Leaving dogs on their own....

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Malteaser

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Just curious to know what those of you that have full or part time jobs do with your dogs if your going to be out all day? Do many of you use a dog crèche or something similar?
 
No - we have trained our dogs to be alone without issue. Some days I take our dog with me to work and other days he's alone for quite a long time. If I am away, for example, and my husband is working in the city and our son is at school he can be alone from 8.30 until 3.30-4.00 ish. He's fine with that, especially if he's had a walk before being left.

Sometimes if I have a heavy work load on a work at home day I can sit down at my desk at 8ish and not notice that I haven't moved from my office until my husband comes in at 7ish. The dog has usually been asleep all that time......

It's not ideal and it's not everyday by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm really glad that we have taught them to be happy alone for pretty long periods. It means that if ever we're stuck we don't have to panic.

When both children were away at boarding school on the occasions that I was away and husband working a full day in the city we did pay someone to let the dogs out in the garden for an hour an lunchtime - but I maintain that dogs who cannot be left are a PITA. My sister in law has to take her dog with her where ever she goes because she never trained it to be alone - it's a real bugbear of mine! (Although in her case it's more that she hasn't trained herself to be away from the dog for more than a minute!)
 
A dog should not be left more than 4-5 hours max on its own as it is just not fair on them. They need to go for a wee. They can develop urinary/kidney infection if they are left all day without going for a wee.
When I work my dog is picked up by a dog sitter in the morning and brought back end of afternoon. He spends the whole day with other doggy friends and has several walks during the day.
It is nice to see a happy doggy when I go home! It is not easy to find a reliable dog walker but there are more and more these days so it is just a question to find one which suits you.
For a while I had another solution which was I had a cleaner coming for 3 hours and she was doing 2 hours cleaning and 1 hour dog walking.
I had also a dog walker coming once a day. So really I tried different solutions. It depends also how good is your dog left alone, how much exercise does he need etc...
 
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next door leaves his at 8am gets home about 6pm, hes out again 6.30-7pm home 1-3am... thing barks non stop all day every day.... its driving me nuts.. I put planet rock on flat out to drown it out.
 
Quenotte said:
A dog should not be left more than 4-5 hours max on its own as it is just not fair on them. They need to go for a wee. They can develop urinary/kidney infection if they are left all day without going for a wee.
When I work my dog is picked up by a dog sitter in the morning and brought back end of afternoon. He spends the whole day with other doggy friends and has several walks during the day.
It is nice to see a happy doggy when I go home! It is not easy to find a reliable dog walker but there are more and more these days so it is just a question to find one which suits you.
For a while I had another solution which was I had a cleaner coming for 3 hours and she was doing 2 hours cleaning and 1 hour dog walking.
I had also a dog walker coming once a day. So really I tried different solutions. It depends also how good is your dog left alone, how much exercise does he need etc...
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Really? Kidney infections after 5 hours? You see, I don't leave my dog on her own all day as I take her to my parents. She doesn't care though when I do leave her for few hours on a weekend or an evening. She used to get worried when I first got her but now she's secure.

However, she manages without any problem to sleep from 10pm/10:30pm until sometimes 7:30am without going for a wee and, trust me she sleeps! I know this as occasionally (if I'm being soft), I let her sleep on my bed and she does not even stir all night!! I don't see how its different in the day.
 
Mine gets left for up to 7 hours by himself, but generally no more than six hours one go, although he lasts up to 12 hours overnight sometimes with no bother!
 
So you get up every four hours during the night to let the dog out do you?

Depends on the dog- what it is used to - how human orientated it is- there is not one answer fits all.
 
Mine have always been in a kennel run during the day. They can see all around them, get fresh air and do their business. I think it's important to teach dogs that it's ok to be on their own. You never know when you might be kept late at work or if there's an emergency etc. If my current dog can come with me places, he does, if he can't, his world doesn't collapse.
 
