single, working, live alone, but want dog...possible? good idea?

Hi Paul and welcome to idog!   This is a tough call but hard to know exactly what advice to give you unless I know what "a somewhat long day" means to you?  Also are you able to exercise them in the evenings and are you usually home most evenings?
 
There are lots of great "condo" dogs out there but without a little more info it is hard to know if it is a good idea for you to have a dog in your current situation. I commend you for trying to do your research first. []  

Your situation may not be ideal, but it depends on the dog.  If you came home to let the dog out and made sure to exercise it in the evening and weekends, I'm sure you could find a dog somewhere with a low energy level and no seperation anxiety.  I'd start by checking local shelters and rescues for adult dogs that fit your lifestyle.  With an adult dog, they can tell you what energy level it is or whether it's OK left along for long hours.  With a puppy or maturing dog, you wouldn't really know until adulthood and if it's too energetic, then what?  If you're not sure what you're looking for, go in and apply.  The employees can show you dogs that fit based on what you put on your app. 

Of course it is possible and a good idea.  I have 5 dogs that live with me but it takes time to get to that number and also years of adjusting the home to make it dog friendly.  Of late, it seems that all the dog applicants we receive for our rescues have the same home situation.  As long as you can satisfy your dog's exercise and other needs and you comply with your home association rules, all should be ok.  Contact a rescue and an Adoption Counselor will help you find the right dog for your home setup.

Plenty of people work full time and still have dogs. I have two dogs and both my husband and I are out of the house from 8:30 AM until about 5 PM.

What makes this work for us is the following:

• We have adult dogs--puppies I think are pretty much out for a situation like yours. Look for a dog over 3 years of age. We also have largish breeds who can hold their largish bladders for a pretty long time without discomfort.
  
• We have breeds that are not famous for their high energy level (we have scenthounds, famous for their laziness, though that's something of a myth, it does have basis in reality--compared to some other working breeds they can seem downright comatose)
  
• When we're not at work, the dogs come first, always. We get up early to walk them before work, when I get home from work, even though I usually don't want to after a long day at the office, I walk them again. We don't go out nights during the work week (even Fridays--one of us stays home, usually me). Weekends mean trips to the dog park and long hikes and walks.
  
• Things are set up for their comfort, safety and stimulation when we're out of the house. This has meant some experimentation to see where they are most comfortable (one must be crated becasue of seperation anxiety but he has the largest crate I could find and is crated in the room he's happiest to be in--our bedroom), some strategic use of baby gates to keep the uncrated one in a safely dog-proofed area, I've purchased several puzzle toys and take time out every evening to set them up with food to be given the next morning before I leave for work. I raided the neighbor's trash and hauled in an old recliner to put in the room our uncrated dog spends his days in. All dogs are different but what makes my dogs happy are cushy, quiet places to sleep, so I've provided them. Some dogs like to look out the window all day, some like to be in their crate, some like to drag their favorite toy all around the place, some like this room but not that room. You just have to get to know your dog and see what will make them happiest in your absence.
  

It's totally possible to have a dog and work full time (though you need to clarify what 'somewhat long hours' are becuase I think a normal 8 hour work day is pretty much the upper limit), you just have to put in some extra effort. Back when I wasn't working for a while and we lived way out in the country, having a dog was pretty much no effort. You barely noticed him! But being in a city, working full time, sharing a wall with other people (we're in a duplex) it takes a lot more effort, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks all for the great responses.  To add a little more detail.  My "somewhat long days" generally run about 10 hours (8-6ish).  But I work about 6 blocks from where I live and would robably be able to make it home once a day.  Nights and weekends I am generally home or can be.  I'm an evening outdoor exerciser, so walks / runs at night are great.  I can easily incorporate the morning walk too.
 
I was definitely thinking adult dog, as I imagined a puppy would be out of the question.  I will take your advice and talk to the local shelters.  But in the meantime, do you guys have advice for breeds that are typically "condo-dogs"? 
 
