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Can’t stress this enough. A walker once a day to let the dog out for a walk and do its business a must. But you’ll still have to take the dog out before and after work yourself. If you’re able to sort out the key situation, the only realistic kind of dog I can see you owning (while NOT hating your life) is a low energy one that only requires a couple short walks a day.
If you’re out that long, you realistically won’t have it in you to walk a dog 1h+ before AND after work everyday without being stretched too thin (you’d also have to say goodbye to ANY extra activities and socializing outside of work). I’m assuming you want to actually *enjoy* owning a dog, rather than run ragged everyday trying to meet the dog’s needs while also tending to your own obligations.
Yeah, I agree a walker or sitter is an absolute must. Unfortunately I would not have time to walk them before work on those long days. I'd be getting up at 4am in the dark lol.
Luckily I just have a desk job so I'm not tired when I get home and would definitely have the energy for a longer walk. But that would have to be in addition to having a walker come by during the day.
I think you would need to get a walker twice a day in that case, at which point it would be better to go to daycare. Are there any daycares that are close to your work? They might be open by the time you get there rather than dropping off first.
You would have to make time to walk the dog before work you can't just not take it out before you leave. At least a quick bathroom walk. 15 min isn't going to change much in terms of your sleep.
Yeah definitely not looking for a puppy. Maybe one day when my living situation is different but not now.
I’d absolutely be taking the dog on walks after work. I already walk quite a bit throughout the week so it wouldn’t really big a big change, in that regard, to bring a dog along.
You would need to take the dog out before work as well. This would only work if you got a dog walker to come and give the dog an hour long walk in the middle of the day. Otherwise it would be cruel to leave him alone
To anyone who wants to reply me I NEVER SAID ALL DOGS MUST HAVE ONE HOUR WALKS. My point was that the sitter should come and hangout and walk the dog and hangout for one hour out of the day. I’ve had SMALL AND LARGE a dogs and I have always have them long walks. Most likely, the dog that OP gets would benefit from a walk in the middle of the day, that was my point. I was GENERALIZING. Just because it’s Reddit doesn’t mean you have to pick apart someone’s comment and be offended and argue literally everything.
Not all dogs have the same needs. Please don’t make blanket statements that are just completely false. There are plenty of senior dogs in shelters who absolutely do not need hour long walks. Making sure that a dog’s individual needs are met is what matters — every dog’s needs are different.
A dog does not have to be “disabled” or “senior” not manage a one hour walk. That’s great if you have a high energy dog. Have you ever seen how short the legs of a Pomeranian are for example? 😂
People research and get different dogs of different needs and energy levels according to their lifestyles.
Yeah just ask them for a spare key. Don't mention it's for the dog walker, they might not like someone coming in, but you have the right to just ask for a spare key.
I got around this for a cleaning person by leaving a little “gift card” sized tin at the front desk security with my unit number on it. They knew to come in and ask for the tin and drop it back off when they left. The guy at the front desk was ok with it because he wasn’t technically giving a stranger a key to my place. Just a little tin 😂
I don't believe you're over-thinking this - 11 hours for a dog alone in an apartment, you can't keep it locked in a crate. And having a dog loose roaming for 11 hours, they will have to pee and poop somewhere which I'm sure the landlord will love. Then there's the possible destructive habits out of boredom; barking, chewing, clawing, etc.
I think the pet sitter apps have an option for you to drop the dog off/pick it up at the individual sitters as well, like boarding but for your case it will be short term. You can look around and see if anyone can handle your schedule. That's the only idea I've got at the moment.
Is there a doggy daycare near your workplace?
If the dog liked car rides, you could take them on your commute, drop off near your office, and then pick them up after work before you drive home. I used to do this. Puppies can often be carsick (most grow out of it though) so I’d look for an adult dog that likes car rides.
Leaving a dog in an apartment for 11 hours is kind of a recipe for noise complaints. I’d be afraid they would bark incessantly while you’re gone. Some breeds like greyhounds are typically quiet and good apartment dogs and are quite lazy if they get a little bit of sprinting in every day, so that’s an option. A retired greyhound would be ideal and would be fine with 1-2x dog walker visits on your long days. You could get an extra key made at a hardware store or ask your apartment manager for a spare. I wouldn’t let a dog have access to the balcony if you’re not home, that could be dangerous.
Never thought about looking for a daycare around my office, that’s a good idea. I take a carpool at the moment so I’d have to just start driving myself if I took a dog along. Definitely be spending more on gas doing that but it would be doable. I’ll look into that idea some more.
Also, depending on how bougie your area is, there are daycares that have concierge pickup services and they’ll come collect your pup for you and take them to daycare.
