Working full-time and have a dog? Here is how to do it right
There is something a bit absurd in the life of a person who works full-time and has a dog: on one hand, there is work and a career, and on the other — at home waits someone whose day is built around you. When living alone, eight hours of work can easily turn into nine or ten hours of solitude, including the commute. So how do you combine a full-time job with caring for your best friend?
There is something a bit absurd in the life of a person who works full-time and has a dog: on one hand, there is work and a career, and on the other — at home waits someone whose day is built around you, and you are the ones who felt competent enough to raise them happily ever after.
When living with a family, it is easier to share the task, but when living alone, eight hours of work can easily turn into nine or ten hours of solitude, including the commute. So how do you combine a full-time job with caring for the best friend left at home?
How long can you leave a dog alone?
There is no magic number that fits every dog — age, character, and energy level affect its ability to stay alone. However, the RSPCA recommends not leaving a dog alone for more than four hours at a time, so a full workday usually requires a solution in the middle.
Before you leave, let it burn off energy. If the dog is about to spend several hours alone, do not send it into the workday after a five-minute outing just to "pee". A morning walk of about half an hour, with walking, sniffing, and some activity, can help it burn off energy and enter the rest hours at home more calmly.
Make your departure a positive moment
One of the simple tricks is to turn the moment of departure into something positive. Feeding toys like KONG can keep the dog busy while you are out, and you can even freeze them to extend the engagement time. Thus, your departure becomes a moment when "the most valuable prize in the house" also arrives.
TV or radio in the background can help some dogs feel a little less alone, but this is not a substitute for a walk or company. To pass the time, you can leave them toys they know or thinking games. Also, a shirt or blanket with your scent can give them a sense of familiarity and security while you are not at home.
Solutions that will make it easier for both of you
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Home camera: If the thought "what is he doing now?" does not give you rest, a home camera can give you peace of mind. Some cameras also allow you to talk to the dog remotely.
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Dog walker: Sometimes half an hour makes the difference. A half-hour walk in the middle of the day allows the dog to go out, move, and get some company — sometimes that is all it takes to make a long day without you easier.
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Take it with you: If your workplace allows you to arrive with dogs, you are lucky. In 2026, you no longer have to choose between a career and your best friend. You work, the dog settles under the table, and the boss gets an employee who does not look at the clock thinking "I have to fly". This is the perfect solution.
Stop feeling guilty
They can sense it on you. Adult dogs sleep mostly 12–16 hours a day, so not all the time you are at work is time when they sit and wait for you. They also need rest, and the time you do spend with them — a walk, a game, a short training session, and quality time in the evening — can do a lot.
You do not need to choose between a career and your best friend — but you do need to build a routine that suits both of you. The goal is not to be with the dog 24/7, but to ensure that even when you are not there, it is safe and happy. And if it has difficulty staying alone, do not ignore it; it is worth getting help from a professional.