Thanks again.
 
Paul.

I'm also going to ask what "long hours" mean. We had someone inquire at our shelter who worked fourteen hour days, at which point I said "Probably not good to get a dog right now," until she clarified that it was only 3 days a week, then had the other four days off! She was willing to make adjustments those three days (doggy daycare, home on lunch break, dog walker, etc.) and took home a wonderful low-maintainence dog.

That said, I work 30 hours a week (four days a week) and am a full time student. I have two dogs, two cats, and two horses, in addition to the fostering that I do for the shelter. I do have a finace who helps out, but the critters are mainly my responsibility. I make adjustments in order to keep them. Since I also live in a 2BR condo, my lunch hours are spent coming home to walk the dogs and grab a quick sandwich, I'm up an hour early to make sure everyone eats and gets to go potty outside, and when I get home from work, then get dinner (then I can go to the barn for two hours) and they are ready for a walk when I get home. My suggestions are the following:

*Go to a shelter and let them know what you are looking for. The number of FANTASTIC dogs there is unbelieveable.
*Get an adult dog, already housetrained, preferably with basic obedience on him as well.
*Invest in kongs, busy balls, or other "puzzle" games for the dog while you are gone.
*Have any friends in the area that may want to stop in to say hi to Fido 1x-2x a week while you are at work? They get their dog fix and your dog gets some company for 15-20 minutes.
*If possible, consider taking 1-2 days off from work when you bring your new dog home. Gives you time to adjust to each other and get used to having a dog.
*Be prepared to change your lifestyle - if you can't, I would honestly suggest getting a cat, which are much easier to care for.

So are we talking about coming home for 45ish minutes on your lunch our around the middle of the day? I'm not sure I would be looking for a specific breed of dog. People that foster dogs often have a better idea of how their dogs are than some shelters. Lots of dogs don't act true to themselves until they are in a home enviroment and settled in. Size doesn't always reflect the energy level of a dog. JRT's have way more energy as a breed then say a Great Dane. Check to see if your building has a size restriction before going out to get that Great Dane though.

good Luck and Way to go for doing your research first.

Good apartment/condo dogs can come in a variety of sizes. Was there a specific size of dog that you were looking for? Like huskymom said, Great Danes are good couch dogs as are greyhounds (generally). Standard poodles are wonderful dogs - active and smart but I've met few that are bouncing-off-the-walls-hyperactive. An older retriever may not be too bad if he has already had some training...depends on the dog since they tend to be late to mature.

Medium sized dogs: I've found beagles and bassets to be decent condo dogs if given a daily walk. Beware the howling though - could fry your neighbors pretty quickly if they are not "dog people". I've heard mixed opinions on spaniels - i've met some nice ones and I've also met some that I had to handle with a control stick. Some shelties make good condo dogs, again, depending on the dog. Some are simply too driven to herd to be happy in that environment.

Small dogs: I would say that wheaten or cairn terrier are good dogs for small spaces as they tend to be less "drivey" than the other terriers, like JRT. I've heard wonderful things about westies (DH's grandmother used to raise them) and they seem to be pretty adaptable. I personally have a mini schnauzer who is now eight months old now and she is making a lovely condo dog. She does have alot of energy (what puppy doesn't?) but a walk around the block and a rousing game of fetch in the living room tire her out to sleep through the night. I've also got a young adult silky terrier in the house for my parents and I can't say enough good things about him. Not having had experience with silky terriers, I don't know if he is acting true to a silky or not, but my gosh, he is an easy keeper! Very laid back, just wants to lay down with you most of the time, and easy to get along with. A note on the terriers/schnau though - also barkers...really have to train them to keep it to a minimum. And small dog = small bladder, so keep that in mind when thinking of getting the dog out often enough to potty. Perhaps doxies or corgis would fit well too?

