Answer:

Some pets can easily be accustomed to having quite a bit of alone time, as long as some basic techniques are used to get them used to it. Others thrive on a solitary life, although that's fairly rare for dogs. Cats are almost always very happy to be "only pets," especially if they have windows to look out of, sunshine to nap in, and cat trees to climb.

And then there are those pets, primarily dogs, who have fairly severe separation anxiety. For these dogs, it can be anything from a small to insurmountable challenge to adapt to being left alone even occasionally, let alone regularly.

Fortunately, there are plenty of options for working people who want to have a dog. Professional dog walkers can give your "home-alone" dog some company and exercise while you're at work during the day. There are toys designed to be stuffed with food that's challenging to get to, and some dogs can spend happy hours trying to solve the "brain puzzle" and get to the goodies.

 You can also drop your dog off at doggie daycare, which is available in most areas. And check to see if your workplace might not be willing to consider (or even already have!) a dogs-allowed policy. That can make not only your dog's life better, but yours, too!

A good shelter or rescue group should have a fairly good idea of whether your prospective new pet be a good fit for you, so discuss your situation with them before adopting a new pet. And if a happy loner is a necessity for you, keep looking until you find a dog or cat who will adapt easily to that lifestyle.

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