When I have a foster puppy, if they are small enough, when I get home I will often either have their crate right by the back door in the kitchen, or will pick them up (if they don't excitement pee
) and carry them right out because they simply cannot hold it. The crate right by the door would mean you wouldn't have to do a lot of interacting with (I couldn't hold out for 5 minutes with that face!!!), carrying does, but for me, that exercise does not need to be so rigid if the dog is pretty stable overall.
And if you think about your own body, like Gretchen says, if you were unable to potty all day at work, thenn drive home, get home and someone wants to talk to you for that five minutes...there could be a problem caused by pure mechanics!