Have you ever regretted getting your dog?

[Anonymous]

Yes. I love him dearly, but it was probably a bad decision. He did not get along with our child at all for her first 7 years. They are now finally friends, so it is better, but it was a hard ride.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

Wow, this makes me so sad for your dog. To go from being included in trips to the park and running laps at soccer practice to being a burden that brings no joy must be really sad...

My own teens (HS and MS) love our dogs and help out with them all the time. They are very much a part of our family and, yes, I still like to walk them.

How nice for you. Now stop trying to guilt-trip PP. She's allowed to have a life that doesn't revolve around her dog. Her kid is not helpful with the dog anymore and she feel burdened by it. I would in her shoes, too.

You lack empathy.

I'm the top PP. I never said that my kid doesn't help with the dog. My son walks him every morning, and every evening. The dog sleeps in his bed. But the reality is that when you have a kid who plays HS sports, or is involved in HS theater (or any number of other activities, but those are the 2 my kid does), they are gone from the home longer than the hours a dog should really be alone. Should I insist he goes back to playing at the playground after school rather than running with the track team, just because it works for the dog? Should I tell him not to go off to college, because of the dog?

Your youngest is many years younger than my kid. Come back when you have a 17 year old, and tell me if they're home from school at 3 every day to walk the dog.

I've got a 16 year old and an almost 14 year old. They have both been involved in a variety of activities and I do "get" that our schedules change as they get older. If your kiddo is taking the dog for a couple of walks every day then your dog is getting attention. It wasn't clear from your first post that that was the case. I'm sure that you would agree that it would be very sad for a dog to go from getting lots of attention to no attention.

I left for college and only saw my childhood dog every few weeks when I came home to visit. Each time I was met with great enthusiasm. Dogs wait for you. She was home with my mother but she was waiting for me to come home all the time - they wait for their favorite people. Endlessly.
When I got married we moved the dog in with us and we were both so devastated when she passed on.

That is so sweet. I can see how my own kids have that type of bond with our dogs and it's wonderful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

PP You should look into dog obedience. There is no reason why a dog who is 8 years old needs such constant attention. yes, you have made him part of your activities, but now you need to train him to amuse himself a bit more. He is not a puppy. He should be able to stay by himself a bit more than you are letting him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret mine constantly. They are loving, easy to care for, and sweet animals.

It's the expense that is killing me. I have two dogs and my average annual expense is $2500 per dog. That goes up dramatically if I go on a longer vacation. Putting the dogs in a boarding facility that I like is about $40 per dog per night. It often ends up being cheaper to fly my parents to town (from Canada) to care for the pets rather than board them.

I was divorced about 4 years ago, before that I had plenty of money to pay for all the expenses. I love my dogs and they bring me a ton of joy, but I won't get more dogs when these ones die of old age.

same

we have 2 dogs we got when we had children. I love them but they are a lot of work and I just don't have the time. The kids are gone, we are separated, the dogs just make a mess of of the house, our backyard is a lot of mud, especially this morning. I never have enought time from work, barely getting by without getting fired. and expense is also like $1500 per dog for just checkups, heartworms, flea and tick medicines.

if you both work don't do it.

I have had dogs for over 30 years and never had a heartworm problem, or all those check ups. Each time I go to the vet I hear about the "extreme threat that heart worm poses" and i just say no thank you. I think the whole thing is a marketing ploy. It adds so much to the expense, and after having 8 dogs and no heartworm ...I do use flea and tick, but that is over the counter.

[Anonymous]

I have regretted my dog many times, but I fully admit that I had no business getting the dog I did. I was young, did not own a home, and had grown up with small timid dogs. I got a large very energetic working breed because he was being abused and neglected and needed a place to go, and I really wanted a dog. I didn't have the money for training, it was hard to find apartments, and he chewed so many of my belongings and cost me many a security deposit.

After several years I finally figured out how to handle him and got religious about taking him for long walks on a short leash every single day, and he became a much better dog. He is old now and most just hangs around, loves a cuddle or a pat when he gets it, and does an awesome job cleaning the food off the floor. He's beyond patient and good with the kids.

We got a second dog as well that developed health issues as a puppy, cost us thousands and then had to be put to sleep.