I hate dogs alone at home for long periods of time. But as someone once pointed out to me - I suppose it's better than being in kennels.

Ours gets walked in the morning, a lunch time leg stretch and then out again not long after returning home from work. It's a long day for her, and I hate it.
 
I have no evidence for what I'm going to say, it's based on my own take on the issue not fact.

We, as humans, sleep all night, mostly without needing the loo. Yet we go several times during the day.
Our dogs, sleep all night, without needing the loo. During the day they empty themselves several times.
I feel that is the way our bodies (dog & human) are designed to work. The body needs to pass a certain amount of fluid. It works by doing most of that during the day so not needing to during sleep.
I'm not sure I could manage all day without a wee, despite having no problem all night, and a full bladder without opportunity to empty it becomes very painful, and I'm sure that restricted urinateing day AND night on a regular basis must lead to health problems.

As I said, just my thoughts, no facts involved whatsoever.
 
Mine are left all day when I'm at work but a friend will pop in if we are going to be late. We cannot afford a dog walker but they all seem happy and no ill effects. We had a housemate until recently who let them out in the day but she has now moved out. I live too far away from work or I would go home at lunch. Not ideal but we have to make do and the dogs are certainly happy and healthy enough. They get lots of exercise and if this week is anything to go by, they sleep all day! This isn't a long term plan but it will have to do for now.
 
ribbons said:
I have no evidence for what I'm going to say, it's based on my own take on the issue not fact.

We, as humans, sleep all night, mostly without needing the loo. Yet we go several times during the day.
Our dogs, sleep all night, without needing the loo. During the day they empty themselves several times.
I feel that is the way our bodies (dog & human) are designed to work. The body needs to pass a certain amount of fluid. It works by doing most of that during the day so not needing to during sleep.
I'm not sure I could manage all day without a wee, despite having no problem all night, and a full bladder without opportunity to empty it becomes very painful, and I'm sure that restricted urinateing day AND night on a regular basis must lead to health problems.

As I said, just my thoughts, no facts involved whatsoever.
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Ahhh but most dogs sleep alot of the day too.... especially when left.
 
Thanks for all the replies. What about a puppy? What are people's thoughts on how long they can be left? We lost our 17 yr old dog a few months ago and are considering buying a puppy. Our dog could go from morning till around 3pm without needing to go out as he just slept. But on the days me and my husband were at work, he would come home at lunch time to let the dog out and stretch his legs. There are only two days of the week that we both work at the same time. Is it fair to leave the puppy on these days from 9 till lunchtime and then lunchtime till 4? Obviously I know accidents will happen when the puppy is very young. How did you all manage with work and leaving your puppy at home?
 
You have to train a dog to fit with your lifestyle. Some will be easier to do this with than others.

In an emergency I could easily leave my dog at home 7am-7pm and he wouldn't bark or mess the house. He would be perfectly happy for the majority of the day, although likely a little anxious fidgety as it got later on.

That said, I don't think it's ideal to be out of the house all day every day, leaving a dog alone. But it isn't the end of the world or the worst dog management either - especially if they are well walked before & after and have plenty of attention in the evening.

Personally I'm lucky. I generally work from home 3 days a week and do 2 days away. For the days away my parents have my dog one of those days and he goes to a doggy creche the other day. For the days I'm at home working, he generally stays in the house 8.30-5.30 sleeping, he never asks to go for a wee!
 
i work 3 days a week, out of the house for 7 hours. i only have a 30 minute lunch break and don't always get it so don't have time to pop back at lunch. but he will be at the farm with me all morning, 6-8 in the winter, as mucking out and a long walk, get in at 3.20-3.30 and he is always excited to see me, but often he has been asleep on the floor in the bedroom with the cat on the bed. then he jumps in the car to go back to the farm for a few hours. no it is not ideal, he would love to be with me 24-7! in the future i may be able to bring him into work as a teacher in another class brings her dog in 2 days a week, but i'm in a class with someone who is allergic at the moment! OH is also setting up own business gardening, so in the future can take dog with him when he is in a secure garden/ site. if i ever had to be out longer i would make sure someone came to see him or he stayed with my friend. but he manages just fine, very content dog.
however, not sure about puppies, simply because although they need lots of naps they are more likely to be destructive! but like someone else said, they have to fit in with our lives. we can alter as much as possible but sadly have to go to work and most places are not dog friendly.
 
Skye goes to the in-laws during the day while we are at work. Occasionally she get left at home while we are out maybe for a hour or so but she never bothers.

I left her in the other morning while I went to do the horse, as soon as she saw me putting my coat on she wandered upstairs, taking the chance to have a nap while I was out!
 
I think that would be a bit much for a baby puppy in a house, to be honest. You could look at an older pup or a rehome/rescue? Although I suppose it would only be two days a week.
We've always gone for pups 6mths or over in recent years and my current dog was 14 weeks old when I got him, so that bit older and easier to cope.

With regard to my post about runs, obviously that wouldn't suit every type or breed of dog, mine is a working, double coated breed and the run has a roof and an insulated kennel with rubber matting, that might not work for a whippet or a chihuahua! During the snow this year, he hit on the idea of sitting or lying on the top of his kennel roof and the habit has stuck, he sits up there surveying the landscape.

But having worked at home in the past, I know I get bored if I am in the same house all day and all night with a couple of walks in between :p
 
Malteaser said:
Is it fair to leave the puppy on these days from 9 till lunchtime and then lunchtime till 4? Obviously I know accidents will happen when the puppy is very young. How did you all manage with work and leaving your puppy at home?
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I agree that you have to train a dog to fit in with your work pattern. I do also agree that if you work 12 hour shifts then that's too long but to do what you've just said is fine. Otherwise it seems from this thread that the only people that can have a dog are the retired or unemployed!
 
CaveCanem said:
I can't speak for anyone else, but I need to work to afford said dog. Them's the breaks!
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Exactly - I know people all have a right to an opinion but sometimes I do think people are a little too protective over their dogs. If they are in the house while you're at work but get let out and walked beforehand, then let out at lunch time and then later on after work like Malteaser suggested then I think that's fair. I have no idea how people have a life other than their dog if they have to be back at home every 3-4 hours to let said dog out for a wee? Not meaning to sound nasty but just really don't understand how it's possible. Unless you work from home of course.
 
I found that Secret Life of Dogs programme that was on a few weeks ago really insightful. They monitored a large group of dogs and only a handful (I think 5 out of 40) were truly content when left on their own. The owners didn't even know with a lot of them that they were upset being left as showed no outward signs of distress such as messing, barking, pacing etc but had raised cortisol levels (I think it was cortisol; indicating stress). Quite interesting. I've given up trying to let mine out in the morning as he U turns as soon as you shove him out of the door and just stands there waiting to be let in again. He has company most of the day as I only work part time and run my own business from home but has to wait til 3-4ish to go out when he comes down the yard with me. If I am late going to yard due to work he will start nudging my hand off the computer but otherwise he sleeps ALL day!
 
Mine are on their own for the day when I'm at work. Big lad only pees three times a day - that's the same at the weekend and during the week. OK they are long wees, but he goes once in the morning, once at tea time and once at night - his choice, he could go as often as he wanted during the day at the weekend as he's out most of the time, but chooses not to. Little one pees a lot here and there when he is outside or walking but doesn't during the day or at night. As I'm out, I fully appreciate if you gotta go, you gotta go - if there was an accident, so be it - but there never seems to be.

Is it ideal? No, I'd far rather be at home all day with them, especially little one, as he's a real people dog. However, I walk them both for 45 minutes in the morning (off lead, lots of running) and again the same at night. They are usually nodding off when I leave, and I give little one a stuffed kong to keep him busy. I'm buying a push along scooter because I'd like to be able to cover more ground with them on our walks; big lad isn't bothered but little one is massively high energy and I think would enjoy going quicker. He chased me for 7 miles on a mountain bike and my average speed was 14mph!
 
