What kind of dogs are they?

You know my answer already. They need mid-day walks of they need to go to doggy day camp. I think the time that they are alone is too long for dogs of their age. If they were older, I'd think that more alone time is ok, but they need to go out and walk at least once during the day. You'll come home to happier puppies that way. Other than Alpha, there is Pet Set in LB that would be an option as well. Or, maybe a combination of both. Or, maybe there is a day camp option closer to where you work.

I like NA's answer. Dogs require exercise and companionship as much as they require food and water.

I like the doggie daycare idea, too.
:)

And a good many dogs wait out the human work day for exercise and human contact. Perhaps not in a crate, but they wait.

We got another dog to keep the waiting dog company ... and it turns out they both likely slept all day anyway, and one especially liked a small area so much he may as well have been crated (but we would never do that ... just seems icky, no matter what breeders tried to tell us - Bah on that).

Yes, even when I was working from home, they slept in one spot, all day. I may be able to come home at lunch and walk them. We'll just need to work it out.

Our dogs have become quite precise at aiming poop underfoot if they're in the house too long- but we plan our schedules around their needs as much as possible.

Fences? What fences?




(I hope you can find a solution that works- I can see both sides of the equation here, but I lean toward NA's response).

I agree that they need more exercise and activity. If you can't provide it, I would suggest you find an owner who can.