A dog walker when you work full time: how to cover the working day
An office day plus the commute easily adds up to ten hours, which is too long for almost any dog to be alone. The options side by side, a sample week with real prices, and what to do when work takes you away overnight.
In this article
Can you have a dog if you work full time?
Yes, as long as your dog isn't alone for the whole working day. Animal welfare organisations advise not leaving an adult dog alone for more than roughly four to six hours, and an office day with a commute easily runs to ten. So working full time with a dog always means someone has to be there for your dog during the day.
| Organisation | Advice |
|---|---|
| RSPCA (UK) | No longer than four hours, so your dog can exercise, go to the toilet and spend time with people |
| LICG (Dutch animal welfare institute) | No longer than four to at most six hours, and the upper end not every day |
| Dierenbescherming (Dutch animal protection society) | Try to avoid your dog being home alone for more than a few hours |
Puppies need far shorter stretches: according to the LICG, four hours is already much too long for a pup.
The Dierenbescherming points out that Sweden even has a rule for it: a dog kept indoors must be let out at least every six hours during the day. If you work full days away from home, it recommends arranging a sitter or walking service, working from home more, or taking your dog to work.
Dogs notice the time, even when they seem calm at home. In a Swedish study, researchers left twelve dogs alone for half an hour, two hours and four hours. While the dogs were alone the researchers saw no difference in behaviour, but on their owner's return the dogs greeted them much more intensely after two and four hours than after half an hour. For how to build up alone-time and which signs point to stress, read how long a dog can stay home alone.
What are your options when you work all day?
There are four common ways to cover a working day: a midday walk, private or in a group, daycare, and home-office days when you walk your dog yourself. Family or neighbours can fill gaps. Most working owners combine two or three, depending on their schedule and their dog.
| Option | What your dog gets | Suits | LuckyPaw price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private walk | 30 or 60 minutes one-on-one | Nervous, reactive or older dogs, and dogs that don't enjoy other dogs | €20 (30 min) or €26 (60 min) single; from €17.30 a walk on a plan |
| Group walk | An hour of walking in nature with 4 to 6 dogs, plus the drive | Sociable, healthy dogs with energy | €18 single; from €12.25 a walk on a plan |
| Daycare | A whole day of company, up to 10 hours | Dogs that can't or shouldn't be alone all day, and young dogs | €28 a day; €26 a day with a 10-day card |
| Home-office day | You, and a walk in your lunch break | Anyone working hybrid | — |
| Family, neighbours, friends | A familiar face | As a supplement or backup | — |
LuckyPaw rates, 2026. Walks include pick-up and drop-off within Wassenaar; for other areas we agree the details at the meet-and-greet. Pick-up and drop-off: €1.50 per km (distance from our home), minimum €4 per day.
Which walk suits your dog, private or group, is compared in more detail in private vs group dog walks. If your dog is nervous or reactive, read walking a reactive dog first.
Midday walk or daycare: which suits your dog?
A midday walk suits an adult dog that sleeps well at home and mainly needs a toilet break and some exercise. Daycare suits a dog that's still learning to be alone, gets bored quickly or becomes restless on long days. Many dogs do best with a mix, depending on the day.
A midday walk is enough if your dog…
- is adult and healthy, and already copes well with being alone;
- has had a proper walk before you leave (the RSPCA suggests getting back from that walk half an hour before you go);
- settles down again after the midday walk;
- shows no signs of stress while you're out, such as chewing, barking or peeing indoors.
Lean towards daycare if your dog…
- is still young: according to the LICG, four hours alone is already much too long for a pup;
- is still learning to be alone, or finds it hard;
- needs a lot of company to settle;
- doesn't settle even after a midday walk.
Our daycare is small-scale. A full day is up to 10 hours. You choose the times, for example 8:00–18:00 or 9:00–19:00.
What does a working week with a dog look like, and what does it cost?
A workable pattern for someone with three office days and two home-office days: on office days someone comes by, on home-office days you walk your dog yourself. Your dog is never alone all day, and you only pay for the days you need it.
| Day | You | Your dog | Cost (booked singly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Office | Morning walk with you, a group walk during the day | €18 |
| Tuesday | Home office | Lunchtime walk with you | — |
| Wednesday | Office | Daycare | €28 |
| Thursday | Home office | Lunchtime walk with you | — |
| Friday | Office | 30-minute private walk | €20 |
| Total per week | €66 |
An example, not a fixed package. Single walks can be booked without a plan; a monthly plan makes each walk cheaper. Daycare pick-up and drop-off is charged separately.