Even with all of that, though, the dogs have been a net positive in our lives and on a whole, I don't regret having them. As much as I complain about dog hair and say we're not getting another dog when the current one dies, I know I'm totally bluffing. I will be a lot smarter at picking out the appropriate breed next time though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

PP You should look into dog obedience. There is no reason why a dog who is 8 years old needs such constant attention. yes, you have made him part of your activities, but now you need to train him to amuse himself a bit more. He is not a puppy. He should be able to stay by himself a bit more than you are letting him.

Where do you get that?

I work 9 hour days plus a commute. At the end of those 10 hours my dog is ready to pee and get some exercise, so I need to come home rather than going to the grocery store or another location. I don't think that makes him "untrained" or needing of constant attention. I think it's pretty common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

Wow, this makes me so sad for your dog. To go from being included in trips to the park and running laps at soccer practice to being a burden that brings no joy must be really sad...

My own teens (HS and MS) love our dogs and help out with them all the time. They are very much a part of our family and, yes, I still like to walk them.

How nice for you. Now stop trying to guilt-trip PP. She's allowed to have a life that doesn't revolve around her dog. Her kid is not helpful with the dog anymore and she feel burdened by it. I would in her shoes, too.

You lack empathy.

I'm the top PP. I never said that my kid doesn't help with the dog. My son walks him every morning, and every evening. The dog sleeps in his bed. But the reality is that when you have a kid who plays HS sports, or is involved in HS theater (or any number of other activities, but those are the 2 my kid does), they are gone from the home longer than the hours a dog should really be alone. Should I insist he goes back to playing at the playground after school rather than running with the track team, just because it works for the dog? Should I tell him not to go off to college, because of the dog?

Your youngest is many years younger than my kid. Come back when you have a 17 year old, and tell me if they're home from school at 3 every day to walk the dog.

I've got a 16 year old and an almost 14 year old. They have both been involved in a variety of activities and I do "get" that our schedules change as they get older. If your kiddo is taking the dog for a couple of walks every day then your dog is getting attention. It wasn't clear from your first post that that was the case. I'm sure that you would agree that it would be very sad for a dog to go from getting lots of attention to no attention.

We live in an apartment, so the dog only gets to pee on a walk. My son takes him out before he leaves, and after he gets back. He's great about it, as he should be because it's his dog. But, like many teens, he might leave the house at 7:00 (meaning he's back with the dog by 6:45) and be out until 11 p.m. with friends or at a performance. That's too long, and frankly a 15 minute walk at 11:00 p.m. isn't the same as a 2 hour trip to a soccer game with a 6th grader.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

PP You should look into dog obedience. There is no reason why a dog who is 8 years old needs such constant attention. yes, you have made him part of your activities, but now you need to train him to amuse himself a bit more. He is not a puppy. He should be able to stay by himself a bit more than you are letting him.

Where do you get that?

Maybe a dog does not fit into your lifestyle. Or maybe doggie daycare. But wrapping my whole schedule around an 8 year old dog would be out of the question for me. And those teens don't let the dog out after school?

I work 9 hour days plus a commute. At the end of those 10 hours my dog is ready to pee and get some exercise, so I need to come home rather than going to the grocery store or another location. I don't think that makes him "untrained" or needing of constant attention. I think it's pretty common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

PP You should look into dog obedience. There is no reason why a dog who is 8 years old needs such constant attention. yes, you have made him part of your activities, but now you need to train him to amuse himself a bit more. He is not a puppy. He should be able to stay by himself a bit more than you are letting him.

Where do you get that?

Maybe a dog does not fit into your lifestyle. Or maybe doggie daycare. But wrapping my whole schedule around an 8 year old dog would be out of the question for me. And those teens don't let the dog out after school?

I work 9 hour days plus a commute. At the end of those 10 hours my dog is ready to pee and get some exercise, so I need to come home rather than going to the grocery store or another location. I don't think that makes him "untrained" or needing of constant attention. I think it's pretty common.

Maybe a dog does not fit into your lifestyle. Or maybe doggie daycare. But wrapping my whole schedule around an 8 year old dog would be out of the question for me. And those teens don't let the dog out after school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

Wow, this makes me so sad for your dog. To go from being included in trips to the park and running laps at soccer practice to being a burden that brings no joy must be really sad...

My own teens (HS and MS) love our dogs and help out with them all the time. They are very much a part of our family and, yes, I still like to walk them.

