I've always wanted another dog and it's been a good 12 years now...my parents don't seem to want one (I know they bloody do!! they just wont bring themselves to) and I at somepoint really want another labradour...but is it even a viable option if you work full time 9-5 and have a life!!...I can't see how I could work it....obviously you can't get a puppy then leave em from 8am til 6pm?

hmph..nothing is easy....think i may start talking parents around again...may have to borrow a dog of a friend to tempt them in haha.

oh I don't live with my parents, I live alone at my own house.

If you live alone, work full time and don't have the resources to employ a dog sitter then I don't think that it would be very fair on the dog to have one.

However- could you come to some sort of arrangement where the pooch goes to your parents' while you're at work and you have a doggy sharing scheme? That could work and your parents could have the company and the fun walks without 'having a dog'.

Yeah they do only live up the road so it was a thought....

I'd never get a dog if i thought I couldnt care for it properly. I may have to just convince people I know to get the dogs and i'll visit more haha.

maybe think about getting a breed that would be happier alone for longer periods, labs need alot of exercise and mental stimulation as do many working type breeds-half the dogs i walk are labs, and they are always buzzing for their walks-maybe a breed with a more layed back nature would be more suitable if you can get someone to look after them in the day time.
Personally if i worked full time i wouldnt take on a dog unless i had a day break covered and knew id be home at nights. annax

Hi, I have a dog and work full time. I went through a lot of guilt when my partner and I went onto the same shift pattern. People on here were really reassuring and I've not seen any ill effects. In fact in recent months she's really chilled out but there could be other factors there.

The main differences though were that where you're saying 8-6 we're talking 9-5 (with a bit of flexi in that), ours is a less energetic breed and she was an adult when we got her. If I decide to get a pup I'm prepared to come home every lunch.

I'd suggest you go for an older dog and, like Anna's said, a less energetic breed. With a rescue you may encounter seperation anxiety issues but these can be overcome.

ive had labs, i had a lab puppy that ate my kitchen :loopy:
the lab ive got now i got as an adult from the kennels and he is very boysterous n clumsy n does need alot of exercise. they r brill dogs i wouldnt swap him for the world but if u r out alot then maybe there not the best breed to get unless u have got help :thumbsup:

Labs may not be ideal as they can wreak a home very easily but another type thats good at been left would be nice. We walk dogs daily and all are happy dogs when left for a few hours, with a walk in the middle of the day.

Our old labradour ate threw our kitchen door once, so I know how much attention and cheeky they can be...but i love them!!

It's a hard one deciding if to get another dog or not. I work full time but after waiting ten years I took the plunge. I'm lucky, I walk him before work at 6:00am and I can get home at lunch and at the moment I work two spilt days during the week so I can also get home for 3 hours during the day and then he only gets left for an hour before my partner gets in. The day that I can't get home he has Helen from Animal Crackers come and walk him for a couple of hours, who he :love:

I still do feel guilty though and we are pretty restricted going out in the evenings and weekends revolve around him, so it's not just the day you have to think about :) It also makes it easier if there is two of you as that means he can sneak extra walks :lol: as he's good at pretending he's not been out so ends up getting two afternoon/ evening walks often.

He's a lab/ bull breed cross so large but docile. Whenever I feel guilty about leaving him I just look back at the RSPCA site and still see the two dogs he was next to in the kennels still up for adoptation almost a year on :( He spent 4 months there himself and whatever people say I think he's better off with me than being stuck there still, even though they do a fantastic job with all the dogs.

i wouldnt say labs arnt a good breed to leav eon there own i have a 6yr old labby female and she is on her own from 8 to 4, and is perfect as long as she has mummys bed to lay on then shes happy lol, she has never chewed never braks she just litraly sleeps shes soooooooo layed back anyway, so i dont neccecarily think its the breed its just the certain dog if ur guna be out all day you would need a lazy more chilled out doggyxx

Hi there, I went through a simular process when I wanted to get a dog, as I live by myself and work full time, My Mam and Dad live just down the road but said that they wouldn't be walking the dog for me.
Anyway I got Ruby (baby boxer) in October and have alovely lady called Jacky who wrks for Paw pals, who walks her for an hour when I'm at work, but my parents do also help out, my mam said they didnt mind as I didnt expect it. Obviously you know your parents better than me!!
I wouldnt change Ruby for the world and she is lovely company in the house.
Its a big dicision though, as sometimes its really hard work as your the only one doing it, but shes worth it.
Let us know what you decide,
ps I must say that I always had dogs when I ws a kid and thought I knew everything.. didnt I get a shock when it was all my responsibility and not my Mam and Dads? God yes! But you know whats best for you :thumbsup: