I put kismet in the conservatory with her crate open and warm bedding in and over it as a warm spot, she has a chair in there as well and the back door is open to give her the full run of the garden as well. The other two stay in the house, they are not as destructive and not as hardy to the cold as Kismet. I used to leave Selkie out with her, but Kismet would make her stay in the garden and wouldn't let her in the conservatory. a couple of times coming home to a wet and miserable Selkie told me she didn't approve of this set up any more.

Kismet is more than happy on her own and the neighbours keep an eye on her. I only work one full day in the week and have a dogsitter/cleaner that comes in walks them and then cleans the house. Otherwise I am home by 2pm. So they are never on their own for more than 5 hours or so.

I do worry that Kismet will be stolen from the garden, but that is my only concern. The neighbours say she howls, which had me worried until they finished the sentence... She howls until they pop their head over the fence and feed her a few biscuits.. I explained they were teaching her to howl for treats, and asked them not to feed her. They were miffed at this so we compromised and I gave them a spare kong and some treats that she could have in it. At least I know what she is eating now

Remember if you get a bigger kong take into account what hes eating because the kong could double as a meal, if you know what I mean, sorry head bursting from seeing slipknot the other night...he will put wieght on so he wouldn't need brekkie then a big stuffed kong, one or the other...

I think your opinion is as valid as anyone else's Lilyput and I know where you are coming from. As I have said in another post (or thread!) that I used to work full time, and made provision to walk my dogs before and after work and at lunchtime. My life revolved around my dogs and even with all of that, I STILL felt guilty. However, my dogs were well loved, cared for, exercised, trained, socialised and seemed very content with their life.

I am now extremely fortunate in that I don't have to go out to work and so my dogs have the luxury of having me around all day, every day. Having said that, if I had to go back to work then I would still own dogs, but would again make sure they got the best of everything and had plenty of quality time spent with them.

Unfortunately, just trying to earn a living these days is difficult, and most people HAVE to work to be able to afford to live. Just imagine all the dogs that would end up homeless if full-time workers had to give their dogs up.

As with anything, there are great homes and there are rubbish homes - whether the owners are around all day or not. It is easy to judge other people, until we have walked in their shoes.

Love the photo - Woody is so darned cute!!

Thank you Moobli for a sensible reply. I do take your point about more homeless dogs if no full time workers were owners.

My point is this - young pups need people around them - any puppy book will tell you that - it just isn't right.

I recently bought a pup and the first question I was asked was "do you work?" Had I said I did, I would not have been sold Lily.

There are very many older dogs needing good comfortable homes where they could be left for longer periods.

There have been very many threads on this forum on this subject - it seems to me that there has been a big swing in the general opinion here.

I've found this thread to be useful as we're in a similar situation. We are also a young couple but we don't go out anymore for two reasons - one, that we live in a town where there are very few nice places to go and secondly because we like to stay in and enjoy our first house and have friends round.

Good luck with your return to work/new job on Monday Pidge, hope it all goes well and keep us all updated on how Woody gets on too!!

I totally agree with you , in my opinion it is totally irresponsible to get a pup when you know you are looking for a full time job .
It' a different matter entirely if you have a dog and your circumstances change and you are forced to get a job.
You obviously wanted a pup and got one and it doesn't really matter to you what the pup needs . I don't think for one moment he will be happy sitting all day by himself , he is after all a very active working breed .
Opinions were asked for in this thread and that is mine .

I'd crate if I were you, with stuffed kongs to keep him occupied. Give him a good blast on a walk in the morning then in the crate to settle with a kong and he'll be a happy dog. Out at lunch to stretch his legs and be with you, then back in again after another short walk / play in the garden ?

I did this routine for years with my dogs when I returned to work, and they now have the run of the back garden when I go to work.

ETA Just read other responses, give the girl a break will you ?!

PLENTY of dog owners have a pup then after a little while go to full time work. Dog's soon settle and live within a known routine quite happily.

Pidge : I hope you have a lovely day at work and the new job works out well for you

No, I won't. This pup will suffer and be lonely all day. A few stuffed kongs will not be any substitute for company and stimulation. He will become bored and destructive after which he will be crated all the time. 17 out of 24 hours in a crate is quite simply imprisonment and cruelty.

Dogs are a huge commitment - your life changes and you have to be prepared for that. If you are not, then it is unfair to buy a dog.

Oh and you can gurantee that can you - that he'll suffer as his owner is at work do you ? Blimey what a guilt trip !

PLENTY of dog owners go to work and it soon becomes an established routine for a dog - point out to me how a routine for dog is a bad thing ?

Others on here have had their dogs at home all day whilst they have gone to work full time - care to tar us all with the same brush as having miserable and destructive dogs ?

Moobli for one has given a great example of when she was at work and yet her dogs still received sufficent exercise - as do mine and they definately are not miserable.