How nice for you. Now stop trying to guilt-trip PP. She's allowed to have a life that doesn't revolve around her dog. Her kid is not helpful with the dog anymore and she feel burdened by it. I would in her shoes, too.

You lack empathy.

I'm the top PP. I never said that my kid doesn't help with the dog. My son walks him every morning, and every evening. The dog sleeps in his bed. But the reality is that when you have a kid who plays HS sports, or is involved in HS theater (or any number of other activities, but those are the 2 my kid does), they are gone from the home longer than the hours a dog should really be alone. Should I insist he goes back to playing at the playground after school rather than running with the track team, just because it works for the dog? Should I tell him not to go off to college, because of the dog?

Your youngest is many years younger than my kid. Come back when you have a 17 year old, and tell me if they're home from school at 3 every day to walk the dog.

I've got a 16 year old and an almost 14 year old. They have both been involved in a variety of activities and I do "get" that our schedules change as they get older. If your kiddo is taking the dog for a couple of walks every day then your dog is getting attention. It wasn't clear from your first post that that was the case. I'm sure that you would agree that it would be very sad for a dog to go from getting lots of attention to no attention.

We live in an apartment, so the dog only gets to pee on a walk. My son takes him out before he leaves, and after he gets back. He's great about it, as he should be because it's his dog. But, like many teens, he might leave the house at 7:00 (meaning he's back with the dog by 6:45) and be out until 11 p.m. with friends or at a performance. That's too long, and frankly a 15 minute walk at 11:00 p.m. isn't the same as a 2 hour trip to a soccer game with a 6th grader.

Teen has time to leave at 7AM and come home at 11PM with no responsibilities in between?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

Wow, this makes me so sad for your dog. To go from being included in trips to the park and running laps at soccer practice to being a burden that brings no joy must be really sad...

My own teens (HS and MS) love our dogs and help out with them all the time. They are very much a part of our family and, yes, I still like to walk them.

How nice for you. Now stop trying to guilt-trip PP. She's allowed to have a life that doesn't revolve around her dog. Her kid is not helpful with the dog anymore and she feel burdened by it. I would in her shoes, too.

You lack empathy.

I'm the top PP. I never said that my kid doesn't help with the dog. My son walks him every morning, and every evening. The dog sleeps in his bed. But the reality is that when you have a kid who plays HS sports, or is involved in HS theater (or any number of other activities, but those are the 2 my kid does), they are gone from the home longer than the hours a dog should really be alone. Should I insist he goes back to playing at the playground after school rather than running with the track team, just because it works for the dog? Should I tell him not to go off to college, because of the dog?

Your youngest is many years younger than my kid. Come back when you have a 17 year old, and tell me if they're home from school at 3 every day to walk the dog.

I've got a 16 year old and an almost 14 year old. They have both been involved in a variety of activities and I do "get" that our schedules change as they get older. If your kiddo is taking the dog for a couple of walks every day then your dog is getting attention. It wasn't clear from your first post that that was the case. I'm sure that you would agree that it would be very sad for a dog to go from getting lots of attention to no attention.

We live in an apartment, so the dog only gets to pee on a walk. My son takes him out before he leaves, and after he gets back. He's great about it, as he should be because it's his dog. But, like many teens, he might leave the house at 7:00 (meaning he's back with the dog by 6:45) and be out until 11 p.m. with friends or at a performance. That's too long, and frankly a 15 minute walk at 11:00 p.m. isn't the same as a 2 hour trip to a soccer game with a 6th grader.

You got the dog when your kid was 9? That is your dog Mom. Your son might be very attached to the dog but you were the one who ultimately decided to bring that dog home and care for it. I don't mean to sound all preachy - you don't need that. But if you need to hire a dog walker you should do it. Your 17 year old has too much going on to take care of the dog. That job is going to fall to you...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is making me so sad. I've never regretted having my dog for a second.

Sure, having him requires planning our schedules a little differently - and no one likes being woken up at 3 in the morning when the dog isn't feeling well and needs to go out.

But our dog, who we adopted when he was about 2, brings so much joy, and fun, and love, and goofiness to our lives. I love our lives with him.

Seriously, are you expressing sanctimony because posters are *feeling* regret about their dog? They are not saying the dog is not abused, or loved.