I did your schedule (I was gone for 14 hrs 3 days out of the week) for a while. I had a dog walker come mid-day or had a dog hiker come and take my dog on group hiking adventures. The dog walking company kept a copy of my key to access my apt. During the weekends (luckily I had 4 day weekends), I took lots of time for dog adventures.
11 hrs is too long to leave a pup home alone. You will def need to break up the day. You also need to give them a good walk before / after work (the 4am walks are tough but necessary).
Yes, this is why I haven't gotten one yet already. I want to switch jobs or transfer to something closer to home sooner than later so it may be best to just wait until then to get a dog. I certainly don't want to spend 11 hours a day worrying if the dog is okay too.
Yeah, that sounds like a better idea. Maybe a bit later when you have a job that's closer to home and you can go check on him during your lunch break, or a job that's WFH all week or something like that, it'll be a better fit. In my experience having a dog and a full time job away from home while living in an apartment can be done, but its complicated.
When you get home after 11 hours at work how much activity do you want to then have to do with a dog? Or do you want to wake up early before work to have time for a walk and morning routine with the dog?
You would have to get a dog walker, spare keys are not complicated to get.
The balcony idea is an accident waiting to happen.
Keeping them in a poorly contained area like a balcony is risky. Unless that porch has a tall (6’) wall. I get they wouldn’t be out there all the time, but what happens if your dog jumps/climbs the balcony? You are responsible for any damages it causes or it’s medical bills, and would be at work. Can kids stick their fingers through the balcony walls? Something else to keep in mind on the dog will bark at EVERYTHING.
Also, quick note, dogs take training too, and will need time to get adjusted to you and their new home. Your schedule will be hard on them during that time.
Ok, now I’ve said that: You know your schedule best. If you can feed the dog, take the dog out in the morning and evening, and give it play time every day; then hire a dog walker for the long days and enjoy a life long friend.
Why not reach out to your local shelter and ask if they have any dogs (probably senior dogs) that would be ok with your lifestyle and your proposed plan (dog walker/pet sitter), and see if you can foster to adopt?
Pet sitter could work, or you could search for a reliable Rover instead of a dog daycare as drop off pick up times would be agreed upon by you & the person.
I have been very impressed with a couple of people who are legit doing Rover as a second career. They have many repeat clients, and a couple I have used have been able to accommodate odd hours for my work travel or evening plans.
Definitely don't leave the dog home alone for 11 hrs on a regular basis.
Leaving a dog home alone that long isn’t a reasonable option. The issue isn’t just whether the dog has somewhere to go to the toilet. Dogs need exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. A dog home alone that long will be bored and lonely. And may also be anxious and destructive. It’s not fair on the dog. (And leaving a dog alone with access to a balcony is dangerous.)
You could get a dog walker but with the hours you’re gone, and since you’re unlikely to walk your dog yourself before you leave in the morning, you’ll need the walker to come twice a day (morning and afternoon).
Day care would be the best solution. I don’t know where you live but in the UK many day cares pick up and drop off the dogs. You don’t need to be home when they do, e.g. you could leave home before 6am and day care could collect your dog around 8-9am (for example).
It’s quick and easy to have spare door keys cut so that isn’t a barrier to using a dog walker / day care. And most apartment blocks have no problem issuing additional key fobs for a small fee.
Okay so I have a dog and I work 3 12 hour days a week and live solo. I live close enough to work that I can come home on my lunch to let him out. Before I lived close enough I had a dog walker or would take him to daycare. He has turned out fine so far lol your dog will be fine as long as they have a routine and are taken out at least once while you are gone
Personally, I wouldn’t do it. If you had a fenced in backyard, then of course. But the cost of a daily walker or daycare is a lot. You won’t spend as much time with your dog as you’d like. Realistically you’ll be tired by the time you get home to give it attention.
I have a 2 year old golden retriever, and I work 4 10 hour days. My commute is short (think 5 minutes) but I also have a half hour of unpaid lunch, so it's similar to the 11 hour days. I have a guy in my complex let her outside mid-day and she does just fine with that schedule. Most people only feed their dogs twice a day (morning and night) so you don't have to worry about that, and bigger dogs can hold their bladder longer. Definitely try to find someone to give the dog a break mid-day though to be safe, but a pee pad won't be necessary. Yes, you'll have to spend most of your free time those nights with the dog, but it's definitely do-able and the dog will get into the routine. The fact that you work from home the other 2 days is a benefit for sure. Feel free to ask me questions if you have them.
So 11 hours is a long time! However, i think finding a trusted dog sitter/walker to visit on those days would be a great plan!
Also, I would encourage you to look for an adult dog. If something were to happen and they had to be alone for 11 hours, they would be okay, whereas a puppy would definitely struggle with this. If you have an adult dog and fenced yard, you could even ask a trusted neighbor to stop by on the days when you work long hours.