With fixed days, a monthly plan works out cheaper. An indication per month:
| Your week | Solution | Per month | Per visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 office days | A group walk every working day | €265 | €12.25 |
| 3 office days | Three group walks a week | €165 | €12.70 |
| 3 office days | Three 30-minute private walks | €225 | €17.30 |
| 3 office days | Three 60-minute private walks | €295 | €22.70 |
| 2 office days | Two days of daycare (10-day card) | approx. €225 | €26 |
| 2–3 office days | One day of daycare plus two group walks | approx. €230 | — |
Monthly walk figures are our plan prices; figures marked approx. are rounded, based on an average month of 52/12 weeks. All prices are on our pricing page.
Five office days with only a midday walk can work for an adult dog that copes well, but your dog is then still alone for two stretches of four to five hours every day. The LICG specifically advises against the upper end of that range every day. So ideally, mix in a daycare day or a home-office day. All rates are on our pricing page.
A regular walk on your office days, always with Dominic or Evika. Single walks are fine too, no plan needed.
See the private walks →What do you do with your dog when work takes you away?
If you're away for one or more nights, your dog needs care day and night. A midday walk won't cover it. Boarding at one place your dog already knows is calmer for most dogs than a different person coming in every day.
With us, your dog stays in our own home in Wassenaar, with a fully fenced garden and at most two guest dogs at a time. Our own Labrador, Lucky, lives there too, so your dog needs to get along with him. A night costs €35, so a three-night business trip comes to €105 for one dog. A second dog gets 20% off, and from 7 nights there's 10% off.
It helps if your dog already walks with us or comes to daycare: they'll know us and Lucky before their first stay. For the differences between a kennel, a sitter at home and boarding with a host family, read dog boarding options.
Boarding in our home in Wassenaar: fenced garden, at most two guest dogs, and Lucky as host.
See boarding →What should you agree with a dog walker when you work full time?
Agree fixed days and a fixed time window, sort out how the walker gets in, and settle what happens if you're home late or the walker is ill. The steadier the rhythm, the more calmly your dog gets through the morning alone.
- Fixed days and a time window. Dogs settle into a rhythm. Ask which window the walker can keep on your days.
- Who comes. Ideally the same person every time. With us, only Dominic and Evika walk the dogs.
- Your key. Agree how the walker gets in and how the key is kept. Everything about that is in giving a dog walker your house key.
- If you're late. Sometimes working into the evening? We work seven days a week: Monday and Sunday 08:00–22:00, Tuesday to Saturday 07:00–22:00.
- Contact. How do you hear the walk is done, and who do you call if your dog seems unwell?
- A backup. Who steps in if the walker is ill? Keep a neighbour or family member in reserve.
Frequently asked questions about dogs and full-time work
The RSPCA advises not leaving an adult dog alone for more than four hours. The Dutch LICG says four to at most six hours, and the upper end not every day. For puppies it's much shorter. A full office day without a break is too long for almost any dog.
For a healthy adult dog that copes with being alone and gets a good walk in the morning and evening, one midday walk is often enough. Your dog is still alone for two stretches of four to five hours, though. For a puppy or a dog still learning to be alone, daycare is usually the better choice.
With us, a single group walk costs €18 and a single private walk €20 (30 minutes) or €26 (60 minutes). A plan with a group walk every working day is €265 a month, €12.25 a walk. Pick-up and drop-off within Wassenaar is included.
Yes. You can book single walks with us without a plan, for example only on days you unexpectedly have to go into the office. A plan is cheaper if you have fixed days.
Then your dog needs care day and night. With us, your dog stays in our own home in Wassenaar, with a fenced garden and at most two guest dogs. A night costs €35.
Sources
Every source below was opened and read for this article:
- RSPCA — How to train your dog to stay home alone
- LICG — Kan je hond goed alleen thuis zijn? (Can your dog be home alone?)
- Dierenbescherming — Een hond wil niet alleen zijn (A dog doesn't want to be alone)
- Rehn & Keeling (2011), Applied Animal Behaviour Science — The effect of time left alone at home on dog welfare
About the authors
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A regular walk on your office days?
Book a free meet-and-greet through the form or WhatsApp us on 06 11696237. Tell us what your working week looks like and we'll work out together which days and which option fit: a walk, a day of daycare or a mix.
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