Leaving a dog at home during the day

danielanthony

danielanthony

danielanthony

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Right, the missus and I would really like a dog but we both work although she only does 30h per week mon-thurs. I am unsure if leaving the dog alone in the house during the day would be ok?

How many people here leave their dogs alone for 8 - 9 hours per day whilst they are at work? What provisions do you make for the dog whilst you are out? What if they need 'the toliet'? Do you leave them toys or the radio on? Or would it be better to have two dogs for company?

Thanks!
 
Don't bother getting a dog if it's going to be alone for the majority of the day.
 
Either go home in yor dinner hour for a bit, get someone to come round on or maybe look at getting two so they are company for each other.

But to be honest you'd still be better off going home or getting someone to go round during the day even if you do get two.
 
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My brother has a dog, he leaves the dog at home while he's at work. The dog rarely does the toilet while he is away, he has his toys and stuff to occupy himself with.
 
8-9 hours is FAR FAR too long to leave a dog.

3-4 hours should be the maximum, and that shouldn't be every day.
 
Ask yourself whether you think it's right to leave an animal alone for 8-9 hours a day.

My brother and his fiance have a dog which is alone for similar hours during the day, it's extremely energetic when they come home and they have some difficulty calming it down.
 
8-9 hours is too long. The poor thing will need to be let out. We have a dog and whenever everyone in our house is going to be out all day then we get a dog walker to come in.
 
When i lived at home our dogs were allways left for about 8 hours a day and it never did them any harm whatsoever. As long as it's not longer than that then i dont see a problem as the dog will get used to it and it just becomes routine. We used to leave the radio on so it had some form of company. All were happy dogs and lived to good ages.
 
When our's was a puppy she could be left alone for a max of about 3 hours during the day. Now shes a lot older (nearing 7 (i think)) she can be left for around 6 hours no problem at all - she would be ok for 8 hours but I couldn't do that to a dog everyday!

She is however walked first thing in the morning for quite a distance so usually for asleep for hours on end :p
 
Andr3w said:
When our's was a puppy she could be left alone for a max of about 3 hours during the day. Now shes a lot older (nearing 7 (i think)) she can be left for around 6 hours no problem at all - she would be ok for 8 hours but I couldn't do that to a dog everyday!

She is however walked first thing in the morning for quite a distance so usually for asleep for hours on end :p
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This, plus leaving the radio on helps to stop my dogs barking at the slightest noise outside.
 
I don't think it will do them any harm, it's just they need entertaining, not going to be the most fun locked up is it really. Get a cat if you work 9-5.
 
I have dogs that are alone through the day for 5-6 hours at a time sometimes (usually less).

These are adult dogs and have each other as company. I wouldn't do that with puppies.
 
It can be done, but have to agree with others here and If you can pop back to the house on your lunch for even 30 mins, let the dog out too pee and whatnot, maybe take it for a quick walk. Definitely don't get a puppy/young dog, get a mature dog that's been left in this situation before and can cope staying in for 4 or more hours at a time.

We have two at the moment, so they keep each other company, might be a better idea to do this. Isn't much more effort, walked at the same time and can play with each other and not pester you every time he/she is bored. If you leave them in the house then definitely leave toys nearby, hopefully they'll chew them instead of the furniture :p
 
The other night this dog was left out in the rain and it was barking for a few hours. I think the owners went out for the night and it started raining, the dog was not happy.

if we didn't live on top of each other and had back gardens in the uk, then it might not be such a problem. But gardens are as rare as stand up showers in the uk.
 
I'd say the majority of people who have dogs leave them at home on their own while they are at work. It does them absolutely no harm what so ever.
 
it depends on the dog. my dogs are perfectly fine to be left for 8 hours or so, they wouldn't appreciate it every day but they can handle it. when young though you won't be able to do it at all, it'll need to go every 2-3 hours or so. now they just sleep all day :p but even if you don't get a puppy, early on you will need to let it out on your lunch until it is properly settled in because it may not be used to it from its previous owner. older ones aren't so bothered about the company either as they're fine to sleep till you get back, but a younger one will crave the attention and probably destroy your entire house by the time you get home. be prepared.
 
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