This is my first journey into the Pets forum, so be gentle with me!

I don't have a pet but would like a dog, other members of my family have said the same. If we pursue this idea, I know I should go to a reputable breeder/owner and there are probably vets fee, checks and other costs involved, that's not a problem. Our main issue is when we go to work/school/colleges/etc, what does your dog do?? Are they left inside all day until someone gets back?? Wouldn't the dog mess your place in the meanwhile? I thinking there's a solution other than paying someone to dog-sit or dog-walk for you.

My dogs are a bit older and fully house trained, when we are not home they sleep.
If you have a puppy (not a good idea if you work all day) or a younger dog, they possibly play with toys/balls, but mostly they will also sleep. If you are away all day, its best to get a grown up fully trained dog, and then have a dog walker come at least once (mid day) to walk your dog.

Also saying a very young dog likes chewing, and they might damage some things in your home.

Different breeds and personalities have different needs.
I have a chow who is very lazy and enjoys sleeping, so it isn't a problem leaving him for 6 hours a day mon- fri.
Even when someone is at home between those hours, he still sleeps because he is too stubborn to break his routine.
I used to get someone to come and let him out when he was younger, but this stopped when he was a year old because he refused to go out.
He is a very happy and contented dog, but other more active and needy breeds will require more human contact or they may become unhappy and destructive.

Mine are relatively young so we rarely leave them alone, we work opposing shifts to make sure they are well cared for. When we had older dogs who could be trusted not to eat the place or each other we limited the time they would be left to a couple of hours at a time. We have never had a single dog so not sure what we would have found them doing, ours play together a lot.

I'm glad you've mention about young dogs/puppies as it's the age I would have aimed for. Seems like an older dog may be more suitable.

Puppies and young dogs need training, especially puppies you have to be there to put them out lots of time a day, after sleep, after play, after food, for them to trained to be clean in the house.
If you never had a dog and are out long hours, I would go for an older dog (at least over 2 or 3 yrs).

Yes also when they get to the age they need spaying or neutering I like to be with them all day, just to make sure no harm comes to them from what they do so it's really 2 years or older I start getting mine ready to be left for a couple of hours a day.

I know people do it but I am not sure how they work full time and have dogs, never managed to get mine to go much longer than 4 hours without needing a wee !

I don't think anyone should get a dog knowing they are going to be out the house all day. Nor do I think having a dog walker call round even twice a day is sufficient. It's not just about toiletting - dogs like company. If I just leave the room even, I know my elderly collie goes looking for me. Just because they don't howl or trash the place while you are out doesn't mean they are happy.
That said people's circumstances change and in my time I've had to cobble together all sorts of support structures to tide us over temporarily.
As for leaving toys for them - my dog doesn't even look at her toys unless there is some human interaction.
There was some discussion on the TV about this today and they were saying it is preferable to have a couple of dogs for mutual company if you are leaving them.

I take my two pups out for a long walk, then feed them and they seem to just sleep for the 2/3 hours I'm out of the house. They aren't old enough at 6mths to leave them home alone all day. We're getting a dog flap soon so when they are older, I'll be able to leave them longer if needs be. I have a safety gate so they are confined to the kitchen when I'm out and they've never pooed or peed but I do only leave them for 3hrs max. They seem to find comfort in each other and keep each other entertained when I'm busy, I think it might be harder on one dog as they are very social creatures and need company.

myss.
I suggest you go to your local rescue centre rather than breeder or owner.
Let a puppy or dog choose you..
This what we did with our puppy when it was 8 weeks old. Now 11 months old.
She lives in the lounge except for going on daily walks a few times every day.
Over night she sleeps in the hall between the lounge & our bedroom.
She waits till morning before going to the beach for the toilet.
I take a poop bag.
If we are out all day which is not often she is in the hall with food & water.
Never yet messed whilst we have been out.

Very few rescues will rehome to full time workers, and while your experience is great many dogs will mess and will tear the home up and end up in rescue when the owner can no longer cope. Personally I would never recommend anyone starting out knowing they are full time working to take on a dog especially a puppy. I completely understand some have end up working fulltime who already own a dog and they do their best but knowingly to do it could be a disaster.

Most dogs left alone all day bark continuously for the whole time, seemingly without even pausing for breath. The selfish owners merely think how cute it is that the dog seems so pleased to see them when they get home.

At one stage I worked nights in a mental health establishment. Me and a colleague used to take our dogs. Strictly speaking it wasn't allowed but the manager turned a blind eye to it. In fact she came in very useful as a therapy dog if someone was feeling down or suicidal.
Her next role was supporting the elderly tenants of a sheltered housing scheme. Strictly speaking she wasn't supposed to be there either. The bosses let it go for a while then decreed it couldn't go on due to health and safety. The tenants were gutted. People who had previously been isolated used to come to the office or communal areas just to see her. They even brought their grandkids in to see her.... One gentleman said she brought down his blood pressure
I looked into doggie day care but wasn't really paid enough but I wasn't going to leave her at home. So we hid my girl in various places on the scheme and developed an early warning system where tenants would warn me if a senior manager pulled up. Meanwhile she attended parties and social gatherings by popular demand. The tenants even bought her Christmas presents. We did that for 3 years.
Are you listening Yorkshire Housing?

Not strictly true, depending on the dog they might rehome to full time workers. However, I would never start with a puppy unless you are home most of the day.

I was just going by people who I hear moaning they can't get a dog because rescues have turned them down due to working, the rescue I help won't rehome to anyone intending to leave a dog for more than 4 hours at a time either so assumed most would be like that.

Get a cat instead.