I'm thinking about getting a dog from the Scottish SPCA but would like some advice from fellow dog lovers before I make my decision.

I'm an experienced dog owner but my lifestyle has changed a bit since I last had one. I need a dog who can get on with my 3 rabbits and who can be left alone up to 4 hours (weekdays only - he or she has got me full time at weekends). I might be able to take my pooch into work on certain days... (i.e. when the cat's away)

I work about 10 minutes from my house and my plan is to nip home at lunchtime to take him or her for walkies, with a longer walk in the evening and MASSIVE walks at the weekends.

I'm thinking a small to medium sized adult rescue dog, maybe about 3 or 4 years old, with a fairly docile nature. It's not for selfish reasons - I want to save a life and the dog I have will be well looked after. I'm concerned about the alone time, though. Is 4 hours too long?

What do you think? Bad idea?

PS adult household (just me) - no kids!

If you can choose the right dog, I would think 4 hours is acceptable. I did the same over 20 years ago, I had a rescue Cavalier from Wood Green Animal Shelter. I was given a home visit before they would let me have her too, and were happy to let me have a dog although I was in full-time work. I shared with another girl though, and we worked different times, but my Amy was still left alone for 4 hours most days and was fine. I used to come home to lunch and sometimes, I was able to take her to work with me though. In the end, we got another unwanted Cav too for company. Is there any chance you could re-home two dogs, sometimes there are pairs in the Rescue Centres? Just a thought.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you will give a rescue dog a great home.

Thanks flicker. I would consider a pair as long as the two of them didn't gang up on my rabbits (the pack mentality and all that)

I will probably wait until after Christmas when the shelters are overflowing.

I leave my dog alone for four and a half hours during the week and she's absolutely fine When we got her, the homing people said the limit they like to see them left for is five hours, any more than that and they wouldn't have homed her with us...

Aaaw, that's great news. Ooh, getting quite excited now. You know how you get clucky women who can't pass babies in prams, I'm like that with dogs. Probably going to get a nasty bite one of these days patting every dog I see

I know that one well. I waited 12 years till I was actually in a position where I could get a dog and give it a decent life I did a lot of 'aww'ing at other people's mutts in that time ( and now LOVE IT when others go 'aww' at mine)

God you've the ideal set up, so I think you should go for it. I didn't rescue my current dog, well I did kinda cos discovered neighbour of OH's dad that sold him to us was a kind of puppy farmer (I reported him on the quiet afterwards) I console myself by telling myself that my dog has a great life.

But I think I'd get a doggie from a rescue next time. I don't know about the UK SPCA's but in Ireland they only hold onto the dogs for a week before putting them down whereas the voluntary shelters do their best to re-home all the animals that pass through their doors and don't get as much government funding.

hello again

dogs trust, cant rate them highly enough! one in glasgow and one in west calder near livingston. the one in west calder has a lot of older dogs, some of them happy to be left for 4 hours, so if you can get to them, pop in!

good luck x

hear we go again J.R

lol

lol also

Well I've had dogs and still have one now and I work all day long. He's a small dog though. He doesn't mind being left when I'm at work. He just curls up on my bed for a sleep.