For most of us, it's difficult to do two things at once - pat one's head and rub one's stomach, for example, or stand on one's head and whistle "Dixie." But while, with a little concentration and practice, these tricks can be mastered, no one has yet figured out how to be in two places at one time.

In the 1990's this is what dog owners who work full time would probably like to be able to do more than anything else. As more people work full time, more pet dogs are also becoming nine-to-fivers - dogs that are left alone from 9:00 (or earlier) in the morning to 5:00 (or later) in the evening every weekday and whose time with their owners is limited to weekday evenings and weekends. Owners who love their dogs and want the best for them find themselves struggling to fit it all in: feeding, grooming, exercising, and just spending time together, strengthening the bonds of companionship that are so rewarding and make owning a dog such a joyous experience. Sometimes it seems as if it would be impossible to do everything recommended by manuals, magazine articles, animal behaviorists, and dog trainers to produce a happy, well-adjusted pet even if one devoted twenty-four hours a day to it. Where once a household may have had someone at home all day, now it's likely that the house will be empty, except for the dog, from early morning to evening.

Although many dogs, fortunately, can adjust to a life alone during the day, others may be lonely, bored, or frustrated. They may turn, as a result, to destructive or undesirable behavior: digging craters in the garden; barking incessantly; or chewing up the new oriental rug. The dog's behavior, in such cases, creates an unhappy owner who dreads unlocking the door each evening and viewing the latest disaster but who isn't home enough to cope with the problem.

Frustrated by an apparently unsolvable dilemma, the owner may decide he cannot keep the dog and give it up to a shelter. Aside from problems such as barking, digging, and chewing, other problems may arise for the nine-to-five dog. The dog may have housebreaking problems or be so full of energy by the time its owner gets home that it's rambunctious and uncontrollable. It's not surprising that such problems cause dog/owner relationships to sour. Does this mean a person who works full time should not own a dog? No not at all. It is possible to have a mutually satisfying, rewarding relationship with a nine-to-five dog. One way is to recognize how the dog is going to behave and then arrange things so that its behavior will not upset you. Choosing the right dog can start you off with an important advantage. Since your time with your dog will be limited, don't choose a dog that will force you to spend that time doing things you'd rather not.

If you dislike grooming, for example, choose a pet with a short coat that requires a minimum of care. If you dislike vacuuming up after dogs that are heavy shedders, choose a dog that will have minimum shedding. Dogs should not be nine-to-fivers until they are at least six months old. Puppies less than six months of age need to be fed four times a day and have not yet developed the muscle strength for urinary control. They should not be left alone for extended periods. If you are already working full time when you decide to get a dog, take advantage of the opportunity to adopt an older dog from a shelter. Some dogs need more exercise than others, so only think about a high-energy breed if you can meet its needs. The point is to choose a dog that has a good chance of fitting in with your lifestyle from the start.

Training a nine-to-five dog is a must. Dogs are happier and more relaxed when their behavior is directed rather than left up to them. They can be very anxious if they feel that they must make all the decisions. Training can strengthen the pet/owner bond and help each understand the other better. Basic training can also improve the qualify of your time together. You will not be frustrated - and perhaps angered - by your dog running away, not coming when called, or pulling your arm out of its socket when walked on a leash. Although your time together may be limited, investing fifteen or twenty minutes, four or five days a week, will help you get the most out of every minute you do spend together. You may be encouraged to take your dog out for a long, leisurely walk in the park or a run by the river if you know it will be a pleasant experience. One crucial element in a nine-to-five dog/owner relationship is how the dog behaves when it is alone and how the owner reacts to this behavior.

"Eighty percent of the people who turn dogs in at shelters are doing it because they didn't think things through when they got the dog," says Phyllis Wright, HSUS vice president for companion animals. "You cannot expect every dog to be able to control its habits of elimination all day. If you have a dog that cannot be confined alone all day, you need to arrange things so that it's OK for the dog to do what it has to do. A dog will have to relieve itself, is going to get on any comfortable furniture it has access to, will chew on tasty textured objects, whether its own chew toy or your shoe. But by simply controlling the dog's environment, you can both be happy. You can confine a dog with a house-breaking problem to a limited space during the day. Adjustable dog gates, available from kennel supply companies, come in a wide range of sizes and can be used to shut off areas where you do not want the dog to go. Use a gate constructed with small plastic stretch squares within a wooden frame, not a "baby gate" style, so your dog cannot get its head stuck between the slats.