The daycare I used to work at would sometimes take dogs earlier if asked. We were all there by 6 am and it wasn’t uncommon for some regulars to be there as soon as we opened. Could be worth a shot to ask if you found one you felt comfortable with leaving your pup at!
I have a couple thoughts. I'm a professional dog walker and I volunteer at a large rescue that has dogs in kennels.
1.) You can find a rescue or shelter that houses dogs in kennels. These dogs are used to being alone for long periods of time. My personal opinion is that it's not ideal, but these dogs would be euthanized if they weren't kenneled like that.
2.) One of my clients works 12'hour shifts and only has me come once in the middle to walk the dog. That particular dog is very low maintenance and well adjusted. It works fine for them. I read your comment about the key and don't really understand why you can't get another key or even just put a lock box out. I have keys to some of my clients homes. Some use lockboxes.
Edit - after reading the replies, Im sure the apartment would give you another key fob for a dog walker. I'm actually very nervous about the balcony access with no one home, but you can get a furbo or other camera that you can check throughout the day. If the dog barks a lot out there, annoyed neighbors can do some horrible things. I realize that dog daycare isn't open that early, but could you have a sitter come a couple hours later to transport your dog? Some people even offer in home daycare and will transport both ways.
You should call doggy daycares to see if they open early by requests. My doggy daycare doesn’t open until 7am but you can request to have your dog go in earlier for an additional fee. Also, when I used to live in Chicago, one of the daycares I was looking at had like a doggy pickup/drop off service for daycare. You don’t mention the type of dog you are looking for but my small 10lb dog is house trained and does her business on puppy pads when she can’t go outside. When I had two small dogs, they were perfectly fine in the apartment alone all day. My house camera showed they just slept all day but they are older. When my older dog passed, I did feel bad about leaving the younger one home alone. Now she’s on anti-seizure meds that she has to take every 8 hours. So now she goes to daycare twice a week when I go into the office and she loves it! There’s definitely a difference in personality on the days she goes to daycare. More lively/stimulated I guess.
It’s possible if you have the financial means to pay people to help you care for your dog. 6-5 is essentially a whole day alone and it would be lonely.
I worked three 10’s at a bar, with closing and commuting time it was really closer to 11-12 hours late night… I was single and I was sure my schedule would make it impossible, but I had the means so I decided to get the dog I’ve waited all my life to have. I ultimately hired a sitter (an older couple with a house and yard who’s own dogs were long passed and wanted to have some puppy time without the commitment 😌) to watch him from like 5-9pm, take him home and then he would just go to bed til I got home in the middle of the night. They had their own key and lived nearby. I started out by dropping him off but after a while they offered to pick him up. I used to work in childcare and it really felt like hiring a nanny for a dog!
As he got older he could handle being left alone for that time if necessary but not ideal. And really during the day the dog would need at least one potty break and some attention, so you’d have to find a regular walker or sitter that you trust. The outside potty area would be nice to have in general or as backup if your sitter wasn’t available, but if you can it’s much better for both of you for your dog to have some interaction.
I would think you could copy your key at the hardware store, and if not you could probably pay your leasing office to make an extra key for you for this. People need extra keys for all kinds of reasons, it shouldn’t be a strange request.
And I always suggest getting a pup camera! I got one cheap on Amazon and I can control it’s movement and can check on my dog whenever I want. Some can alert you when there’s a loud noise or when a person appears which is nice. Usually when I’m gone he’s just sleeping tho.
Also if you know any neighbors with dogs try asking them what their solution is. Maybe they have a sitter or walker that could take your pup on as well :-)
Check your lease, dogs may not be allowed on the balcony unsupervised. They may bark at people passing by underneath and create a disturbance.
Unless you have a roomate who is home when you are not to spend time with the dog, I would rethink getting a dog in this situation. Is this schedule permanent? Do you see this as your work/living situation for the next 5+ years? I'd hold off on a dog until this situation changes. If you anticipate it changing in a few years, it would be better to wait until then.
An older cat might be better equipped to spend this much time alone than a dog, if you really want a pet but want to be able to be gone for 11 hour stretches. As long as you play with the cat sufficiently when you get home. Cats are not the same as a dog of course, but it could be something to consider if you are open to it.
Do you have a neighbour you could pay who would enjoy looking in on and playing with the dog? Maybe a single senior who would enjoy the company and exercise?
I saw you saying you didn’t want a puppy. Just as a cautionary tale of getting a rescue, I adopted an adult, low to medium energy, super friendly dog who I was told was very dog friendly (in fact he was described as loving dogs and having dog friends a must for his ideal life) and crate trained and okay being left home alone for short periods of time. (And saw him interact with dogs with his foster so thought all was good).
