Those with dogs

My dog is left a max of 4 hours a day (H works shifts). There is no way I would leave him longer than that as he's not used to it so if circs changed I would get a dog walker in.

It really does depend on the dog, I think.

We rarely leave Buster for more than 4 hours but sometimes mine and H's shifts coincide so he's left for longer (up to about 8 hours) and he's absolutely fine.

How is he when he's left?

I know this is a bit controversial, but I think a dog in a happy home that needs to be left alone for longer hours is better than one that has to be rehomed. Obviously this relies on the dog not being stressed.

The problem with hiring a dog walker is that it would kind of defeat the object of getting rid of the car to save money as it costs on average £8 per walk.

We have two so that they have company, both are fine to be left, they cruelly sit and wait for us to leave each day as they know they get a treat each time. They are walked for an hour in the morning before we go , and I do have a lady that can go in and let them out which would be £7 a day, we would still be better off just about but I think I just feel guilty about leaving them if one month we can't afford to have her go in and let them out

This was the dilemma we faced when we first thought about having a dog, because we are at work all day. I went with KHarvs logic that a dog being left alone all day but given so much time and love is better than alot of circumstances, but our MIL agreed to pop in every day at lunch time to check on him let him out etc. This stopped though after about a month, she isn't really a dog lover and she had other commitments. So my Ray is left for 8 hours a day, but hand on my heart he is such a good well behaved dog that I know this isn't something he is not happy with. He has full run of the kitchen, he has a million toys his bed, his food, his water, I leave him a litter tray, but when I get in 5.10 every day I let him out and that's when he goes for a wee wee and a poop, then we take him out for a 30 min walk. He has never chewed anything that he shouldn't and he is almost 7 months old. If I had any incline that he was suffering with being left on his own then I would change the situation somehow. I know it's not ideal, I know that alot of dogs suffer with separation anxiety etc, I can inderstand people thinking it's cruel but maybe I just got lucky with Ray. I do let him sleep in our bedroom though. He sleeps in his own bed but that was the compromise, he sleeps in our room and then he is left by himself, it really does work well for us.

Can I just point out that I dont knock anyone else for leaving their dogs longer than 4 hours at all. We've had Harley since he was 8 weeks old and he has never been left longer than 4 hours so is not used to it. Claire, your little Ray has always had this routine since you've had him so he is used to it.

I just wanted to point out that I wasnt bitching at anyone for leaving their dogs longer than I do.?

Personally Bailey, I'd try it for a couple of days. See what they're like, if there are any obvious problems.

If you have two dogs and they're already used to being left during the morning and then the afternoon, I doubt you'll have any problems. Especially if they get an hours walk before you leave for work.

Ahhh Tricks your on OT now you don't need to worry about your comments being misunderstood! Don't be going soft on us!

Yes you're right I think because he's always been used to it, it definitely helps!

WKS!

Thankyou for all of this, I feel much better about it now, think I will start trying one day a week and see how they get on

Reading this thread has made me feel like a bad mummy!! We leave our dog for roughly 8-9 hours mon-fri but he's used to this and never has any accidents. He also sleeps in the kitchen and only gets a 15 min walk before we go to work. After work he'll get a walk around 30-50 mins and we usually spend our weekend taking him on longer walks. But he doesn't only go out 3 times max. Although our routine will change when I go on maternity n Baby B arrives xxx HTH

Why??

Some days i go home and let missy out, but shes generally ok from 9-5, she only had 2 big wees in a day!!

I *think* bigger dogs dont go as often as small dogs as their bladders are biggeer? (i may be utterly wrong!)

It seems like good logic Flow, but Ray holds his wee for 8 hours and you've seen the size of him. I think it's more of self discipline, but again I could be totally wrong!

I knew it....

I think so, too. Ours is a small dog (terrier mix) but she is sometimes alone for up to 8 hours and is fine with it.

H is self-employed but I commute quite a distance so most days he will be around during the mid-day to spend some time with her but sometimes, if he has clients back-to-back, she will be alone longer.

We just made sure that she has lots of fun toys to keep her distracted (antler bones!!). It should be easier if you have two anyway (which is why we are getting a second one ? ) - they keep each other company.

As long as they're used to it, they should be fine!

{duplicate}

We now have two dogs, so we feel happier when we leave them knowing they have each other for company - I think the longest we've left them alone was something like 4 to 5hrs. When I worked full time, Dad took the dogs with him, and they had company all day.

When we just had the one dog, the most he was left on his own for was probably 1hr as he's an ex-stray and had separation anxiety.

Feel guilty that we leave him for so long! I know it's daft and he's obviously ok with this. Had him since he was a pup and he's 4 in Nov. would love another so he had company but part of me thinks would he hate 'sharing' his space after having it as his own for so long xx btw its nothing that's been said previously. Just that we don't nip home lunch time to let him out for a wee etc x

I doubt it - dogs are pack animals. Also four isn't very old for a dog.

No need to feel guilty though as long as you don't think he's suffering.

Max. Of 4 hours during the day, but if we are going out for a meal in the evening its often longer than that but hes asleep in his crate so its ok.

If we have to go out for the day etc he goes to the kennels which is £9 for the day, or £14 if hes staying overnight