How long is too long to leave a dog/dogs alone at home

Ideally not more than 3 or 4hrs is "too long" but it depends on the age.

Would you leave a puppy alone for that long? No. An adult (7) dog? Yes.

The fact you're asking suggests you already know it's too long.
 
Depends on / breed, and personally I think it depends on if you have 1 or 2.. We always have 2 I'd not want to leave them for more than 8 or 9 hours.. Any longer I'd get someone to drop in and let them out / walk them.. I've had dogs for 20 years... Daily they only get left for 6 hours
 
About 4 hours but occasionally more if needed. Our dog has the run of the house when we are out, so not as bad as just being locked in the kitchen etc. If it is too long a friend will drop in to let the dog out and walk it if needed.
 
Dogs love routine. If you have a strict routine with feeding and walking you can leave them as long as you like.
 
I don't have a dog because we're out at work for 9hrs day, it wouldn't be fair on the dog. If you have a 9-5 job then don't do it get a cat instead.
 
If you get back home to find dog poop/pee on the floor, you've left it there too long. I'd say no more than a couple of hours based on our dog.
 
We have 2 (just turned 1 year old - they are from the same litter :)) amstaffs, they are home whilst we are out at work each day, however, 2 is good company and we have a dog walker.
 
danoliver1 said:
I don't have a dog because we're out at work for 9hrs day, it wouldn't be fair on the dog. If you have a 9-5 job then don't do it get a cat instead.
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This. My neighbours got a puppy when one of them was off work sick, then after a few months she went back to work and they leave the dog alone all day. So from the minute they leave at 7am till they get back at 6pm the dog is crying, howling and barking. You can't get away from the noise either as it follows you from room to room when it hears the slightest noise. Even if you go outside to get away from the noise it goes into their conservatory and its louder then being inside. We hinted to them about the noise but they don't care so i'm looking into making a noise complaint.
 
We have 2 labs. They both get left a maximum of about 6 hours which is pretty rare. GF works as a dog walker Mon-Wed so has them out all day, gfs mum works from home at ours on a Thursday and then friday I only work 6 hours so they're usually ok until I get back from work.
 
A lot depends I the dog's personality I think.
Ours we could leave for a good few hours, we would leave the house and sneakily look through the window and he had immediately curled up on the sofa. When we would return he was curled up still. However he would get all mopey and clingy when we would be getting ready to go out and he knew he wasn't coming.
Then there was that hidden camera documentary on dogs where some pood or peed on the floor seconds or minutes through anxiety after the owners left.
The owners initially thought it was that the dog couldn't hold it in until they returned. They had no idea the dog did as soon as the owners left.
Got to deal with each dog accordingly IMO.
 
We have a 2 year old Lab. She gets left around 4 hours at most as I come home for lunch, very rarely longer. If it's any substantial amount of time she goes round one of our parents house for the day.
 
Mark A said:
This. My neighbours got a puppy when one of them was off work sick, then after a few months she went back to work and they leave the dog alone all day. So from the minute they leave at 7am till they get back at 6pm the dog is crying, howling and barking. You can't get away from the noise either as it follows you from room to room when it hears the slightest noise. Even if you go outside to get away from the noise it goes into their conservatory and its louder then being inside. We hinted to them about the noise but they don't care so i'm looking into making a noise complaint.
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Although the situation isn't ideal and is entirely of their own making, if you're at home and if you get on OK with your neighbors then maybe you could offer to pop in one a day to let the dog into the garden and give it some food? It may stop the noise and make the dig much happier knowing someone will drop in once a day.
 
ive an old dog and have been in this position 2 years back after a split (my ex now comes and looks after him) i would walk him before work ,then i have a dog flap with a sealed off back garden ,but he can also wander into the games building there, tbh when its really hot i would just leave back door wedged wide open.
also paid a neighbour to let him into the lower front garden so he could have a decent wander about but he can crash for hours
 
The wife and I would absolutely love a dog, when we retire it will be the first thing we do. But for now we are both working the same hours and it's just not viable. We had dogs growing up but my mum only worked part time.
 
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