How long could/should a dog be left on their own for?

[sergeantmajor]

We're thinking of getting a puppy. At present I work at home, but this may change in the future. In which case any pet would be left at home during the hours of roughly 9am-3pm. Would it be cruel to leave a dog for this long? We have a back garden and could put in a dog flap. Would having two dogs be less lonely, as company for each other? Is there a particular breed that would be most suited to such a scenario, if any? Thanks.

[dyslexicdespot]

We have never left our dog for more than four hours. She would have a very hard time being left for longer periods of time. Could you get a dog walker?

[Bowlersarm]

As a one off every now and then I think this is ok. I don't think it's ok as a permanent arrangement. Most dogs desire company, and without it they get bored and lonely.

[Mrsostrich]

Depends on the dog. Certainly couldn't leave a puppy that long.

My dog was fine to be left 830-5 but he was a very lazy dog and happily slept the clock round after a good morning walk and a walk a soon as we got home. I usually had someone cone round at lunch time to let him out for a wee.

He was a very strange dog though. If I was off work he would look at me as if to say "go on go out. I want to lie on the sofa and watch the world go by"

But it depends on the dog. My dads dog can't be left for longer than a hour or two without getting upset

[Tillypo]

It would be unfair to get a dog be at home with it all the time and then suddenly go out to work as dogs can suffer from seperation anxiety.

[VivaLeThrustBadger]

Could be ok for an adult greyhound. Saying that greyhounds can get separation anxiety.

[RedWineAndCheese]

Okay as a one-off, but definitely not every day IMO.

Dog walker a possibility? Or doggy day care?

I wouldn't get a puppy under those circumstances.
Maybe an adult rescue greyhound as mentioned above.

My dog's occasional separation anxiety breaks my heart and she is a FAB dog for being okay and being left in her crate mostly.

But she can come with me to work luckily, and thankfully.

[neepsandtatties]

I think a lot does depend on the dog and the frequency. For example, we have a 1-year old rescue dog. I work from home, so he is only routinely left for 30 mins for the school run. But once every couple of months we have left him for up to 5 hours (when we go out to friends for lunch or similar). He's fast asleep in his bed when we get home (and I know he hasn't stirred as he's still under the blanket my DS tucked him up in!). So as a one-off, he is fine for that time, but I don't think it would be fair to do it frequently, and I bet he would start to develop anxiety or destructive behaviors if we did so.

Having said that, in the past when i worked in an office, we've always adopted oldie dogs (>7 years) and they have been routinely left 8.30-5.30 with me popping back for a fuss/walk/wee at lunchtime - first dog had a dog-flap, and the second dogs were rehomed as a pair, so they had each other for company. All seemed to cope fine with the situation and the rescues involved were happy to rehome to us on this basis.

[ErrolTheDragon]

In addition to the other advice, a dog-flap could just result in the dog being outside barking and annoying the neighbours.

I think in your position I'd go to a good rescue, explain the situation and see if they thought they had a laid-back dog who'd be happy with that.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

No , I'd get a nice dog walker. like me

[BoundandRebound]

6 hours is fine

Many charities set this as a re home limit

Our dog is left for 6 hours Monday to Thursday

[BoundandRebound]

But you can't do it with a puppy - ours only started being left when he was 18 months, before that he'd come to work with me.