Is it really fair to your bulldog to leave him alone for 8.5 hours a day?

[hoegaandit]

I was wondering ... dogs are pack animals. Our boy intrinsically needs our company in a sense more than we need his. He is always desperately excited to see the family members on their return. Unlike when I was a kid, we never left our boy whining in another room when we went to sleep (he has always slept in our room) and mom did not work in the first few weeks when he arrived as a pup, and worked restricted hours for several years after that. But now he is four, he is usually left alone for about 8.5 hours on weekdays. I think he mainly just sleeps, then gets ready by the door around when he expects someone to return. He was distraught when we used to leave him when a puppy, but adjusted to the general routines in his first year. But ... I do wonder if this is really fair to him. It was interesting to see that the Swiss have introduced legislation forbidding you to keep just one of pack animals. It would be so nice to have a bitch to keep him company, but his life has coincided with a severe recession in my industry (property connected) and it's still not really financially feasible. I think our boy is a happy boy; he is well adjusted and loves his frequent and varied walks. But ... I'm wondering if we really are fully catering for his needs?

[Gracie & Bea's Mom]

I have two and I think they keep each other company. As a "single parent", I feel guilty leaving my two dog daughters home all day, but somebody has to work and they decided it should be me. Then I feel doubly-guilty, because I work on writing projects in the evening, and they are alone again. . . I know I don't spend enough time with them, but I can't imagine my life without them.

[Susan & the bullies]

I broke down and got two more bullies because of guilt!  I think that Auggie, our first, would still prefer to be the only dog and get all the attention although he gets long fine with the other two. It comes down to their personality I think as to whether or not they are ok being alone. But many seem to really love their doggy companion....

[markc]

I would venture to say that everyone's situation is different.  Is he better off in your home than he might have been in a family that just left him in an outdoor kennel 24x7 and just fed him, never even walked hiim or played with him, or if he was living in a puppy mill as a sire?  Most certainly he is!  Would he be a bit better off if you could be there all the time and work from home?  Sure he would!  If he is acting up, being a destuctive chewer, etc. he might not be adjusting well to the situation - otherwise he probably is doing well.
We are fortunate that Lynda woks from home, so the dogs get to see her and romp around the house with each other if they want to.  They get a short mid-day walk most days as well.  There is some crate-time when she is on appointments, but other than that they have interaction.  And they do sleep most of the day anyways! 
One of the main reasons we got a second dog - Oliver the bullie - was for Annie to have a pack-mate when we are both gone.  Even though she is exhasperated with his "puppy-ness" at times, we think she likes having anothe dog in the house when we are gone.

[mtc]

Meaty didn't handle being home alone while the boys were at school and I was out of town last Spring.

He wasn't bad or anything, just got into naughtiness... chewed a couple things he otherwise wouldn't have.

I wasn't there for a week though, and I'm his "human", so he was really out of sorts.