Hmm, I personally don't think it's right to leave a young pup on it's own (or any new do addition to be honest). Maybe not so bad if you had another, older dog to keep it company. very young puppies WILL need to go to the toilet more - ok so you can put paper down, have in a crate etc - I just think puppies need the intraction and comfort of someone about though. Once they are settled and have a routine the maybe you can extend the hours they are left.

CC's right though - in order to afford a dog, most people have to work. This is one of my bugbears with rescues who say dogs aren't to be left. In the real world how many people are at home all day? Only retired people, those who don't work due to being on benefits for various reasons, people who don't work due to being sick/disabled or those who are lucky enough to be able to work from home or take the dog to work. In reality that's only a few and I would be concerned in some cases whether the dog's needs (other than them having company for all/most of the day) would be met.

I think there are worse things for a dog to endure than being left for a few hours in a place of comfort and in the knowledge their 'person(s)' will be back at the same time each day.
 
I have three dogs all working cocker spaniels and I work 9-3ish each day with a short commute 10 min each way, all mine are very content at home together alone for 6 or so hours. I think it is very true they do learn a routine and become settled and happy with it. Mine all come to the yard at 6am each day for a good run while I am doing the horses and again in the evening time. my other half also can be at home on odd occasions during the week, so there are days that they have someone in and out depending on his work pattern etc.I think with a young pup it is different, I bred one of the dogs I have now, last year and have had the other two from 8 week puppies, for them all we used the crate system and came back lunchtimes to play with puppy etc (with no ill effects) I guess you have to make sure that they get enough stimulation and exercise when you are there. but it certainly works for us. and we also work them all winter on the shoot too, so they get plenty of variety! one thing I would say is that if we have left them all day would not then go out all evening and leave them alone as well, i feel that could be unfair ( but they mostly come to the local pub with us anyway ..LOL)
 
Malteaser said:
Just curious to know what those of you that have full or part time jobs do with your dogs if your going to be out all day? Do many of you use a dog crèche or something similar?
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I don't think its that much of a problem to have a dog and go to work as there are things you can do to minimise the problems that could arise, such as leaving a radio on, a snackaball, timed feeder, toys or allowing the dog access to come and go as it pleases in and out of the house by using a dog flap.

I wouldn't think twice about leaving a dog at home all day, so long as the care you give it when you see it is really good and it goes for a walk at least twice a day.

But I must admit its easier for an older dog that possibly sleeps more during the day.
 
I haven't read all the posts but I work full time and my office is 1 hr 20 mins from home so a long day. I leave at 7.30, dog walker arrives at 12 and brings her back home between 3.30 and 4 and I'm home at 6.15 which breaks up the day nicely (and she curls up on the bed and sleeps in between, as evidence by the sand on my bed yesterday as they'd been to the beach)! :)

However, one day last week my dog walker was on a course and I just couldn't get anyone to come and let Freya out. This is literally the first time this has happened in 2 years so it was a case of having to work and will deal with any accidents when I got home.

Got home that evening... not an accident in sight and she waited a good 30 minutes after I was home to do a wee so was obviously not desperate. I was so proud of her I nearly cried!
 
I work from 9am to 4.15pm daily with a commute of an hour in the morning and 30 mins in the afternoon, so mine are left from 8am to 4.45pm on average. I have videoed them on numerous occasions whilst I have been at work to find out what they were doing - and they sleep! Mind you, if I'm at home during the day they sleep too :p

Quite honestly I dont think twice about leaving mine now, I know many people feel it is unacceptable but I also know my dogs are happy, well-adjusted, love me to bits and have a good life :) I walk them before and after work. Having said that, I would think twice about doing it with any other breed than greyhounds, who are the laziest dogs in the world :D
 
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