Hi -

there are many dogs, of many breeds that would be perfectly content to stay home while you work, as long as you give them adequate attention when you ARE home.

Like the others above, I would highly recommend looking into rescue - and not just Shelters, but the breed rescue organizations - because they most often FOSTER HOME the dogs before they are placed with families, and the foster families KNOW the dog well and can make a good 'fit' between the dog and your lifestyle.

It may not be immediate - but many rescues put alot of effort into matching their dogs with just the right situation.

I am a golden retreiver lover - a young golden or lab DOES need alot of attention and excercise. If left on their own too long, they can get destructive, jumpy, mouthy, etc. On the other hand, there are many of them that are big couch potatoes, and perfectly content to snooze on the couch all day, go for a short walk or ball chase at before dinner, and go back to the couch with you for the rest of the evening! the BIG thing with goldens is that when you ARE home & available - they want to be WITH YOU - not in the yard, basement or crate - alone.

Research breeds. Talk to breed rescue people. If there is a breed you particularly like, talk to owners about breed personality traits vs. individual's traits. Chose the breed of dog baised on what they are bred to be - not on looks or size or 'cuteness' factor.

Be honest with yourself - Will you REALLY walk the dog EVERY day? or do you need a dog that's not THAT active? can you stand the hair? or do you need a dog that doesn't shed as much? How are you gong to deal with issues like pottying, etc if the dog is locked up all day? ( many dogs CAN 'hold it' - but would you want to 'hold it' for NINE LONG HOURS?) it means, at the least, that you can't stop somewhere on the way home from work, unless someone is going to be home to let the dog out. do you have a yard? some dogs like to be outside, but then they will be dirty, dusty and wet, according to the weather. Most dogs really don't belong outside all the time, anyway - and won't be happy there.

As I said above - i love goldens - but they are 'people' dogs and while I find them delightful, and don't mind the large amount of hair that they shed, (constantly!), or their extra-long 'puppy-hood', other people find them to be too demanding. Goldens LIVE to be with their families, and are very unhappy if they are not part of everything you do. I take my dogs with me almost everywhere ( everywhere that i CAN take them) and they are the best companions I've ever known.

I have always been a 'dog person', and while I like cats, never had one. I just didn't think we could provide the best home to keep a cat truly happy. Some of my big concerns with getting a cat were that I had a history of cat allergies with some cats, I really couldn't see us being good about keeping up a litter box & I hated the smell of one in the house, yet I would be afraid to let a cat run loose, for fear he'd get injured, not knowing the neighborhood. I couldn't see any satisfactory way around those obstacles - and still have a happy cat and a happy home.

Recently, we were 'adopted' by a stray cat who managed to solve all those problems on his own. Because he was a neighborhood stray, he already knew the neighborhood. HE wandered into our garage during the winter, we fed him and he warmed up to us, didn't bother my allergies, and didn't freak out at the dog. when it turned REALLY cold, we invited him into the house. I never intended to KEEP him inside, but he kept coming back. He taught HIMSELF how to use the doggie door - so he and the dog use the large dog run/ sandbox off the back of the garage - we don't have to keep a litter box at all. Once he decided to stick around, we had him 'fixed', chipped and vetted - he's become a total housecat - except for pottying and relaxing in the yard on nice days. We could not have possibly found a better cat to suit our lifestyle - he found us. And judging by the smug and contented look on Pixels face as he snuggles in next to me each night - he's a VERY happy and contented kitty!

so a dog IS out there to fit you - you just have to do your research and keep your eyes open to FINDING it!

Good luck!

laura