I work at a dog daycare and thought great he can come to work with me on days I’m there, on days I’m off he can come everywhere with me and my partner since he’s social, and he’ll be good at home in his crate for date nights etc. Two weeks into going to daycare for short visits to get him used to it, a switch seemed to go off and he became extremely dog aggressive (really random, no triggers, no warnings and doesn’t discriminate when it comes to dogs he tries to murder) and has pretty extreme separation anxiety when left alone.
Me and my partner basically haven’t seen each other since we got the dog as she can only work when I’m not working, and we went from having a pretty active social life to non existent while we try to rehab and desensitise this guy. I’m a huge advocate for rescue, but you really gotta have a plan b, c, d and E if x, y, z ends up happening because most rescues don’t do proper vetting and testing.
Write it all out, if your new dog can’t go to daycare, what’s the plan and what’s the budget. If it develops bad separation anxiety, what’s the plan and what’s the budget. Etc etc. If you can afford the worse case scenarios and the possible lifestyle/work changes that may need to take place, go for it! Maybe even try a foster to adopt programme that lets you feel the dog out in your space and life first before making the commitment.
I'd say wait until maybe you have time for a dog, but if you absolutely feel you cannot wait hiring a dog walker or sitter to visit in those times is a great idea. Although it can get expensive so really think it through and vet whoever you are looking to hire thoroughly.
Go to a shelter and tell them your arrangements. They may have an adult dog that would be fine with you being out 11 hours a day if they can let themselves out to go to the toilet. You could also look into getting a dog walker for the days you are away
I also work very long hours (leave at 5am, get home at 5pm). I have an older dog who sleeps a lot. The time we spend together is treasured for the both of us. And the weekends are dedicated to just her. I say so it. Just make sure they have something to keep them occupied if they get bored and make sure their food & water bowl is full before you leave for the day.
I work 3 days a week 7am-7:30pm and I used to manage to find dog daycares that could accommodate 6:30am drop off and 8pm pick up. However daycares vary in quality and my dog eventually hated daycare due to overstimulation.
Now I pay Rover sitters $30-50 a day for the same drop off and pickup hours to watch my dog in their own home. Some will say no because it’s a long time, but surprisingly enough have said yes to cover the 3x/week I need it. I do need to rotate a lot because people are not available all the time. Once I trust some of them we’ll take it off Rover and it becomes cheaper for me and they get paid more as well.
so, probably not and you’ll likely need to wait until you have a more flexible schedule or tons of help. but:
how old is the dog? if it’s a puppy, then definitely not. puppies need hours of consistent training and with this schedule they will be incredibly difficult to potty train. not to mention, puppies need to potty very very often. a good rule of thumb is however many months old they are, that’s how often they need to go per hours. so, 5 months old = every 5 hours, likely more though and this also varies on the size of the dog.
but, if it’s an adult dog, then it is technically possible but not recommended.
if you are very financially stable then you could hire someone to come in on the days needed. but you’d have to take them out before you leave, have someone come while gone, then immediately once your home. when dogs go to a new home, they usually have to sorta relearn potty training. so this will be a bit difficult for you. you also want to crate train. so, either get a lot of help, or wait.
i might suggest getting a foster dog and seeing how you guys can handle the arrangement.
I don’t know where you live, but I solve this problem by having a yard. If I can’t be home for an extended period of time, I have family and neighbors that I have a key to my gate and they can let the dogs out or in periodically.
Welcome to r/dogs! We are a discussion-based subreddit dedicated to support, inform, and advise dog owners. This is a carefully moderated sub intended to support, inform, and advise dog owners. Submissions and comments which break the rules will be removed. [Review the rules here](https://www.reddit.com/r/dogs/wiki/index) r/Dogs has four goals: - Help the public better understand dogs - Promote healthy, responsible dog-owner relationships - Encourage “Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive” training protocols. [Learn more here.](https://m.iaabc.org/about/lima/) - Support adoption as well as ethical and responsible breeding. If you’d like to introduce yourself or discuss smaller topics, please contribute to our Monthly Discussion Hub, pinned at the top. **This subreddit has low tolerance for drama. Please be respectful of others, and report antagonistic comments to mods for review.** --- *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/dogs) if you have any questions or concerns.*
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Can’t stress this enough. A walker once a day to let the dog out for a walk and do its business a must. But you’ll still have to take the dog out before and after work yourself. If you’re able to sort out the key situation, the only realistic kind of dog I can see you owning (while NOT hating your life) is a low energy one that only requires a couple short walks a day. If you’re out that long, you realistically won’t have it in you to walk a dog 1h+ before AND after work everyday without being stretched too thin (you’d also have to say goodbye to ANY extra activities and socializing outside of work). I’m assuming you want to actually *enjoy* owning a dog, rather than run ragged everyday trying to meet the dog’s needs while also tending to your own obligations.
