How long is your dog left for?

[CAYLA]

Mine are rarely left tut tut the rest of you

I have no issues with dogs being left for long periods, if the breed and energy levels are taken into consideration and how the dog copes.
I could easily work normal hours (we both used to) and leave my lot and they would be fine and sleep.
My dogs for example today will sleep and I am here (off to bed soon) I have let them out for morning wee break and OH will walk them when he has finished walking other peoples dogs, this is the keep the house quiet for me to sleep, my dogs don't make a peep whilst I sleep and I will get up about 4pm and go to bed within the next hour.
If we have dogs boarding they will go with him on walks, then we will walk them over the fields or take them round the nature reserve later tonight.

When I am not on night shift then there is someone around all the time, dogs may still be in doggy room mind you they don't literally follow me everywhere.

Ps, I would go for an older whippet with your set up, the youngsters can be a little demanding when babies and generally do better with company, I have always kept 2 together.

Follow the dog walker in disguise
My OH walks them and sometimes the owners are in when he returns (they are generally knackered and scruffy, owners started to leave towels and OH thought nothing of returning them mankey) so they definatley know they are walked, and we give them a book full of piccies of the changing seasons "in walks" for Xmas I know them pretty well though as the dogs also board here for holidays and one 3 of them are X rescues from me

 

[Luci07]

I have a really lovely dog walker who walks mine when I am up seeing clients. She will also step in if I need her for odd extra days and is 100% reliable. If I need to stay for drinks after work then I pay one of the girls from the yard to dogsit for a couple of hours to ensure try dogs don't spend too much time alone

 

[stencilface]

I work away too much in the summer to get a dog atm, but hours left in the day would be an issue for me still. I think the only way round that is to have two dogs as they have each other for company then, not sure how I would feel about having one dog left all day (thats fine if it works for you though!). But don't think my OH is ready to be a 2 dog family

My solution atm would be to leave the dog with my mum in the day as she is retired, hopefully that day I would actually be able to have a resuce dog. Agree with the poster above, surely a life with proper owners, even if being left for 8-9 hours a day is better than being in a kennel unloved the whole time?

 

[Lady La La]

My dogs are left for 4 hours, then Im back at lunch for a quick walk and they are left for another 4 hours. Neither of them care if I am home or not, the only reason I make sure I go back is that Tyson is always busting for a widdle. When OH and I are home in the evening Tyson prefers to lie outside on his own anyway, rather than be anywhere near us & Bryony is always asleep, no matter what time of the day it is or who is around, she'll be kippin'.

 

[Pendlehog]

I'm not sure CC, I would want references and proof that the dog is actually taken out as an hour would really break up its day. Even doggy day care would be considered.

If you go for a dog walker, ask to see their insurance certificate (a good one will bring it as routine for first consult/getting to know you session). I would also ask them to send you a picture message of the dog out on walks for the first few weeks, I used to do this as standard for my clients, plus I would provide printed piccies every few months showing what they were up to.

You can always ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for the walker coming. A few of my clients told me they did this with another local walker and found she had just been letting them into the garden for a wee then leaving!

 

[CorvusCorax]

In contrast my "work dogs" in rescue get 20 mins in an exercise pen in the am and a 20 min walk in the afternoon. There is no other human contact bar chucking food in twice a day. If I was a dog I know which life I'd choose!

Quoting this for anyone who thinks that dogs are better off languishing in rescue for months or even years, than being in a home where people work full time

 

[Pendlehog]

Thanks CC, I think you and I sing from the same hymn sheet

I should point out that work is one of the better large rescues for exercise, there are lots of dogs in rescue that would LOVE a guaranteed 20 minute walk every day

 

[GinaB]

If you go for a dog walker, ask to see their insurance certificate (a good one will bring it as routine for first consult/getting to know you session). I would also ask them to send you a picture message of the dog out on walks for the first few weeks, I used to do this as standard for my clients, plus I would provide printed piccies every few months showing what they were up to.

You can always ask a neighbour to keep an eye out for the walker coming. A few of my clients told me they did this with another local walker and found she had just been letting them into the garden for a wee then leaving!

Great idea, thank you! The only one I've found in my town offers 5 days per week at £25 per week and that's an hour walk per day. I think that's very reasonable!

I think looking into the possibility of rehoming an older dog would suit best

 

[lula]

My collies day...

6.30 am - wizz around the block with daddy dog before he goes to work. Play 2 lab friends while daddy dog chats to labs owners about golf, boilers and the weather!!

7.00 - get back in to bed with mummy dog for a 10 min cuddle

7.30 - go for a 2 field walk with mummy dog and play with best mate (Springer) and a terrier we sometimes meet

8.30 - when everyone has gone eat Kong and go to sleep on the sofa upside down while listening to radio 2

12.30 - lunch time 2 field walk with mummy dog meeting various dogs on the way...play will all those who don't bite!!

1.15 - when everyone has gone eat Kong and go to sleep on the sofa upside down while listening to radio 2

5pm - Daddy dog is home so in to the garden and wait until mummy dog is home

5.30 - Mummy & daddy dog walk for 3 miles (ohh my aching paws!!) playing with whoever we find along the way while they talk about their day at what they call "work"

7.30 - tea, play with mummy dog and pulley toy

8.15 - play ball with daddy dog

9 - watch TV

10 - bed...of course racing up the stairs first to get the best spot on the bed


It's a hard life!!!

In all my dog is left for approx 4 hours in the orning and 4 hours in the afternoon.

what is this mummy/daddy dog thing.. human or hound?

