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Prospective Guardians with Busy Schedules
I work full-time, and am gone from about 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. I really want a dog, but the thought of a dog alone all day seems unfair. I am single with no children, and really would love to have a small dog.
—Roberta F.
Your desire to have a dog to enhance your personal life makes sense, Roberta—and your willingness to consider the dog's quality of life is very commendable.
The good news is that you can indeed make a fine home for a dog. The challenge for you is to find the right dog who can adapt to your life style. Start by asking yourself the following questions, and be honest with the answers:
- Are you able to spend an hour exercising your dog before and after work?
- Can you afford to hire a dog walker or network with a dog sitter to care for your dog when you must be away?
- Will your landlord and neighbors accept the presence of a dog who barks in your home?
- Are you willing to put significant time and effort into training your dog?
- Are you willing to do an extensive search in shelters and rescue groups to find an adult dog who can cope with your schedule?
Once you can describe the kind of dog who would be best for you, go out and enjoy your search. Sometimes it happens that you “fall in love” with an entirely different type of dog. Usually, it is fine to follow your heart, but be prepared to work a little harder to make the relationship a good one for both of you.
It is helpful to prepare by reading about dog ownership and plan to take a few days off from work to help the dog adjust to your home. There are some wonderful dogs to be had in shelters. Good luck!
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