Getting a Puppy

Question
Hello,

When I lived at my parents house, I owned a Golden Retreiver and trained him from when he was just a little 7 week old puppy.  He still lives there and is a VERY good dog.  I am moving into a house which is ten minutes from my job and allows pets and really want to get a puppy when I move there.  I miss having a dog around all the time.  My question is, is it fair to get a puppy?  I work 830-5 M-F, so during that time it would be home alone.  I would be home for a lunch break in between that time to let the dog out and feed it, but that would be it until I get home again around 515.  I am extremely active, so the dog would get plenty of runs after work and on the weekend and of course lots of loving and attention, it is just those hours during the weekdays that it would be alone.  Also, I have thought that I would not keep it in a crate (unless advised otherwise), but put up barriers so that it can be left in the kitchen which is not carpeted.  There it will have water/toys/etc.  Do you think it is okay to get a puppy?  I want one so bad and would love for this to work out, but I also want to do what is right for the dog.  Please advise me on what I should do.  Thank you!!!

Answer
I really would not get a puppy unless I could find a neighbor or professional dog walker to give it a mid day break.  It is too long for an older dog, let alone a puppy.  Look into a an older dog.  The shelters are full of them, nice labs and lab mixes.  Look at rescues too.  One of the best sources for dogs with a predictable personality is the rescue dogs.  These are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home to be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them.   You may find a rescue near you starting at
http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm  The rescues charge a fee to help cover their expenses, but is much less than the price of a puppy plus all its medical expenses the first year.

You may be able to leave an older dog at a doggy daycare all day.  A great solution.