I'm considering getting a puppy, but I have a 9-5 job. How should I manage the frequent attention a puppy will need?

This is a difficult one because a young puppy needs regular toilet breaks (able to hold on one hour for every month of life) and attention to prevent boredom. Speak to your employer and take annual leave for a couple of weeks when you acquire the pup, and arrange for friends, neighbors, relatives, or a dog walker to call in at appropriate intervals once you return to work. The most a young dog should be left for is 4 hours at a stretch, but the more often he is left, the more prone to bad habits such as chewing, barking, or digging out of boredom.