Considering getting a puppy

[Dave128]

My wife and I have been talking about the possibility of getting a puppy. This would be the first dog either of us have ever had. I'm around dogs all the time since my brother never has less than two running around his house (they have either always had someone home or a short five minute drive away) and I love them. My wife is a little skittish around dogs at first until she gets used to them, but thinks she would be fine if she were able to be around the dog from a puppy on up. We have a couple questions/concerns:

1. We both work 45 minutes away from home and wouldn't be able to get home during the day to take the puppy out for a bathroom break. I'm positive this would result in the little critter having to wallow in its own junk for most of the day and then having to clean the cage/pup every evening when we get home from work. How have others handled this?

2. We both feel that it might be less than ideal for the puppy to be left alone in a crate for the entire day. Should we feel this way?

Any other advice for a first time dog owner would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.