Dog-home alone

[CeeCeeWin]

Our dog stays home alone while we work. He stays in our secure courtyard which is quite spacious and gives him room to wander about, he also had a house in the coutyard with bedding. We have a noise activated camera and can check in on him during the day.
Our neighbour, who runs a pricey dog walking business, keeps complaining that he barks during the day, and I feel at times she is almost accusing us of not looking after him properly. Unfortunately we both have to work and cannot afford dog walking fees, hers or others locally which in my opinion seem expensive. We do exercise him in the evening, we believe he is a happy, healthy dog and whilst it is not ideal that he is alone during the day we don't have another option. From the cameras he only seems to bark when the neighbours are passing up and down outside our lane or there are cats or other animals lurking about, we don't think he barks a lot. Is our neighbour being nosy or touting for business or is it wrong to leave him alone?

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

I’m sure it depends on the dog, mine would be useless on his own all day but I know others that pretty much sleep the whole time.

How long is your working day?

[IAmAlwaysLikeThis]

How long is he alone?

People on here will say no more than four hours per day - I think that’s excessively kind to the dog tbh and I wouldn’t be able to do anything if I lived like that.

We leave ours up to 4-6 hours while we work. If we need to be out longer he goes to my PILs or daycare. We will go out in the evening too, sometimes for up to six hours, but normally more like two.

But he gets a lot of attention, walks, classes too.

[CeeCeeWin]

He is on his own for eight hours

[IAmAlwaysLikeThis]

That’s too long for one session imo. As a one off, it’s doable but not every day, especially since he’s showing signs of boredom.

You need to get someone in to walk him. There are free services.

Stuff like kongs, nosework etc can mitigate boredom too. But I’d say he needs company and a change of scene during such a long period too.

[Shitlandpony]

I think that’s too long, do you leave him puzzles? Anything to stimulate his mind?
Dogs are social creatures and I think it’s reakky unfair to leave a dog alone for that long. Combined with overnight, he is not getting a lot of interaction at all.
When you say courtyard, is he outside in this weather?

[missmouse101]

My goodness, I actually can't believe what I have just read. Alone for 8 hours is very wrong and cruel to him. Dogs need company, they are pack animals and there is no question he is suffering. Poor baby. Please stop this.

[PlainJane007]

I don't think it's reasonable to leave a dog on its own for 8 hours regularly. They are social pack animals.

[UrsulaPandress]

Beyond cruel. Poor dog.

[chocomug]

Eight hours everyday?

The poor dog.

I'm inclined to agree with your neighbour.

Also if you can't afford to keep the dog then maybe you should look at cutting luxuries to have a dog walker take the poor thing out for an hour a day.

[user1486076969]

8 hours is way too long.

[CeeCeeWin]

He has toys including his favourite Kong that he plays with during the day, I do feel bad that we are gone eight hours, but we do give him a lot of attention in the evening. I am not aware of the free dog waking services does any one have links for these?
We don't have family near by to check in on him either, what do people do if they work a full day?

[spam65]

You could try Borrow My Doggie.com - a friend of mine used to walk someone's dog as they weren't in a position to own a dog themselves.
It's free as far as I know.

[CeeCeeWin]

Thanks for your honesty, it is appreciated. I will look into dog waking services. We do love him, he is part of our family.

[wombatron]

If you have a noise activated camera, does it show him barking all day? Could you rig something up to have a constant live feed so you can see him to monitor?

Sorry, you've not said how old he is? Please take, with a pinch of salt, those who insist all dog owners shouldn't leave their dogs for more than 4 hours. I haven't met a dog owner yet who doesn't leave theirs for 6-8. My two, for example sleep all day. They sleep all day if I am home. They sleep all day if DH is home. They sleep all day if they are alone - every dog is different. Your neighbour most likely doesn't agree with what you do so is stirring.

[missmouse101]

Most people who work a full day and are out for eight hours would have worked out they aren't in a position to own a dog. What breed is he? I really do feel so sorry for him, you HAVE to change the situation. It is utterly cruel.

[CeeCeeWin]

The camera activates and alerts us if there is any noise including barking, that is how we know he only barks if there is movement, people or other animals outside. We can also look in on him when ever we want. He is inside when it is cold, but when the whether is OK we think it is nicer for him to be out. He has a shelter and comfy bed

[ineedaholidaynow]

How much are the dog walking services in your area? Can you cut some other costs to pay for a dog walker. I think 8 hours alone every working day is too long

[WowserBowser]

what do people do if they work a full day?

They don't have one? It isn't a necessity

[Shitlandpony]

wombatron I can honestly say that I have never left mine alone for longer than four hours without doggy day care or a walker. None of my friends or relatives do either.
I am not sure it’s in the dogs best interests to encourage it being left alone for eight hours.
We have moved on in the last few years and realise that dogs are sentient creatures that need more than feeding and a twenty minute walk a day.

[crazycatgal]

Most people who will be out for 8 hours a day put their dog in doggy day care, get a dog walker or simply don't get a dog.

It's cruel to leave the dog for so long every day.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Ooh eight hours IS a long time. I assume you don’t work close enough to get home at lunch?

How old is the dog though. If he has been ok like this for 8 years then it’s different to having had him for a short time.

I am lucky as daycare near me isn’t too expensive and I can take the dog to work too, but I know those things aren’t the same for everyone. Borrow my doggy is a good idea.

[totallyliterally]

Mines only been left for 4 hours twice. Usually only 2 hours and that's twice a week.

Can't imagine leaving her for 8 hours as a one off.

When you say 'if it's cold she stays inside' how do they wee /poo?? And what do you think is cold? What temp?

[IAmAlwaysLikeThis]

“Usually only 2 hours and that's twice a week.”

Do you never go out/have stuff to do?

I do think mn dog people take it too far.

Eight hours a day every day is far too long - the dog never having been alone for longer than four hours, and usually only two hours, is also extreme.

Dogs are hardy. They are not going to collapse in a nervous fit if they aren’t attended to 24 hours a day.

[Shitlandpony]

** extreme in your opinion. I think you are not looking after your dog properly if you are leaving it regularly for longer than four hours. Dogs will sleep a lot if they are bored, not stimulated and not exercised.

Who is suggesting they will ‘collapse’ if not attended to constantly for 24hrs?

I do despair of the attitude that if you are a responsible owner that realises dogs are not inanimate objects and have a brain and emotions, you are spoiling it or are slightly hysterical

[Shitlandpony]

Plus, let’s face it, they can’t really do a lot about their situation anyway can they? They just have to accept it and be expected to behave perfectly to fit in with owners working lives, social lives and budgets.
Not much of a life for many dogs...