Help needed !! How do you get a puppy if you work full-time?

My partner and I are getting a puppy in a couple of weeks, and the breeder has said to get her used to our normal routine as soon as possible. But all I have seen is people saying that you can only leave them for 30 minutes- a couple of hours max, which we simply can't do when we both work full time.

We are lucky to be at home 4 days a week, sometimes more- but surely not everyone who gets a dog works from home full-time? Or is around 24/7? Any feedback /suggestions on how to navigate this will be very appreciated.

(We do have a backup plan for if we can't leave her whilst we go to work - but it involves her living elsewhere which really isn't going to be ideal). We don't want to cause her to have separation anxiety or anything- but also, can't be around 24/7.

Separation anxiety wouldn’t come from her having multiple places to stay. Rather it can come from being left alone, or sometimes even just behind with another person, for a duration of time that your dog is not yet ready for.

What the breeder means by getting her used to your routine is to NOT get her used to you being around 24/7. Sure, don’t start with 8hrs right off the bat, but start with something much more doable like 5 minutes from one room to the next.

In all honesty, I know pet parents who did zero training and being left behind was never an issue, whereas some did everything right yet the pup still couldn’t handle it.

It comes down to your dog. Some people are comfortable eating in restaurants alone, some just aren’t.

That’s where dog sitting, daycare, dog walkers etc are helpful.

But what you CAN do is slowly build your pup’s comfort, even if it’s not something they’re thrilled about.

Training is all about helping your dog make good choices but you first need to put them through scenarios you know they will succeed in, and that’s where most struggle and oftentimes worsen anxious behaviours.