Can you have a dog and work full time?

No rule says you cannot have a dog if you work full time. But the Swedish Board of Agriculture's regulations on keeping dogs and cats (SJVFS 2020:8) set requirements that affect how the working day can look:

• Your dog must normally be checked on at least twice a day.
• Your dog must be let outside every day, and under the general advice should be let outside at least every six hours during the day.
• If your dog is to be left alone, it must get used to it gradually.

An eight-hour working day plus lunch and commuting often means nine or ten hours away from home. So the job itself is not the problem; the point is that your dog needs someone to take it out during the day.

Most people with a dog and a full-time job combine several solutions. An example:

Start by counting how many days a week you are away for more than a few hours. That decides whether you need help one day or five days a week.

A puppy cannot be alone for a working day. It needs to go out often, eat several times a day and learn to be alone a little at a time. Many people take leave, work from home or share the days with someone else in the family for the first weeks.

• Plan for someone to be at home for most of the day in the first weeks.
• Build up time alone gradually, from a few minutes to longer stretches.
• Get help from a sitter with home visits on days when nobody can be at home.
• Ask the breeder or your vet how often your puppy needs to go out.

Read more about time alone for puppies and adult dogs in our guide on how long a dog can be left alone.

Some workplaces are happy for you to bring your dog. It needs your employer's approval and your colleagues' agreement, because allergies and fear of dogs are common.

Even if your dog can come along on some days, it is wise to have a plan B for days with meetings, travel or client visits. Remember too that a new place full of sounds and people can be tiring for your dog, so start with half days if you can and see how it goes.

When you cannot be at home, there are three common solutions. Which one suits depends on your dog and how long the day is:

• Dog walking: a dog walker collects your dog from home in the middle of the day. Suits adult dogs who are happy at home.
• Day care: your dog spends the day with a sitter and is never alone. Suits sociable, energetic dogs and long days.
• Home visits: the sitter comes to your home, lets your dog out, gives food or medication and spends some time together. Suits puppies and dogs who need more than a walk.

If you are unsure what suits your dog, read our comparison of dog sitters, boarding and day care or the guide on how long to walk your dog.

It is easiest if the routine is in place before you need it:

1. Work out how many days a week you need help.
2. Search for dog walkers and sitters near you and read reviews.
3. Meet first so your dog and the sitter get to know each other.
4. Book a trial walk or a trial day before you go back to your normal working week.
5. Agree on fixed days and times so your dog knows what is happening.

If you want to know what it costs, there are examples in our guide to what a dog or cat sitter costs. You can also read about how Pet Lounge works.