogs out there who don’t want a doggie buddy, and would be much happier being an only pup.
cough For example, I have a gorgeous collie x golden retriever in rescue right now who would be fine in your situation, the lazy mutt spends the day sleeping as far as I can tell, and is content just to hang out with her foster parent when she gets home from work. So, how about it? 
I’m a single guy who works full-time, and man, if I weren’t moving out of town next year I’d go adopt a dog tomorrow.
As others have said, a puppy is pretty high-maintenance, what with training and bathroom breaks and all, but an adult from the pound will be totally doable. An adult dog will want one walk a day and to be let out for bathroom breaks a couple times, and basically will sleep on a doggie bed (or your bed, the couch, anyplace soft) the rest of the time.
So yeah. I’d say you’ll be fine with a dog. Bigger dogs will be far more laid-back than small ones.
So what are you going to name your pooch?
I’ve seen it work. The best arrangement was a woman with a fenced in yard and a “doggie door” that allowed her two dogs could come in and go outside all day. The door was actaully a panel that fit in the sliding glass door of her townhouse. It was a sweet arrangement for all of them. There was a barking issue tho – one of them would tend to bark if someone came by and not stop – ever – some crabby neighbor notes but it solved itself eventually.
I’ve seen a HUGE boxer that was trained to be in a crate/kennel when the master was gone – he seemed happy enough and would often go in himself it was open and he got bored.
Re puppies our shelter, run by the local Humane Society affiliate, won’t give you a puppy if it will be alone for 6 or more hours per day.
Bottomline is as said: Depends on your dog - select well.
I usually leave for work at 7am or so. I don’t get back until a little after five. My two dogs, a pit and a rottie, are both crate trained and have had no problems. They get their exercise and companionship while I am home.
The solution is to get two dogs so they can keep each other company. Make sure they get along with each other and you’ll have a happy household. 2 dogs sounds like a lot of work but it’s in fact not that much more expensive or relative hassle.
I lived alone and worked full time and had a dog. I was in this situation for two years.
My dog was two years old when I started living alone. I echo the other posters who advise against a puppy.
We would take a walk before I went to work, and then almost every minute I was home was committed to the dog. That meant no stopping with friends after work, and I begged and groveled for every spare hour off. I brought my dog lots of places with me back then (I asked permission before bringing him to other people’s houses and outdoor parties and such), but he would go everywhere with me. It worked out pretty well, I would just make sure we got a good long walk before I left. I also had my two cats, so the dog was never truly alone.
My parents have two papillions. They are a bit needy. When my brother and I were away at college, she would come home over lunch every single day. They are both cage trained, and will only pee if their bladder bursts it seems – one loves the cage, will go in it all day if parents aren’t home and the door is open. The other likes to sit in the bay window waiting for Dad.
We would never dream of letting them go that long without going outside. My brother calls Mom whenever he is working and can’t let them out, just to remind her.
But eh. Have you thought about training them with newspapers and outside at the same time? (just a very random idea.)
/Shadez
Mr2U doesn’t work every day (self employed) but when he is in the midst of a job, his days can go up to eight or more hours - along with mine. Our dog is just fine with it - but we spend a lot of time playing with her and stuff when we get home. Mini2U is usually gone too with after school activities and such - so she may go up to nine hours without seeing anyone or going outside. Dog2U also doesn’t require a walk during the day so it works.
Astro:
I was a ‘single mom’ to a 2 year old rescue and it was tough–but worth it. I definitely agree that a puppy is not the ideal dog for you, but as your schedule is pretty regular, an older dog would not be out of the question.
Yes, you will give up a lot of your social time. No more going out after work with friends (if that is what you do now, I mean) and you will always be looking at your watch wondering how little Fido is doing. But the rewards are well worth it, I say.
In Chicago, and in many other cities, doggie daycare is becoming a big business. On days jeevmon and I know that we will be going out after work, we drop jeevpup off at a woman’s house where he plays all day and comes home tired enough to erase our guilt. Mind you, daycare is not cheap (here it is in the $25/day range) but if you have the money for it, it will be money well-spent.
Also, some dogs do very well being by themselves for long periods of time. Jeevpup is not one of them, so that is why we have a dog walker for him during the day ($10/day) when he is not in daycare. But in many cases, dogs are fine for 10 hours–they will mostly sleep all day, anyway.
You need to research the types of dogs that will work best. Definitely let the rescue organization know your schedule; they will most likely have dogs to suggest. You could consider getting two dogs, but then keep in mind the added expenses for boarding, dog walkers, etc. If a dog has separation anxiety, another dog in the house won’t help that.
I am sure there is a perfect dog out there for you if you do the proper scouting. Jeevpup came to me unexpectedly (damn volunteer work!) and I was completely overwhelmed the first month, thinking I had made a mistake. But I know I didn’t and I just had to get us both on a schedule. Dogs appreciate routine so I’ve no doubt that any dog you do get will settle in to your life nicely.
Good luck!
PS This is my first message on the SDMB so I hope it proves useful!
I have, on rare occasions, left mine alone for ten hours or more at a stretch, but the poor things are leaping frantically at the door by the time I get home. Other than that, they’re happy to see me, but no more so than they are when I’ve just run to Walmart and back.
If you’re going to be gone that much, I’d seriously consider finding a “dog nanny” to come let the dog out and maybe play for a few minutes during the day.
It’s doable, but don’t get a border collie. (Or Australian Sheperd, German Sheperd…any “working” breed really. They have too much energy and get bored quickly.
Get a buddy for your buddy as well if possible.
I’ve got two border collies, but between my schedule and my wife’s they’re rarely home alone for more than four hours. I go home for lunch every day as well.
Rarely (if I’m away on business) they’ll be home for a good 8 hours, and they’ll sometimes get into trouble then. Ususally just shredding papers, but I did lose a TV remote.
Ya know, keithnmick, for a fleeting moment I pictured your dogs running paper through a shredder and thought that was mighty clever of them.
I’m not going to flatly contradict jeevwoman, mostly because I’ll pay for it later, but I think you might have to be careful about this.
I’m a lawyer, so while my hours are nominally 8:30 - 5 or so, it is not unheard of for me to have to put in long hours during the week or weekend. If, for example, I have to do a response to an emergency motion, I might be late, and not able to let the pup out.
If 9-6 is a regular, predictable schedule and you don’t have the possibility of unexpected projects, then a dog may work for you. I generally start getting nervous if jeevpup has been alone for 7 hours or more, as I know that I would probably have difficulty holding my bladder for 7 hours. He does mostly sleep when we’re not home, but I never like to chance it. But if you can afford a dog walker for once a day, it should be OK, and you’ll probably be OK even without a dog walker IF you can generally count on being home by a certain time.
Before I met jeevwoman, I probably would not seriously have considered getting a dog. I didn’t grow up around them, had no idea how to care for them, and worked sometimes unpredictable hours. I also was single, and therefore trying to devote a certain amount of my free time to pursuit of the fairer sex. But if your hours are more predictable, you may be able to pull it off. It’s still a lot of work, though. But definitely rewarding.