How long is too long to leave dog?

[slavetotheweeklywage]

I have a lovely little dog, she's 3 years old is fine being left alone - never wees or chews, just sits in chair waiting for me to come home. Next week I start a new job, (previously been a sahm) and I will be working school hours x3 days a week. We will leave house about 8:20 and be home just after 3.

Is this too long to leave the dog?? Please give advise as in reluctant to get a dog walker (dh really doesn't want our key left with someone)

[Slothlikesundays]

Yes. 4 hours maximum

[pianoshark]

Four hours max is recommended.
I know plenty who do leave them all day but it isnt really fair.

Im facing same situation. Have been working from home but this will change.

[BellaGoth]

I think it comes down to more than just how long they're left.

When we got our first dog, dh and I both worked. We staggered our hours so I started early and he started later. I came home for lunch. Ddog did agility once a week, obedience once a week, and one day of doggie day care a week. Lots of good walks and mental stimulation. He was a very happy and chilled dog.

MIL got a dog at the same time. She was retired but kept the dog crated 23 hours a day, never walked him or trained him.

Ideally most dogs wouldn't want to be left at all, but for 3 days a week, so long as he's well stimulated the rest of the time, you'll probably be Ok. You'll soon see if he's stressed by it. Can you get a dog Walker in?

[Greydog]

Have left ours alone for that length of time - with the TV on for company - but that said she's a very laid back greyhound who spends most of the day asleep! I take her out for a very long walk before I go out, and first thing I do on return is leap out of the car to take her for a walk. It depends on the dog. I've heard some unpleasant tales about dog walkers, and so would only ask someone I know to take her out if I needed to be longer

[blueskyinmarch]

Depends if she is a dog that likes/needs/is used to lots of walks, attention, trips out to the garden for the toilet etc or not. What is your routine with her at the moment?

[90daychallenger]

I'd be tempted to set up a camera and try her with a whole day on her own a couple of times. She might sit and wait patiently when you've nipped to the shops but several hours she might be different. She might sit and pine and be terribly lonely or she might curl up to sleep and not be bothered.

I'd say you can only really devise a plan once you know the full situation.

I occasionally leave my 3 year old for up to 10 hours a day but I only started doing this once I knew she was completely fine. I leave her some games to play (hide some food inside a ball or Kong type games) and once she's worn herself out with these in about thirty minutes, she spends the rest of the times asleep. I did have a dog walker coming in but my dog would be very reluctant to get out of bed and would refuse to go for a walk so it didn't really work for her. I think my dog actually prefers being left alone in house all day to snooze.

[ExitPursuedBySpartacus]

I personally don't think it's fair to leave a dog for so long. Especially one that is used to having company all day. Can you find someone local who would take her out for half an hour at lunchtime?

[AgainPlease]

That seems very unfair to leave the poor dog on his/her own for so long.

4 hours max is recommended. When I know I'll be longer than that out, I put our dog in to dog daycare which is £28 for the day (London).

If you know you will be at home before they pick him up and at home again when they return him, you won't need to give them a key... Although we have no problem leaving the dog daycare company a key; it's their job and they do it for hundreds of other households too.

[princessmombi]

I think it depends on the dog. Ddog is left about 7 hours a couple of times a month. Not ideal and I hate doing it but sometimes work gets in the way. I have found if I nip back home between meetings and see him for 10 mins he gets quite stressed the second time I leave whereas if I come back after longer but don't leave again that day he's fine. Ideally ddog gets a walk before I leave him - then he sleeps most of it. I also find he's much calmer if there hasn't been some other disruption the day before - long journey/vets/groomers.
I leave the tv on he likes that.
Sometimes I rush home out of guilt to be not even greeting by a sleepy dog just managing to open one eye to me.
He couldn't give 2 shits if I leave him in the evening though.