Question:
I would love to have a dog but I go out to work. Is it really selfish to have a dog if you can't stay at home with it? Or are there certain breeds that can cope with being left alone? It would need to be a dog that gets on well with cats (I have 2). It might be possible for me to take the dog to work but I would have to leave it in the car and take it for a walk at morning break (35 mins) and lunchtime. I'm a teacher.

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Sure it's possible. YOu just have to be very committed. Get up extra early to take the dog for a walk before work (and no skipping it if it's snowing, raining or freezing)m and NO going out with friends after work for dinners, Christmas parties or movies. Straight home every day to take the dog out.

If you can go home at lunchtime to let him out, that would be great!

With two cats and a dog who will be left during the day, you will have to get an adult dog who is housetrained and is used to cats and will not chase them. You can find a dog like this in rescue.

BUT that is not to say that your cats will tolerate the dog if they are not used to them. Integrating them could take quite awhile, so plan on spending your vacation doing this.

Not trying to discourage you, just pointing out the realities. I brought an adult dog into my home with my cats. He was perfect with cats, and they did get used to him in time.

It might be possible for me to take the dog to work but I would have to leave it in the car and
You cannot leave a dog in a car. Even on cool days, the sun will heat the car rapidly and you might find not only a dead dog, but the police at your door.

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Hi,
I was a teacher too... and I think it is very possible to have a dog. I would suggest, not a particular breed, but rather getting an adult dog instead of a puppy. Here, I'd usually be away from 7:30 am until about 4 or 5 pm. Not sure of your schedule in the UK tho... I was lucky that my dad came to walk the dog every day at lunchtime (but he was less than 1 year old and couldn't be left alone that long). A puppy can't be alone that long, but a dog can be left 8 hours. When they are comfortable, they usually sleep while you are away, and you can leave toys, etc. Bear in mind that the rest of your life needs to then be about him! Eg.- walking him in the early morning, after school, being home with him in the eve. The good thing is that, as a teacher, you have weekends and holidays to be with him.
I wouldn't take him in the car. That would be cruel and dangerous!
Not sure of your holiday schedule, but I'd try to adopt then, to be home while he is acclimating himself.

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Although I no longer work, I always owned dogs when I did....but I always had two to keep each other company while I was at work. I would take holidays when I first got a new addition to train them. They were always exercised well and we never had a problem.

We`ve always had cats too and everybody`s always gotten along after the initial "period of adjustment".

Don`t ever ever leave your dog in the car while you`re at work.

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I wasn't thinking of leaving a dog in an unventilated car during hot weather. We have a shady wooded area where we park which is right out of the sun. (I work in a prep. school set in beautiful grounds.) I am fully aware of the dangers of leaving a dog in a car and would not put the dog at any risk - if I was that sort of person, surely I wouldn't be asking advice on whether I should have a dog when I'm out at work - I would just have gone and done it!

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Sure you can have a dog. Anything over 1.5- 2 years old can be flexible if you give them enough time after work. The more tired a dog is the happier they'll be.

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We have a shady wooded area where we park which is right out of the sun. (I work in a prep. school set in beautiful grounds.) I am fully aware of the dangers of leaving a dog in a car and would not put the dog at any risk
Even in a shady area, a car with windows rolled up can be unbearably hot on a humid summer day.

If you are fully aware of the dangers I don't why you would consider doing this.

Going home for lunch to let the dog out is quite adequate.

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I totally agree with Lucky Rescue.

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Originally Posted by saschka
I wasn't thinking of leaving a dog in an unventilated car during hot weather. We have a shady wooded area where we park which is right out of the sun. (I work in a prep. school set in beautiful grounds.) I am fully aware of the dangers of leaving a dog in a car and would not put the dog at any risk - if I was that sort of person, surely I wouldn't be asking advice on whether I should have a dog when I'm out at work - I would just have gone and done it!

No one is trying to say that you don't know the dangers of leaving your dog in the car. Before you do it, please be aware that last summer (or it might have been the summer before) a police office left his canine partner in the car for 15 minutes. The car was running and the air was on. When he returned to the car - his partner was dead.

Your safer bet would be to leave your dog at home if you get one.

A puppy requires a strict schedule for housebreaking. I am sure that there are lots of older dogs that need help at your local shelter or with a rescue group that would love to keep you company while you correct papers.

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I have 3 dogs and 2 cats in the house, I work fulltime and am away for 9 hours, the cats will help to provide companionship for your dog, my dogs basically just sleep while I am away, usually the whole crew just sleeps altogether in my bedroom. Like others said leaving the dog in the car is a verybad idea. police have broken into cars before to resuce pets even when the window were open



Here is a study about how hot it gets inside a car with and without windows open
http://www.mydogiscool.com/x_car_study.php

more info http://www.mydogiscool.com/b_action.php

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I also have 4 dogs and work full time. And as stated above they will take time in the morning and the evening. (just like human kids!) If the weather is nice and my dogs are out during the day I might not rush right home. But they are on a pretty set schedule for eating, so I still keep an eye on the clock! And one more time....please do not leave the dog in a car!

Also the best time to introduce a dog to your cats should be on your days off. That will give everyone at least 2 days with human supervision during the adjustment period. I was lucky enough to have cats that rolled their eyes at me me after the third or fourth one! It was more the dogs and their curiosity that would send a cat paw to the dog nose. Good luck with your decision, keep us posted!

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Lucky got it so right best time to get the dog would be during your summer break this I gives you time to introduce the dog and cats properly. I work ridiculous hours sometimes 12-16 hours a day. I use the services of doggy daycare for 1/2 days if I know I will have long days. I work in film so I am off for periods in between shows. Buddy is a rescue and would much rather be sleeping on my bed with all his toys and food and water then being in a cage in a shelter or worse. I love Bud and I know he loves me and is very happy. Yes I would love to not work but that is not an option. But all he does when I am at work is sleep or watch TV yes I leave it on Animal Planet. You should really look into a rescue adult a lot less work. They are work but not as much. If you rescue the dog will be assessed and you will know more about the personality and such. Good luck oh and PS I do call AC when I see a dog in a car for any long period of time

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Hi There
Dale and his cat brother Doug are home alone 3 days a week and I am sure they make great company for eachother. We first had Doug and when we brought home Dale ( who was 8 months) we were very nervous but to our surprise the two became fast friends and now they are like true brothers. I feel a lot less guilty about leaving them alone because I know they keep eachother entertained. Good luck finding the right pup

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