One of the basic lessons in parenting classes is that you can't control your feelings but you can control your behavior. PPs here are doing exactly that. Don't make them feel bad for expressing their feelings about a dog in an anonymous forum.

[Anonymous]

Op here: Thanks for sharing your experiences. We are still getting the puppy. I know in my heart that I have always wanted a dog. I am not getting it just b/c my kids are dying for one, so I am not being a martyr. I am going to train, do some doggie daycare and get a dog walker and hopefully I will not regret it. It is a big step.... I love the comment that your dog helps you be in the moment. I just feel like if I never had a dog while my sons were growing up, that might be a bummer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

Wow, this makes me so sad for your dog. To go from being included in trips to the park and running laps at soccer practice to being a burden that brings no joy must be really sad...

My own teens (HS and MS) love our dogs and help out with them all the time. They are very much a part of our family and, yes, I still like to walk them.

How nice for you. Now stop trying to guilt-trip PP. She's allowed to have a life that doesn't revolve around her dog. Her kid is not helpful with the dog anymore and she feel burdened by it. I would in her shoes, too.

You lack empathy.

I'm the top PP. I never said that my kid doesn't help with the dog. My son walks him every morning, and every evening. The dog sleeps in his bed. But the reality is that when you have a kid who plays HS sports, or is involved in HS theater (or any number of other activities, but those are the 2 my kid does), they are gone from the home longer than the hours a dog should really be alone. Should I insist he goes back to playing at the playground after school rather than running with the track team, just because it works for the dog? Should I tell him not to go off to college, because of the dog?

Your youngest is many years younger than my kid. Come back when you have a 17 year old, and tell me if they're home from school at 3 every day to walk the dog.

I've got a 16 year old and an almost 14 year old. They have both been involved in a variety of activities and I do "get" that our schedules change as they get older. If your kiddo is taking the dog for a couple of walks every day then your dog is getting attention. It wasn't clear from your first post that that was the case. I'm sure that you would agree that it would be very sad for a dog to go from getting lots of attention to no attention.

We live in an apartment, so the dog only gets to pee on a walk. My son takes him out before he leaves, and after he gets back. He's great about it, as he should be because it's his dog. But, like many teens, he might leave the house at 7:00 (meaning he's back with the dog by 6:45) and be out until 11 p.m. with friends or at a performance. That's too long, and frankly a 15 minute walk at 11:00 p.m. isn't the same as a 2 hour trip to a soccer game with a 6th grader.

Teen has time to leave at 7AM and come home at 11PM with no responsibilities in between?

I consider school, homework, and extracurriculars to be responsibilities.

He's at school for most of this time, either in class, at practice or performing, or studying in the library, or working between those things. Sometimes, if it's not a school night, if practice ends at 6:30, he'll go out with friends.

We live about 30 minutes from his school, so if he gets out at 3:00 and has play practice at 5:00, it's not realistic for him to come home to walk the dog if he's also going to get his homework done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I regret getting my dog, even though he's a sweetheart and I loved him to death. I got him when I had a kid in elementary school. He fit into our life perfectly. We went hiking together on the weekends, he came to soccer practice and he and I did laps around the field while the kids practiced. He motivated us to keep going to the playground a little longer. When my kid started middle school, it made coming home to an empty house a little easier, which was really nice.

Now, I have a high schooler, and it's totally different. Every day making sure the dog is cared for is a pain. The kid simply isn't home enough to do it. So, I'm left to rush home to the suburbs between work and going to watch their game. If my kids are out for late night play practice, I can't run errands or go to happy hour with my colleagues or stay late to finish things, because of the dog. There's a constant negotiation about who is going to mess up their schedule when.

The dog is 8. In a few years the kid will be gone, and I"ll have 100% care for him. I have huge regrets.

PP You should look into dog obedience. There is no reason why a dog who is 8 years old needs such constant attention. yes, you have made him part of your activities, but now you need to train him to amuse himself a bit more. He is not a puppy. He should be able to stay by himself a bit more than you are letting him.

Where do you get that?

I work 9 hour days plus a commute. At the end of those 10 hours my dog is ready to pee and get some exercise, so I need to come home rather than going to the grocery store or another location. I don't think that makes him "untrained" or needing of constant attention. I think it's pretty common.

I'm pretty sure that many will come to your house. We have a walker/trainer living in our neighborhood who does dog obedience with the dogs when you are at work and then with you when you are home.