Dogs typically not for apartments/condos or people who work long hours: Aussies, border collies, working-line german shepherds, belgian shepherds, or a number of other dogs from the herding group. These dogs were bred to do a job and often times NEED that job or they will come up with their own jobs around the house, like taking the stuffing out of the couch, pulling up the flooring, or taking it upon themselves to "re-do" the decor (aka destroy the house) if left bored. I am blessed that my belgian malinois fits in wherever we stick her, but I think part of it has to do with her need to keep the other two dogs in line, plus watch over the throngs of cats in the house, keeps her mentally tired. []

ORIGINAL: huskymom
People that foster dogs often have a better idea of how their dogs are than some shelters. Lots of dogs don't act true to themselves until they are in a home enviroment and settled in. 

I was going to suggest the rescue route as well.  The fosters will be able to tell you how they think the dog will do in your lifestyle.

I would do this:

1. Get a book like the Kilcommons book about choosing a dog, and figure out what kinds of dogs you like best as well as what fits your lifestyle. Ideally, you want to address both what you want and what you can have.

2. Go to a dog show and pet one kerjillion dogs and talk to a lot of people. Tell them that you are looking for an adult dog, and that you are just there doing research about breeds. Ask questions about each breed--people love to talk about their dogs at dog shows. You will get lots of honest appraisals about each breeder's breed. Collect cards from people who are involved in rescue.

3. After you have met all these dogs and talked to all these breeders, you will have a much clearer idea of what you are looking for, which is presumably a dog with a pretty low energy level who can handle being alone all day... plus at least some of the other things you want in a dog. You will also have met a bunch of people who are active in rescue. At this point, write down what you want.

4. Then go get it. Tell the people you met what you are looking for. Go to shelters regularly. ETc. etc. etc.

I know this sounds like quite a bit of work, but... well, first of all it's fun work. And you're going to keep the dog for a long time, and you are too busy and too conscientious to deal with owning the dog that's not right for you.

I also suggest this kind of rational, research based approach because getting a dog is really emotional. In my experience, the worst decisions I have made in my life have been emotional ones. A rational approach can keep you from "falling in love" with the dog that's totally not right for you.

Good luck, and good for you for thinking about it first!

I think you've been given good advice and just wanted to add some breeds to consider:

Greyhounds- big, but calm, and up to a decent amount of exercise when you want to go walk/jog/whatever. While they're not typically distance dogs, they can, properly conditioned, do it well. (My cousin the marathoner's training partner just adopted her third greyhound. My cousin's BC poops out around mile 12 (she's 11), but the greyhounds do their whole 15 mile training run regularly. )

Corgis- probably NOT a jogging partner, but a middle aged (probably male) corgi with an energy level at the low end of the breed could be a good match- they're not as feisty as terriers (pun intended, sorry ) and can be very good about gearing their energy level to yours. They have the bonus of fitting under most weight restrictions (frequently, restricted to 30 pounds or less, and corgis are around that weight) but still being able to keep up with almost anything you'd want to do without being hyper. DO watch the energy level- some are VERY energetic, but most are more moderate. They shed horribly and aren't for everyone, but might fit well into your sitation.

Those two said, if you're looking for a middle-aged dog, there's a wide variety of breeds that might be good, since you're going to be past the bratty, energetic puppy years.Even some normally energetic breeds, like labs and goldens, could potentially be a very good match.

I'm an evening outdoor exerciser, so walks / runs at night are great.

Keep in mind that a dog needs to be 2-years-old before it starts jogging on concrete.
 
Books on choosing a dog:
[link>http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/48/147603.html#POST446838]http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/48/147603.html#POST446838[/link][/size]

Good question about breeds. Mixes are another thing. Mine's a cattle dog/chow/x mix. She's mellow at home, yet full of energy when there's someplace to spend it. I spent some time with a boxer mix a few years back, and an airedale last year - they were the same.

Simple question for you Paul, can you take your dog to work?  I work 10 hour days (nights actually) and the Bog (Standard Poodle) comes to work with me.  Works out great for everyone!  PS He's not one of those bounce off the wall Poodles.