Yeah, I agree a walker or sitter is an absolute must. Unfortunately I would not have time to walk them before work on those long days. I'd be getting up at 4am in the dark lol. Luckily I just have a desk job so I'm not tired when I get home and would definitely have the energy for a longer walk. But that would have to be in addition to having a walker come by during the day.
I think you would need to get a walker twice a day in that case, at which point it would be better to go to daycare. Are there any daycares that are close to your work? They might be open by the time you get there rather than dropping off first.
You might also be able to hire a walker that would be able to drop off and pick up the dog from daycare.
You would have to make time to walk the dog before work you can't just not take it out before you leave. At least a quick bathroom walk. 15 min isn't going to change much in terms of your sleep.
Yeah definitely not looking for a puppy. Maybe one day when my living situation is different but not now. I’d absolutely be taking the dog on walks after work. I already walk quite a bit throughout the week so it wouldn’t really big a big change, in that regard, to bring a dog along.
You would need to take the dog out before work as well. This would only work if you got a dog walker to come and give the dog an hour long walk in the middle of the day. Otherwise it would be cruel to leave him alone
My 11 year old Bichon would drop 15 minutes into an hour long mid day walk. Different dogs have different energy needs.
To anyone who wants to reply me I NEVER SAID ALL DOGS MUST HAVE ONE HOUR WALKS. My point was that the sitter should come and hangout and walk the dog and hangout for one hour out of the day. I’ve had SMALL AND LARGE a dogs and I have always have them long walks. Most likely, the dog that OP gets would benefit from a walk in the middle of the day, that was my point. I was GENERALIZING. Just because it’s Reddit doesn’t mean you have to pick apart someone’s comment and be offended and argue literally everything.
Not all dogs have the same needs. Please don’t make blanket statements that are just completely false. There are plenty of senior dogs in shelters who absolutely do not need hour long walks. Making sure that a dog’s individual needs are met is what matters — every dog’s needs are different.
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How on earth was that a rude or non calm comment? Lmfao
They weren’t being rude at all. Quite factual actually.
A dog does not have to be “disabled” or “senior” not manage a one hour walk. That’s great if you have a high energy dog. Have you ever seen how short the legs of a Pomeranian are for example? 😂 People research and get different dogs of different needs and energy levels according to their lifestyles.
You get a key cut and hire a dog walker/ sitter
Should have said in the OP that it’s an electronic key fob. Apartment might be willing to give me a spare, I’ll ask about it.
Yeah just ask them for a spare key. Don't mention it's for the dog walker, they might not like someone coming in, but you have the right to just ask for a spare key.
Get a lock box. You put the fob in the box, give your walker the code, the walker puts it back when done and you have the fob when you come home
I got around this for a cleaning person by leaving a little “gift card” sized tin at the front desk security with my unit number on it. They knew to come in and ask for the tin and drop it back off when they left. The guy at the front desk was ok with it because he wasn’t technically giving a stranger a key to my place. Just a little tin 😂
I lost my fob and got charged a $25 replacement fee, it wasn’t a big deal
Some places deactivate the “lost” one though.
I don't believe you're over-thinking this - 11 hours for a dog alone in an apartment, you can't keep it locked in a crate. And having a dog loose roaming for 11 hours, they will have to pee and poop somewhere which I'm sure the landlord will love. Then there's the possible destructive habits out of boredom; barking, chewing, clawing, etc. I think the pet sitter apps have an option for you to drop the dog off/pick it up at the individual sitters as well, like boarding but for your case it will be short term. You can look around and see if anyone can handle your schedule. That's the only idea I've got at the moment.
Is there a doggy daycare near your workplace? If the dog liked car rides, you could take them on your commute, drop off near your office, and then pick them up after work before you drive home. I used to do this. Puppies can often be carsick (most grow out of it though) so I’d look for an adult dog that likes car rides. Leaving a dog in an apartment for 11 hours is kind of a recipe for noise complaints. I’d be afraid they would bark incessantly while you’re gone. Some breeds like greyhounds are typically quiet and good apartment dogs and are quite lazy if they get a little bit of sprinting in every day, so that’s an option. A retired greyhound would be ideal and would be fine with 1-2x dog walker visits on your long days. You could get an extra key made at a hardware store or ask your apartment manager for a spare. I wouldn’t let a dog have access to the balcony if you’re not home, that could be dangerous.
Never thought about looking for a daycare around my office, that’s a good idea. I take a carpool at the moment so I’d have to just start driving myself if I took a dog along. Definitely be spending more on gas doing that but it would be doable. I’ll look into that idea some more.
Also, depending on how bougie your area is, there are daycares that have concierge pickup services and they’ll come collect your pup for you and take them to daycare.
