Point taken. Can you suggest a better arrangement(s) given our
circumstances, which I would think are quite common?

IMO, there are 2 options. Get home midday to give the dog a break, or
hire someone to. That someone may be a professional pet sitter or it
may be a neighbor (adult or teen). We all have our own comfort levels
about those things!

Working long days (which unfortunately, are the norm these days) is less
than ideal for a dog. They're social animals and being alone the
majority of the day just isn't how they're meant to live. Some dogs do
have less need/interest for elimination (my Lucy doesn't have any
interest in going out, even if I've been gone all day), but that isn't
necessarily healthy either. I think the companionship aspect is a
bigger one for most dogs.

--
Janet Boss
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com

Thanks for the kind reply.