Ever since I was a kid, I've been used to anywhere from 1-5 dogs in the house at all times since my mom fostered collies until a few years ago. Growing up with big dogs sets my bar high for what I can handle, since going down in size is never harder for me. (Unless you have a world champion record-setting shitzu on your hands when it comes to speed. ☺️) I work 8 hours a day with half hour breaks, so that time is plenty to stop in for a potty break, and I'm free on weekends for longer walks. Snuggle time is extremely important to me, as we all know your pooch probably stares at the door while you're gone. A smiling face sticking around for an hour or so a day can make a big difference during a prolonged vacation.