Hello, new here and considering getting a dog

Im not sure if any dog could cope with being left alone for that amount of time or wether it would be fair to do so. My Chow Simba copes well when we go out for a few hours when we leave him, but I suppose Chow fur would not be the best for your allergies.
 
If you were to get a dog I would recommend an older dog from a shelter as a pup would suffer worse being left alone, also you could look into installing a doggy door then the dog could access the yard.
 
Have you looked into cats that would not affect your allergies im sure there are some breeds and like you said cats are a lot more self sufficent.
 
Failing that fish and birds make great pets!!!
 
Good Luck making your descision.      

hmm, i'm not a big fan of birds (i don't think they should be pets in the first place, but that's just me), i already have a beta fish which is about as exciting as watching the atlantic ocean evaporate, and the hypoallergenic cats you speak of are uglier than sin. [] well, at least to me they are.
 
i guess i'll never have a dog. sigh

I would second getting an older dog.  There are many at shelters that need good homes.  The benefits are that you get a dog that is likely already housebroken, has some manners, won't eat you couch, has a personality already and alot of times are extremely loyal because they know you saved thier life.  If you have a fenced yard and can install a doggy door your dog may be fine home alone.  Can you and your wife get home for lunch hours? 

9 hours is an awefully long time to be stuck alone though.  Can you afford doggy daycare a couple times a week or a dog walker?

I would look in to dogs that are currently being fostered.  They are usually house trained and the foster parents can tell you whether or not they will be okay in your home while you are at work.  I wouldnt get a puppy, they need way too much time for your schedule, but maybe an adult dog who already has been living with someone...  my moms dog sleeps alllll day long, and of course they wouldnt do this, but if she was left for 15 hours or more she wouldnt care, just sleep or bark in the window.  Im sure you can find a dog that wouldnt mind your schedule if you look hard enough... although even then, they will need more attention right when they move into your house then after they are settled. 

Never say Never! If you really want a dog im sure you will work something out, is there any way you or your wife could make it home on you lunch break for an hour to play with the pup? Or take the dog to work?
 
Its not impossible to own a dog and work long hours, its just more difficult ie 
Bored Dog = Destructive Dog = No Furniture or
Confined Dog = Poop in the house = Smelly House and Unhappy Owners
 
There are some breeds that will tolerate being left for longer then others but not many. Im sad for you, my life didnt feel complete until I got my dog, I work long hours too but my BF is at home during the day as he works night shift so Simba is never alone.
 
P.s - I agree with you on the fish front BORING!!!! []     

ORIGINAL: huskymom

I would second getting an older dog.  There are many at shelters that need good homes.  The benefits are that you get a dog that is likely already housebroken, has some manners, won't eat you couch, has a personality already and alot of times are extremely loyal because they know you saved thier life.  If you have a fenced yard and can install a doggy door your dog may be fine home alone.  Can you and your wife get home for lunch hours? 

9 hours is an awefully long time to be stuck alone though.  Can you afford doggy daycare a couple times a week or a dog walker?

yeah, i was thinking about an older dog as well, but i guess i'm spoiled in the sense that i wanted to raise a dog since it was a puppy, plus i wanted the dog to last as long as possible. i'm leaving it open as a possibility though. what would be the youngest you'd go?
 
and i thought about a doggie door, but the door leading to the backyard is a sliding glass, so that won't be possible (at least until i change the door). as far as lunchtime, my wife and i each work approx. 15 miles away and we drive in miami traffic, so going home during lunch would be chaotic. i wouldn't even be able to eat. [] 
 
as far as doggie daycare, i'm not sure about strangers, not to mention the amount they'd charge for something like that. dropping it off at my parent's house is always an option, i'm sure they wouldn't mind, but then i'd have to wash the dog since he/she would pick up dander from all the cats in the house.
 