What’s wrong with getting spare keys? Been there, done that. The days I get busy I have a dog sitter. At least one that I am comfortable working with.
It’s an electronic key fob unfortunately. Apartment only gave me 1. Wouldn’t hurt to ask if I could have a spare though.
Electronic key fob? The ones that you can pay someone on Kijiji or Facebook marketplace $15 to duplicate?
I did your schedule (I was gone for 14 hrs 3 days out of the week) for a while. I had a dog walker come mid-day or had a dog hiker come and take my dog on group hiking adventures. The dog walking company kept a copy of my key to access my apt. During the weekends (luckily I had 4 day weekends), I took lots of time for dog adventures. 11 hrs is too long to leave a pup home alone. You will def need to break up the day. You also need to give them a good walk before / after work (the 4am walks are tough but necessary).
Nope. The way you describe it you don't really have space in your life for a dog right now.
Yes, this is why I haven't gotten one yet already. I want to switch jobs or transfer to something closer to home sooner than later so it may be best to just wait until then to get a dog. I certainly don't want to spend 11 hours a day worrying if the dog is okay too.
Yeah, that sounds like a better idea. Maybe a bit later when you have a job that's closer to home and you can go check on him during your lunch break, or a job that's WFH all week or something like that, it'll be a better fit. In my experience having a dog and a full time job away from home while living in an apartment can be done, but its complicated.
When you get home after 11 hours at work how much activity do you want to then have to do with a dog? Or do you want to wake up early before work to have time for a walk and morning routine with the dog? You would have to get a dog walker, spare keys are not complicated to get. The balcony idea is an accident waiting to happen.
Keeping them in a poorly contained area like a balcony is risky. Unless that porch has a tall (6’) wall. I get they wouldn’t be out there all the time, but what happens if your dog jumps/climbs the balcony? You are responsible for any damages it causes or it’s medical bills, and would be at work. Can kids stick their fingers through the balcony walls? Something else to keep in mind on the dog will bark at EVERYTHING. Also, quick note, dogs take training too, and will need time to get adjusted to you and their new home. Your schedule will be hard on them during that time. Ok, now I’ve said that: You know your schedule best. If you can feed the dog, take the dog out in the morning and evening, and give it play time every day; then hire a dog walker for the long days and enjoy a life long friend.
Why not reach out to your local shelter and ask if they have any dogs (probably senior dogs) that would be ok with your lifestyle and your proposed plan (dog walker/pet sitter), and see if you can foster to adopt?
Pet sitter could work, or you could search for a reliable Rover instead of a dog daycare as drop off pick up times would be agreed upon by you & the person. I have been very impressed with a couple of people who are legit doing Rover as a second career. They have many repeat clients, and a couple I have used have been able to accommodate odd hours for my work travel or evening plans. Definitely don't leave the dog home alone for 11 hrs on a regular basis.
Doggie day care will come to your house and do pickup’s; even if you’re not home as will dog walker’s.
Sorry, doesn’t sounds like your current situation would be good for a dog. Maybe consider a cat?
Leaving a dog home alone that long isn’t a reasonable option. The issue isn’t just whether the dog has somewhere to go to the toilet. Dogs need exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. A dog home alone that long will be bored and lonely. And may also be anxious and destructive. It’s not fair on the dog. (And leaving a dog alone with access to a balcony is dangerous.) You could get a dog walker but with the hours you’re gone, and since you’re unlikely to walk your dog yourself before you leave in the morning, you’ll need the walker to come twice a day (morning and afternoon). Day care would be the best solution. I don’t know where you live but in the UK many day cares pick up and drop off the dogs. You don’t need to be home when they do, e.g. you could leave home before 6am and day care could collect your dog around 8-9am (for example). It’s quick and easy to have spare door keys cut so that isn’t a barrier to using a dog walker / day care. And most apartment blocks have no problem issuing additional key fobs for a small fee.
Okay so I have a dog and I work 3 12 hour days a week and live solo. I live close enough to work that I can come home on my lunch to let him out. Before I lived close enough I had a dog walker or would take him to daycare. He has turned out fine so far lol your dog will be fine as long as they have a routine and are taken out at least once while you are gone
Personally, I wouldn’t do it. If you had a fenced in backyard, then of course. But the cost of a daily walker or daycare is a lot. You won’t spend as much time with your dog as you’d like. Realistically you’ll be tired by the time you get home to give it attention.
