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The doghouse

Is it normal to leave a puppy alone for 3-4 hours at a time?

16 replies

MelinaM · 07/10/2011 14:53

My neighbour (I use the word loosely) has recently acquired a 9-10 week old puppy, it is left alone 3-4 hours most mornings, and 2-3 hours during the afternoon. I can hear it yelping and barking (puppy bark) when I am in the garden. I've only ever had pet cats so am not 'in the know' with regard to dogs. Am I being soft?!

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ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 07/10/2011 14:55

I haven't left my pup for more than 2 hours, and that was just the once when I had no choice. Not sure if it's advisable or not, tbh. Just feels instinctively counter productive when you're trying to socialise/house train/generally train. If I have to leave mine, I crate him and make sure he's tired out first.

DooinMeCleanin · 07/10/2011 15:46

From what I can tell from some posts on here, yes it's normal . But normal and kind or right are not the same thing.

It's incredibly cruel to leave a puppy alone that long, as well as bad for toilet training. Poor puppy. Other than offer to puppy sit I don't think there's much you can do.

Crosshair · 07/10/2011 16:12

I wouldn't leave a puppy for that amount of time unless it was a one off emergancy type situation.

MelinaM · 07/10/2011 16:21

Thank you, that's what I thought! You wouldn't leave a newborn child would you, but it seems because it's an animal it's okay to do so!
I really do feel for the poor chap, going from being with the company of it's mother and siblings to the company of nothing is beyond cruel

I shall keep an eye on the situation.

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NotMostPeople · 07/10/2011 17:24

I got my rescue puppy from the RSPCA and was told during the home visit not to leave him for any lo ger than two hours max and only if necessary. He is 21 weeks now and I haven't left him any longer than 2 1/2 hours and that wasn't planned iyswim. I wouldn't be happy about leaving a pup for so long.

Rhinestone · 07/10/2011 18:59

No, that's too long and too frequent to leave a 10 wk old puppy. I would say 2 hours max and NOT a regular occurrence. I.e. not 2 hours every morning and afternoon. And make sure it coincides with nap time.

Do you work? If not would you be up for volunteering to let it out and have a play every morning?

WitchesBrewIsMyFriend · 07/10/2011 21:15

no, that is not normal OP - and neither is is right for the puppy. It will be needing fed 3 or 4 times a day, not to mention housebreaking so the poor thing wont know when it is getting fed and where to go to the loo.

2 hours absolute maximum is what I would leave a puppy for and even then I would be desperate to get back to my puppy.

MelinaM · 07/10/2011 21:47

I'm a full-time student. Unfortunately I'm not on speaking terms with these people - they're very selfish and have absolutely no respect for those around them!
There are other neighbours that could look after the puppy, but the owners seem to think what they're doing is absolutely fine! ..they wanted a puppy, now that that they have it it should fit into their current lives iykwim! Their son was tossing it around on the trampoline this afternoon

Thank you so much for your replies!

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Midori1999 · 07/10/2011 22:06

It sounds awful! Give it 6 months or so and they will probably rehome it because it's become a pain in the backside through lack of training, toilet training and socialisation.

It sounds awful. Isuspect sadly they are unlikely to do anything, but you could try ringing the RSPCA saying it is crying all the time when left.

chickchickchicken · 07/10/2011 22:51

at poor pup being left all alone for that long.

bloody angry at them allowing their son to toss pup around on the trampoline. poor pup

MelinaM · 07/10/2011 23:51

I know, it's very sad indeed ...I have to stop myself from popping over the wall and liberating the poor soul!

I shall certainly bear the RSPCA in mind if it continues, they've only had the puppy a week so it's not looking good is it?!

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ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 08/10/2011 08:10

Poor thing :( My pup stands under the trampoline when the DC are on it and jumps up when they jump down He is yet to work out the trampoline. There is no way I'd let the children throw him about on it

MelinaM · 08/10/2011 10:21

^Your puppy sounds fab

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higgle · 08/10/2011 10:33

Yes it is very sad, and I wouldn't do it now. When I was young and foolish. over 30 years ago, I did get a puppy, and left her while I was at work, popping back at lunchtime to take her for a walk. She didn't like it much and annoyed my neighbours. It was wrong, but at the time I felt I had rescued her (in fact I had bought her when she was the only puppy left at the end of trading in a street market, banned years ago) and there was nothing else to do. She did get used to it and grew up t be a lovely clever independent mided sweetie of a dog, who lived to over 17 and was my best friend and companion. I wouldn't do it again, I'm far wiser now, but this is just to say that the puppy is not necessarily going to be irretreivably damaged by this experience provided the rest of the care is OK.

WitchesBrewIsMyFriend · 08/10/2011 10:35

When 'our' puppies were tiny they used to hop onto the trampoline with litter mates and they used to boing around. It was quite funny to watch them.

I would never allow the DC to toss them around!

Your neighbours dont sound like they know how to treat a puppy.

fuckwittery of fuckwits Eejits is what they are.

MelinaM · 08/10/2011 22:36

I couldn't agree more Witches!!!

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