 

[lexiedhb]

Thanks CC, I think you and I sing from the same hymn sheet

I should point out that work is one of the better large rescues for exercise, there are lots of dogs in rescue that would LOVE a guaranteed 20 minute walk every day

WOW a walk a day in rescue is practically unheard of! Am fairly convinced Dex prefers life in a centrally heated house with soft blankies, yummy dinner, 2 hours exercise a day, snuggles on the sofa, garden with agility kit, and mud for rolling in and mugs for owners who havent sent the gobshite back than spending the vast majority of his day in an unheated kennel with minimal walks/ human contact.

He is left 5-6 hours a day- but not all in one go.

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

Dear Auntie GinaB,

Please can I come and live with you as my Mummy is offically rubbish

Today she went out for a couple of hours and I was asleep in my armchair and the idiot Max was bouncing around anyway she decided that as it would be dark when she got back that we should stay in so the idiot couldn't bark at them putting the horses away

Off she went and left us.........

What she didn't notice was when she was faffing around collecting her stuff up I sneaked out and was snuffling around the garden so she locked me out the house and I had to sleep in the boot room on a stinky horse rug while the idiot was asleep on here bed

Since discovering her mahoooooooooosive crime against the Spangle she has been hugely apolgeetic, made a fuss of me and gave me some yummy bones

BUT I am not ready to forgive her just yet as it is one indignity to far to the Spangle ego.......

So can I come and live with you please?

Love and snuffly kisses,

St Sweep

 

[Solstar]

Willow (GSDx) is sometimes left for upto 6 hours.
Her daily routine (Tuesday-Friday) generally means she's walked for 45 mins on a morning before I leave at 7.15, then at Lunchtime either my parents (Tues and Thurs) or OH's parents(Weds and Fri) pick her up to go and play with their dogs- unless on my parents days it's raining, when my Mum walks her and then leaves her at my home. This is because they stay in the Garden at their house, and although there are 3 different options for her to shelter in (Garage, Dog house, Dog kennel) all with snuggly beds, she wont go in them, and stands out in the rain getting wet, which she hates. On all days, OH gets in at 6.30pm so she is picked up or walked again if she's been at home.

We never used to leave her at ours on a rainy afternoon, and Mum battled for ages with trying to get her to use the shelters, or to get her dogs to leave Wills coat on- but since we got the Cat, Frank, she is happy to stay at home.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Yep Gina, you should deffo get an older whippet from rescue *cough*

 

[Kc Mac]

I was in the camp of dogs shouldn't be left alone My girl was always with my friends parents when I worked and with me at all other times

However after a job change and house move out of area I had to make a decision so I got another stafford

They both stay happily and quietly whilst I am out at work (landlord lives next door and confirms they are quiet). They are often left about 10 -11 hours but as its usually nights they sleep if its day shifts or a bit longer I have a friend come in for an hour or so and she brings her gsd's to play I usually work a 4 day week and the dogs pretty much come with me the rest of the time poor dogs

I will add my new dog is a rescue and they are aware I work full time in shifts and were happy for the arrangement for dog walker/friend to pop in during the day. So there are rescues that see sense

 

[Zarkaz]

I work 9-5 monday to friday. My lurchio goes in his run from 8.30-5.30 BUT my neighbor is retired and takes him for 3 1 hour walks while im at work. He loves him and even buys him his own leads and collars and sometimes lets him in roam about his house. My mum works part time so is at home monday until wednesday afternoon so he gets plently of attention and then i take him for a quick walk out after work and stables. I am very lucky to have my neighbor otherwise he would be stuck in his run all day

 

[aintgotnohay]

mine come to work with me.we leave the house 4pm and get home 2 am.they get 4 walks or let outs during that time.they then get 2 wlks during the day.they love it out with me in the car all night.

 

[GinaB]

Dear Auntie GinaB,

Please can I come and live with you as my Mummy is offically rubbish

Today she went out for a couple of hours and I was asleep in my armchair and the idiot Max was bouncing around anyway she decided that as it would be dark when she got back that we should stay in so the idiot couldn't bark at them putting the horses away

Off she went and left us.........

What she didn't notice was when she was faffing around collecting her stuff up I sneaked out and was snuffling around the garden so she locked me out the house and I had to sleep in the boot room on a stinky horse rug while the idiot was asleep on here bed

Since discovering her mahoooooooooosive crime against the Spangle she has been hugely apolgeetic, made a fuss of me and gave me some yummy bones

BUT I am not ready to forgive her just yet as it is one indignity to far to the Spangle ego.......

So can I come and live with you please?

Love and snuffly kisses,

St Sweep

That is shocking behaviour from your mummy! How could she be so mean?! Honestly. You can come and live here. I have a kingsize bed you can share with me, although Beastie dog occasionally comes for overnight visits so you'll have to make room for her

Much love and cuddles xx

 

[GinaB]

CC - What a lovely little dog! I suppose pounds over here would be a good option, although I need a decent history of the dog. Needs to get on with other dogs, small furries and cats! An older whippet that wouldn't mind being left would be perfect. I hear they make fab house dogs. A dog walker could then come mid way through the day to break up it's day This might just be becomnig feasible...

 

[katie4002]

I'm really glad to read this thread - and see that other people are in the same situation as us - having been told on numerous occasions (and again today) that the way we treat our dog is 'cruel' - just down to the fact we work full time....

I think the word 'cruel' is a bit harsh!

Why do so many rescues take such a small minded approach to rehoming dogs - the working hours thing seems to take precedent over any consideration for the treatment, the training, the affordability, etc etc etc.