[cshepherd9]

It can be done. I also live alone and am gone 9-10 hrs a day for work. However, from the time I brought Willow home until she was about 7-8 months old she was crated during the day and I had a dogwalker come to my house every afternoon to let her out so she could potty and play. It worked out fine. Almost all my free time was spent with the dogs during her early months and we attended many training classes together the first year. She turned out just fine