 Barked: Mon Mar 19, '12 1:05pm PST |
 | |  | | My dogs come to work with me. If I'm going to be somewhere dogs aren't allowed for a long stretch, I have a few family members who enjoy having them visit for a day here and there. I don't do that often, though.
I hate to say it, but 11 hours 5 days(?) a week is a long time alone for a dog. It can be done, especially short-term. Daycare is the best option, since the dog will get plenty of exercise while you're away - which is a huge issue. Failing daycare, are you going to feel like providing exercise and mental stimulation for a dog every night after you've been commuting and working for the past 11 hours? Also, you really need someone - a neighbor, friend, family member or petsitter who loves and has experience caring for dogs to stop in at least once during the day. Boredom and loneliness aside, not going to the bathroom for 11 hours on a regular basis is not healthy.
If this dog will really have to be alone for 11 hours while you're at work every day, indefinitely, sorry to say, this is probably not the time for you to be getting a dog. Keep in touch with the rescue(s), do some volunteer work. It is possible to find a very low energy, small dog who doesn't mind doing his own thing and could use a pee pad while you're gone (although having dog waste indoors is NOT the same as cat waste!!) It'll be a long search, though. Dogs, at their core, truly NEED us around.
In the meantime if you need an animal at home, there are plenty of lower-maintenance species that make excellent companions. Cats are the obvious go-to, being independent but playful and able to use a litterbox. I was reading an article on how wonderful rabbits are the other day. They're social, trainable and quite cute. Ferrets have always been a favorite of mine - they would sleep all day while you're away. And if you can stomach them, rats are simply awesome. |  |  | |  |
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To all Ember's points. Before my lifestyle allowed me to have a dog I had a guinea pig (GP people freaking out at me for only having 1, I'm sorry!) and she was awesome! Greeted me when I came home, loved being held, etc. Sadly I had to re-home her after a couple of years because my allergies went nuts otherwise I'd still have her.
