Leaving a dog at home during the day

Yes we would be looking to get a puppy, but I'm really torn because of the fact we'd need to leave him/her at home whilst we worked. Popping home at lunch isn't an option unfortunately.

Perhaps we should leave it until we can spend more time at home, thanks for the input!
 
groen said:
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.
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:/

You mean that there's a ****-load of them? Why is that a problem?

[edit]In fact, unless you're a coffin dodger (or a salad dodger I suppose) what would you have other than a stand-up shower? :confused:
 
You can not leave a puppy for 9 hours. Not a chance. An adult dog you could possibly (but IMO it wouldn't be fair). A puppy can't be left for more than a couple of hours at a time.
 
And thats why I love cats, amongst other things. The Mrs loves cats but was asking for a dog, with her out from 8 till 5:30 its just not fair, plus she'd soon get bored walking it.
 
No one seems to have mentioned it depends on the breed of dog! Some dogs are quite fine being alone for long periods, others will get very upset and howl/bark the whole time.
 
if you can leave them outside in a large area then yes should be ok. also concider the breed of dog some like being alone some will just make a lot of noise when you leave them for even 5 mins.
 
My dog's have always been left at home, But we had a puppy, then a rescue dog (didnt need any training) then puppy and later a rescue dog with her.
Luckily my mum was usually home during these times due to being off work But she doesnt work that long anyway. 8 till 2, type times. or 12 till 6:30-when my dad got home.

As long as they are trained should be fine.
 
Before my GF moved in my dog spent ages at home on her own - I monitored her with net ip cams to start with and rang up the answerphone to shout at her when she was ripping up my cheque book and the like (as a puppy).

She is a calm Irish Setter and does not mind being on her own, but it did require me spending a lot of the night taking her out for a run and playing with her - she just treated the day like her night and slept through!
 
Don't get a dog. I wouldn't dream of leaving my 2 at home for 8 hours each day.
 
I'll go against the grain and say its ok. Mine certainly doesn't seem bothered by it, gets his walk before work, then when I get home from work, and had toys to maul, and a doggy flap on the back door to amble about the garden while I'm at work, and bark at the neighbours cat no doubt. And he has the full run of the house, so occassionally he'll go digging, then decide to go sleep on my bed, which is a bit irritating.
 
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My parents 2 dogs used to be fine left on their own for most of the day, they'd end up just sleeping for most of it. It helped that my mum was a teacher so was home reasonably early and that they were walked in the morning, when mum got home and again in the evening.

I've got a 7 month old Staffy who is left on his own till 12/1 ish 3 days a week, he just falls asleep in his cage till someone comes back, it probably helps that he is not a morning dog and on a weekend doesn't like to do anything till about lunchtime.

I'm sure I read somewhere that for a puppy you are only supposed to leave them for 1 hour for every month they are, so technically I could leave my dog for 7 hours on his own, I won't though as that is too long a time for him to get bored.
 
When you first get a puppy home they need you to be there pretty much all the time. I've made sure I've been working from home the entire first week of the puppy coming home.
 
danielanthony said:
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!
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Op
Me & my wife goes to work and we leave our dog at home. It's been like that for 4 years now. We don't know what he does at home but he has the whole house to himself.
 
For a puppy, it won't work, they need time. As they get older it's better, but you may still want to consider employing someone to walk the dog/let it out at lunchtime if you really can't get home.
 
We've 2 dogs, both are left 8-9 hours a day and both are fine. This would only be 3 days out of 7 though because I work shifts so some days I am home until 2pm. We've had one a lot longer than the other and it wasn't a problem leaving him alone either.

You couldn't do it with a puppy. I would say go to a local dogs home, find a dog you both like and take him for a walk. Try to find a low energy dog as it will make things easier for you.

One of mine is low energy, the other high energy. One makes a bit of a fuss when we first come home, ignore him until jhe calms down (5 mins) and then we take them outside for a play. Feed them, then a walk at night.

Both dogs are healthy and have good lives.
 
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