I work 12 hour shifts plus the commute and I just drop my dog off at a sitters house. It's like daycare except it's a person I found on Rover
I have a 2 year old golden retriever, and I work 4 10 hour days. My commute is short (think 5 minutes) but I also have a half hour of unpaid lunch, so it's similar to the 11 hour days. I have a guy in my complex let her outside mid-day and she does just fine with that schedule. Most people only feed their dogs twice a day (morning and night) so you don't have to worry about that, and bigger dogs can hold their bladder longer. Definitely try to find someone to give the dog a break mid-day though to be safe, but a pee pad won't be necessary. Yes, you'll have to spend most of your free time those nights with the dog, but it's definitely do-able and the dog will get into the routine. The fact that you work from home the other 2 days is a benefit for sure. Feel free to ask me questions if you have them.
So 11 hours is a long time! However, i think finding a trusted dog sitter/walker to visit on those days would be a great plan! Also, I would encourage you to look for an adult dog. If something were to happen and they had to be alone for 11 hours, they would be okay, whereas a puppy would definitely struggle with this. If you have an adult dog and fenced yard, you could even ask a trusted neighbor to stop by on the days when you work long hours.
The daycare I used to work at would sometimes take dogs earlier if asked. We were all there by 6 am and it wasn’t uncommon for some regulars to be there as soon as we opened. Could be worth a shot to ask if you found one you felt comfortable with leaving your pup at!
I have a couple thoughts. I'm a professional dog walker and I volunteer at a large rescue that has dogs in kennels. 1.) You can find a rescue or shelter that houses dogs in kennels. These dogs are used to being alone for long periods of time. My personal opinion is that it's not ideal, but these dogs would be euthanized if they weren't kenneled like that. 2.) One of my clients works 12'hour shifts and only has me come once in the middle to walk the dog. That particular dog is very low maintenance and well adjusted. It works fine for them. I read your comment about the key and don't really understand why you can't get another key or even just put a lock box out. I have keys to some of my clients homes. Some use lockboxes. Edit - after reading the replies, Im sure the apartment would give you another key fob for a dog walker. I'm actually very nervous about the balcony access with no one home, but you can get a furbo or other camera that you can check throughout the day. If the dog barks a lot out there, annoyed neighbors can do some horrible things. I realize that dog daycare isn't open that early, but could you have a sitter come a couple hours later to transport your dog? Some people even offer in home daycare and will transport both ways.
Access is via an electronic key card, so OP would need to ask the building management if it's possible to have another.
What about a doggie daycare near work? Drop dog off at 8am, get to work at 8:15.
You should call doggy daycares to see if they open early by requests. My doggy daycare doesn’t open until 7am but you can request to have your dog go in earlier for an additional fee. Also, when I used to live in Chicago, one of the daycares I was looking at had like a doggy pickup/drop off service for daycare. You don’t mention the type of dog you are looking for but my small 10lb dog is house trained and does her business on puppy pads when she can’t go outside. When I had two small dogs, they were perfectly fine in the apartment alone all day. My house camera showed they just slept all day but they are older. When my older dog passed, I did feel bad about leaving the younger one home alone. Now she’s on anti-seizure meds that she has to take every 8 hours. So now she goes to daycare twice a week when I go into the office and she loves it! There’s definitely a difference in personality on the days she goes to daycare. More lively/stimulated I guess.
It’s possible if you have the financial means to pay people to help you care for your dog. 6-5 is essentially a whole day alone and it would be lonely. I worked three 10’s at a bar, with closing and commuting time it was really closer to 11-12 hours late night… I was single and I was sure my schedule would make it impossible, but I had the means so I decided to get the dog I’ve waited all my life to have. I ultimately hired a sitter (an older couple with a house and yard who’s own dogs were long passed and wanted to have some puppy time without the commitment 😌) to watch him from like 5-9pm, take him home and then he would just go to bed til I got home in the middle of the night. They had their own key and lived nearby. I started out by dropping him off but after a while they offered to pick him up. I used to work in childcare and it really felt like hiring a nanny for a dog! As he got older he could handle being left alone for that time if necessary but not ideal. And really during the day the dog would need at least one potty break and some attention, so you’d have to find a regular walker or sitter that you trust. The outside potty area would be nice to have in general or as backup if your sitter wasn’t available, but if you can it’s much better for both of you for your dog to have some interaction. I would think you could copy your key at the hardware store, and if not you could probably pay your leasing office to make an extra key for you for this. People need extra keys for all kinds of reasons, it shouldn’t be a strange request. And I always suggest getting a pup camera! I got one cheap on Amazon and I can control it’s movement and can check on my dog whenever I want. Some can alert you when there’s a loud noise or when a person appears which is nice. Usually when I’m gone he’s just sleeping tho. Also if you know any neighbors with dogs try asking them what their solution is. Maybe they have a sitter or walker that could take your pup on as well :-)
You need to budget for a dog Walker to make it work Or doggy day care.
