How long do you leave your dogs?

[{97702}]

For me personally, I didn't get a dog so I could leave her alone for large amounts of the working week, she loves company and I love having her with me.

That's exactly the sort of thing I was meaning - my dogs DO have company RTE, they have canine company of their friends They are dogs at the end of the day, although they love me I am under no illusions that they might prefer human company to canine - it is not the case

 

[Moobli]

That's exactly the sort of thing I was meaning - my dogs DO have company RTE, they have canine company of their friends They are dogs at the end of the day, although they love me I am under no illusions that they might prefer human company to canine - it is not the case

I think canine company is definitely preferable to being alone and for many breeds it is superior to human company, but owning a handler dependant breed (GSDs) - my dogs definitely prefer to be with me than with the other dogs.

As with most things in life one size does not fit all.

 

[RunToEarth]

That's exactly the sort of thing I was meaning - my dogs DO have company RTE, they have canine company of their friends They are dogs at the end of the day, although they love me I am under no illusions that they might prefer human company to canine - it is not the case

Sorry Levrier, my post wasn't a criticism of other people at all, which is why I specifically put "alone". I only have one dog, and I think leaving one alone is entirely different to leaving multiple dogs together. Sometimes when I take her over to mums, she is in the kennel with her dogs, but I always think that is better than leaving her at home, completely alone.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Mine isn't bothered about other dogs (he and my old dog did not get on at all, he either ignores other dogs or tells them to bog off out of his space while out and about) and is pretty much neutral to other people. If I was told that he was screaming the place down all day I would have rehomed him a long time ago.

 

[{97702}]

I think canine company is definitely preferable to being alone and for many breeds it is superior to human company, but owning a handler dependant breed (GSDs) - my dogs definitely prefer to be with me than with the other dogs.

As with most things in life one size does not fit all.

Horses for courses comes to mind 😊

 

[{97702}]

Sorry Levrier, my post wasn't a criticism of other people at all, which is why I specifically put "alone". I only have one dog, and I think leaving one alone is entirely different to leaving multiple dogs together. Sometimes when I take her over to mums, she is in the kennel with her dogs, but I always think that is better than leaving her at home, completely alone.

Apologies RTE I didn't read your post clearly enough - a result of being on HHO when I really should be working!

 

[TGM]

I think canine company is definitely preferable to being alone and for many breeds it is superior to human company, but owning a handler dependant breed (GSDs) - my dogs definitely prefer to be with me than with the other dogs.

As with most things in life one size does not fit all.

Agree with this - years ago we had one dog who hated being left (to the extent of destroying doors) even if he was with our other dog. (He was a rescue and in his previous home had been left far too long totally alone whilst his owner worked long shifts). On the other hand, our more recent dogs are quite happy with another dog for company if people are out.

 

[Patchworkpony]

I don't think I get (too!) uptight about dogs being left and understand that most of us have to work to earn a living, but I do think there is a throwaway culture which sadly also includes living, sentient animals. People want and so they get. Many dogs are left for very long hours, alone and bored with very little exercise or company in their lives. These dogs I do feel sorry for. I believe sharing our lives with dogs (or other animals) is a privilege and not a right and so unless owners are prepared to put the effort in to ensure their dogs have a good life (which includes daily exercise, play and company), then they should just get a soft toy.

You've hit the nail on the head!

 

[blackcob]

I got home an hour earlier than normal today. One dog came to greet me at the door, then barged past me to have his enormous wee. Dog #2 didn't even bother herself to get off the sofa, I got a couple of tail thumps before she went back to sleep. An utter relief after months of destructive separation anxiety when she was younger.

 

[{97702}]

I have to say reading this thread does make me grateful once again for the breed choice I made - for me, with my circumstances and lifetstyle, greyhounds are ideal

Lucky really since I love them so much

 

[monte1]

I have always worked almost full time for last 18 years or so and at first had a single dog (terrier) and for last ten years or so had two then three dogs, (all working Cockers) in last few months due to sadly losing two of ours last year....
we now still have my homebred adult Cocker, a 5 month Springer and a 4 month old Working Lab. obviously with the pups I am back every lunchtime for toileting and feeded etc, which has worked well if a bit labour intensive ( wasn't planning on getting two pups so close in age!!) but when adults my dogs are left 8.30 to 3ish all week, with a good run down at the yard before and after work and with us all weekend, (working on shoot all season)plus out and about with usmostly whereever we go.

OH does do some work at home few days a week now so sometimes he is there all day and that is a big help with the pups
but i guess if you can make it work and dogs are happy and settled it is fine
mine do not bark or pine when we are not there, i know that for a fact as there are four dogs living next door who are practically never walked and bark at any and everything whether in house or out in garden and mine simply do not react to them ( thank goodness!)

 

[HeresHoping]

I have 3 labs. I work from home, as does my husband. However, if we have to go out, we will rarely leave them longer than 4 hours. And it's not just an issue of Jinny Piddle, either. You leave them all snoozing on the furniture or in our bed as they are wont to do, go out, get stuck in traffic, come back late and find there has been a party and you're pretty sure that they invited all their friends around, too. Seriously... All the cupboards in the kitchen opened - including those above the worktops; towels down the loo; Andrex puppy job on the new batch of loo rolls; toothbrushes chewed up into tiny pieces; cushions shredded - feathers everywhere; the house looking like it has been burgled.

 

[Charlie007]

We have a jrt and a black lab. I leave for work at 7am, OH leaves about 7.45am. The dogs are let out at lunch time. I'm home then about 4.15. Sometimes at lunch they are not interested in going out!! Hate leaving them at home!!

 

[3Beasties]

Mine are left (in the kitchen) from just before 9am till about 3:30pm. An old lab and a young WCS.
When the WCS was really young I'd pop home at lunch time but the aim was always to be able to leave them without having to go back. Touch wood, they both seem fine with this. They're out with me on the yard before I go and the WCS has a very active evening with me generally.
It's how we've kept dogs for nearly 20 years.

 

[dozzie]

About 4 hours. But there are times i have to leave them for longer. That is why I have two dogs.

 

[pippixox]

It is always a controversial subject! Every dog is different though and I do think places like rescues need to consider this- as they nearly all say needs to not be left for long- of course some dogs really can't cope but plenty can for a short day after good exercise.
Sadly we need to go to work!

I feel more sorry for all the dogs I see having tiny walked around the block before their owners go to work. At least While I was going to work my dog had 2 hours around fields and barns before he was left so had been physically and mentally stimulated

That being said- I am looking after my mother in laws dogs this week and they don't ever get walked- the Pomeranian will occasionally, but the Chiauaus refuse! I let them out in the garden and then they go straight back to bed!