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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Here's the thing: most dogs are social animals.  That is why they are pack animals, historically; they like company.  Leaving the whole outside-inside debate out of it, leaving a dog alone from 8-6 every work day seems counter-intuitive to me, and will most likely cause issues (and what about days you go to happy hour, or out to dinner straight from work?).  I realize in this day and age (and economy!), most people don't have a choice to work shorter hours.  That's fine, and also fine if you want to get a dog for company for when you are home.  But since you don't have a choice of your work hours, and dogs are social animals who prefer company, it seems a no-brainer that your dog will be happier with regular visits from people, or in a daycare.  It's not "spoiling" your dog, it's meeting your dog's needs.  Before you think about adopting a rescue dog, I would really urge you to re-think your dog's care arrangements and your attitude about them.  No need to send your dog to a daycare that your feel is frou-frou (although really most are not-have you really ever visited one?), get a regular dog-walker who will bring your dog to dog-parks, and spend time with it.  Just as work habits have changed over the past 50 years, so have the needs of dogs.  Just sayin'.

signed, a rescue dog-owner who never realized how truly lonely her dog had been until she stopped working to SAH :(.[/quote]

OP again. This i do agree with. When we've had dogs, we have always had two for this reason, they seem so lonely when they are home by themselves because they are pack animals. Although, one dog I had about 12 years ago loved being the princess ad hated it when we brought home another! She was so funny :)

I really don't give a crap that the dog lovers of DCUM have painted me a bad dog owner. Most people who know me trust me with their pets. I am a regular dog sitter for many friends, some of whom send their dogs to fancy daycares daily. I do believe that many yuppie, educated dog owners have gone too far in placing Human emotions and desires onto their pets. At the end of the day, while I have loved my pets dearly and they haven truly made my life better, I recognize that they are animals, and not humans.

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OP, seriously, many of these posters are crazy. I'd keep the dog inside during inclement weather, but during the more temperate seasons, I'd feel comfortable leaving him/her outside. As you mentioned in your original post, talk to any neighbors who stay home during the day, and ask them to report any barking or whining. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors, then odds are, they'll be more than willing to help you. Having a well-adjusted, well-trained dog is an asset to a neighborhood in terms of security. Have a contingency plan if it doesn't work out, so both your neighbors and your dog will be happy. Be willing to spend some money for dog walkers during the peak winter and summer months. A dog trainer who specializes in dog psychology may also be needed, regardless of whether or not it is an indoor or outdoor dog. Your best bet is to get a pack of two dogs, so they can have each other as company, but I think that's true of indoor or outdoor dogs.

I've never had an exclusively indoor dog and never would. My two German Shepherds (now deceased) would have gone nuts if they had been kept indoors all day. [/quote]

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