When your dog is left alone in a gated area, remove its collar. Put down papers for it to use. Smaller dogs may be trained to use a shallow pan or tray lined with newspapers or other absorbent material, such as disposable diapers. "Dog proof" the space where the dog will live during the day with the aim of preventing undesirable behavior. Shut up the garbage, pick up your clothes and shoes, cover the couch with sheets, take the expensive carpets out of your room - whatever it takes to ensure that you will not be angry with the dog when you get home. This does not mean shutting the dog in a dark, cold basement or garage however, Light, its bed or other comfortable place to sleep, a window to watch the passing parade, favorite toys, a radio left on, plenty of water, papers or a pan - all are necessary to help the dog cope with your absence for hours every day. It's very unnatural for a dog to be alone. Naturally pack animals, dogs miss company more acutely than do other pets, such as cats. Having a pet that is so focused on you is a big responsibility, for if you are not there when the dog expects you, it will be extremely anxious and upset. Is there anyone else who can stop in during the day? Perhaps a reliable teenager in the neighborhood would visit your dog after school and take it on a walk or play a game with it, giving your pet exercise as well as company. Be sure your dog is equipped with a sturdy leather collar and a lead with a strong bolt snap, and that its tags are up to date.

There are other ways to put more human companionship into your dog's life, too. One way is to arrange your situation and schedule so you can be with the dog as much as possible. Another alternative is to put other people into your dog's life, since you can't be there full time. Following are a few suggestions to help you start thinking creatively.Tailor where you live and/or work so you can go home on your lunch hour and walk the dog and spend a little time with it.

When Carol Grunewald, an editor at the HSUS, moved to Washington, D.C. from Connecticut, she purposely sought an apartment within walking distance of HSUS headquarters so she could look in on her dog, Anya, during the day. Hire a dog-walking service to walk the dog during the day. Your dog will get some exercise and it will enjoy the company of other dogs if taken out in a group. Pet-sitter services may also tailor a daily visit to meet your dog's needs - exercise, company, or practice on its obedience training. Get another dog. Two dogs can keep each other company, play together, and exercise each other. If you have a secure dog kennel adjacent to the house, consider installing a dog door for your dogs to use at their discretion. Giving your dog a variety of environments and allowing it to choose where it wants to be will go a long way toward alleviating boredom and the consequent destruction that might ensue as your dog seeks ways to pass the time.

Dog-sharing, or dog-sitting, is another option to explore. Perhaps someone in your neighborhood, apartment building, or condominium who is at home during the day would enjoy having your dog for company. Guy Hodge, HSUS director of data and information services, leaves his dog, Eiseley, with his neighbor, who also has a dog, every day while he travels into downtown Washington, D.C., to his job at HSUS headquarters. Older people, shut-ins, mothers with young children - many people who are at home during the day might enjoy some canine companionship and protection. You could negotiate a fee for his service or barter other goods or services, such as odd jobs around the house, yard work, trips to the grocery store, housesitting on vacations, or whatever is mutually agreeable. Post a card or notice describing your offer at the neighborhood grocery store, the community bulletin board, your apartment or condominium bulletin board or mailboxes, and at your veterinarian's office. Dog-sharing can be an ideal solution to a worrisome problem. But there's one catch - your dog has to be a desirable companion, amenable and well-behaved, so that candidates for dog-sharing will want it in their homes. This is one area where obedience training will really pay off for everyone. An uncontrollable dog that jumps up, barks, and will not obey simple commands is hardly an attractive companion for you or anyone else!

A nine-to-five dog, for its own benefit, needs to be schooled in the basics. A well-behaved dog is easily included - and welcomed - in many activities. An undisciplined dog, on the other hand, will often be left at home, no matter how much its owners love it. Do your dog a favor and teach it how to behave and mind its manners. Join - or start - a nine-to-five dog owners' network through your dog's obedience training class. If you take a weekday evening class, chances are most of the other participants are nine-to-five dog owners, too. You can all benefit by exchanging tips, ideas, solutions, and resources. Face the fact that you, as well as your dog, may need to be flexible. Many dogs are full of energy in the mornings after sleeping all night, and this vigor needs an outlet. Can you get up a half hour earlier than usual and go jogging together or have a play session before you go to work? Then your dog would be better prepared to settle down when you leave the house.

The nine-to-five dog's role in its family's life has changed dramatically. Instead of sharing its owner's daily routine, a nine-to-five dog is a leisure-time activity - an activity that must be planned. A dog isn't the same as a set of dumbbells. It can't just be taken down from the shelf for an hour or so for its owner's amusement and then put back until wanted again. It's a living, feeling creature with needs of its own. It needs company, it needs exercise, it needs companionship. It may take a little ingenuity, but these needs can be met. Having a nine-to-five dog takes flexibility, adaptability, and, above all, creativity. Traditional solutions to dog-owning problems may not work for the nine-to-five dog, but this doesn't mean they are unsolvable. Approach them from a different angle and see what you can come up with.

Reprinted from: The Humane Society News