How long do you leave your dog?

[paisley]

paisley,
That is how a lot of dogs in the US have to live. Not all of us can afford a dog walker and our dogs adapt. Some people have neighbors that they trust to let the dogs outside but the last time I tried that, I was paying the teenager next door, he let my young dog get out the front door and the dog was hit by a car and killed instantly.
Like I mentioned before, I'm lucky in that I have had many jobs where my hours weren't longer than 8 hours or that I could bring my dogs with me on overnight shifts.
Healthy dogs adapt, if it is a puppy or a dog with incontinence, then it is dog walker or a dog school where they are cared for individually.

I'm so sorry to hear about your young dog, utterly, utterly horrible for you.
I meet quite a few people who are putting off getting a dog because of work (and no criticism cause considering current dog ownership attitude, good on 'em), but like you say, healthy dogs adapt and sometimes they have to fit in with your lifestyle.
In short, my dog spends more hours with, than without me and thats fine with me ?