ORIGINAL: loveukaykay

I would look in to dogs that are currently being fostered.  They are usually house trained and the foster parents can tell you whether or not they will be okay in your home while you are at work.  I wouldnt get a puppy, they need way too much time for your schedule, but maybe an adult dog who already has been living with someone...  my moms dog sleeps alllll day long, and of course they wouldnt do this, but if she was left for 15 hours or more she wouldnt care, just sleep or bark in the window.  Im sure you can find a dog that wouldnt mind your schedule if you look hard enough... although even then, they will need more attention right when they move into your house then after they are settled. 

yeah, i wish i worked from home and all so i could watch over the pup, but that's our situation at the moment, unfortunately. my parents have the luxury (well, "luxury") of having her 7 dogs and 4 cats because my mom's a housewife. one day i guess i'll be able to have a puppy. not for a while though...
 

ORIGINAL: sarahlou

Never say Never! If you really want a dog im sure you will work something out, is there any way you or your wife could make it home on you lunch break for an hour to play with the pup? Or take the dog to work?

Its not impossible to own a dog and work long hours, its just more difficult ie 
Bored Dog = Destructive Dog = No Furniture or
Confined Dog = Poop in the house = Smelly House and Unhappy Owners

There are some breeds that will tolerate being left for longer then others but not many. Im sad for you, my life didnt feel complete until I got my dog, I work long hours too but my BF is at home during the day as he works night shift so Simba is never alone.

P.s - I agree with you on the fish front BORING!!!! []     

i'm not sure the government office i work at would be happy with a yapping bichon. lol. i could imagine that though. []
 
and yeah, i don't feel complete. when i leave my parents house i feel kinda empty cause i leave all those dogs...and they're constantly all over me from the moment i step in their house. so, i'm well-loved by dogs/cats.
 
for the record, i love my beta fish - mongo, but he just sits there. i think he forgets he's a fish and doesn't swim. []

Yes maybe go through a breed rescue and get an adult dog.  Talk to them about what you are looking for and if they have any dogs that would fit the bill.  Although cats would be good because they do not require a lot of attention as a dog or pup.

ORIGINAL: jazzdpb
and i thought about a doggie door, but the door leading to the backyard is a sliding glass, so that won't be possible (at least until i change the door).

fyi: you can now get doggy doors that work with sliding glass doors. they even have one right on dog.com....
http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=120101+2S+ALM&Cat=Doors%20&%20Gates

Not getting a puppy doesnt mean it has to be an old dog, you could look for one about 2 who is just getting out of puppyhood.

ORIGINAL: cyclefiend2000

ORIGINAL: jazzdpb
and i thought about a doggie door, but the door leading to the backyard is a sliding glass, so that won't be possible (at least until i change the door).

fyi: you can now get doggy doors that work with sliding glass doors. they even have one right on dog.com....
[linkhttp://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=120101+2S+ALM&Cat=Doors%20&%20Gates]http://www.dog.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=120101+2S+ALM&Cat=Doors%20&%20Gates[/link]

i wonder if that's hurricane safe (i live in s. florida). thanks. 
 

Some people do, but I dont like doggie doors at all, and wouldnt recommend them, just because giving the dog free roam of the yard while you are gone is not safe in my opinion.  Of course some dogs do well with it, others will get out... then theres always the stories of people trowing poisonous meat into yards killing their dogs and things like that.  I would be worried the entire time I was gone... would never do that.  And no Im sure they are not hurricae safe.

not to mention the dog being stolen. that was one of my fears when i initially thought about keeping a dog outside. i immediately said no to that.

I don't about allergies but bassett hounds are pretty low key and are pretty good about being in a crate.
 
Maybe a dog walker or mom can come over and take fluffy out while you work.  If there is a will there is a way.  A dog at 8 months is very different than 8 weeks, so consider all options.
 

Hey, here's an idea:

How about you drop your dog off at your mom's every day when you go to work? It sounds like she's already got quite a few animals, what's one more adult, housetrained one? (I agree that you ought to get an adult rescue--that doesn't mean it has to be elderly, though!)