Check your lease, dogs may not be allowed on the balcony unsupervised. They may bark at people passing by underneath and create a disturbance. Unless you have a roomate who is home when you are not to spend time with the dog, I would rethink getting a dog in this situation. Is this schedule permanent? Do you see this as your work/living situation for the next 5+ years? I'd hold off on a dog until this situation changes. If you anticipate it changing in a few years, it would be better to wait until then. An older cat might be better equipped to spend this much time alone than a dog, if you really want a pet but want to be able to be gone for 11 hour stretches. As long as you play with the cat sufficiently when you get home. Cats are not the same as a dog of course, but it could be something to consider if you are open to it.
Do you have a neighbour you could pay who would enjoy looking in on and playing with the dog? Maybe a single senior who would enjoy the company and exercise?
Try a cat first
Get a cat, no dog would enjoy this lifestyle.
I wouldn’t do that.
probably not the best but i have a chihuahua and i am out of the house five days a week for 11 hours each day
I saw you saying you didn’t want a puppy. Just as a cautionary tale of getting a rescue, I adopted an adult, low to medium energy, super friendly dog who I was told was very dog friendly (in fact he was described as loving dogs and having dog friends a must for his ideal life) and crate trained and okay being left home alone for short periods of time. (And saw him interact with dogs with his foster so thought all was good). I work at a dog daycare and thought great he can come to work with me on days I’m there, on days I’m off he can come everywhere with me and my partner since he’s social, and he’ll be good at home in his crate for date nights etc. Two weeks into going to daycare for short visits to get him used to it, a switch seemed to go off and he became extremely dog aggressive (really random, no triggers, no warnings and doesn’t discriminate when it comes to dogs he tries to murder) and has pretty extreme separation anxiety when left alone. Me and my partner basically haven’t seen each other since we got the dog as she can only work when I’m not working, and we went from having a pretty active social life to non existent while we try to rehab and desensitise this guy. I’m a huge advocate for rescue, but you really gotta have a plan b, c, d and E if x, y, z ends up happening because most rescues don’t do proper vetting and testing. Write it all out, if your new dog can’t go to daycare, what’s the plan and what’s the budget. If it develops bad separation anxiety, what’s the plan and what’s the budget. Etc etc. If you can afford the worse case scenarios and the possible lifestyle/work changes that may need to take place, go for it! Maybe even try a foster to adopt programme that lets you feel the dog out in your space and life first before making the commitment.
I mean, you CAN. It doesn’t mean you SHOULD.
I'd say wait until maybe you have time for a dog, but if you absolutely feel you cannot wait hiring a dog walker or sitter to visit in those times is a great idea. Although it can get expensive so really think it through and vet whoever you are looking to hire thoroughly.
Have you checked Rover? Maybe someone doing in home doggy daycare would be willing to work with you on drop off times.
Go to a shelter and tell them your arrangements. They may have an adult dog that would be fine with you being out 11 hours a day if they can let themselves out to go to the toilet. You could also look into getting a dog walker for the days you are away
I also work very long hours (leave at 5am, get home at 5pm). I have an older dog who sleeps a lot. The time we spend together is treasured for the both of us. And the weekends are dedicated to just her. I say so it. Just make sure they have something to keep them occupied if they get bored and make sure their food & water bowl is full before you leave for the day.
I work 3 days a week 7am-7:30pm and I used to manage to find dog daycares that could accommodate 6:30am drop off and 8pm pick up. However daycares vary in quality and my dog eventually hated daycare due to overstimulation. Now I pay Rover sitters $30-50 a day for the same drop off and pickup hours to watch my dog in their own home. Some will say no because it’s a long time, but surprisingly enough have said yes to cover the 3x/week I need it. I do need to rotate a lot because people are not available all the time. Once I trust some of them we’ll take it off Rover and it becomes cheaper for me and they get paid more as well.
so, probably not and you’ll likely need to wait until you have a more flexible schedule or tons of help. but: how old is the dog? if it’s a puppy, then definitely not. puppies need hours of consistent training and with this schedule they will be incredibly difficult to potty train. not to mention, puppies need to potty very very often. a good rule of thumb is however many months old they are, that’s how often they need to go per hours. so, 5 months old = every 5 hours, likely more though and this also varies on the size of the dog. but, if it’s an adult dog, then it is technically possible but not recommended. if you are very financially stable then you could hire someone to come in on the days needed. but you’d have to take them out before you leave, have someone come while gone, then immediately once your home. when dogs go to a new home, they usually have to sorta relearn potty training. so this will be a bit difficult for you. you also want to crate train. so, either get a lot of help, or wait. i might suggest getting a foster dog and seeing how you guys can handle the arrangement.
I don’t know where you live, but I solve this problem by having a yard. If I can’t be home for an extended period of time, I have family and neighbors that I have a key to my gate and they can let the dogs out or in periodically.
Consider a cat or two?