Leaving a dog on it’s own

[NoTeaForMe]

Good morning,
We are looking into getting a puppy (I know you all think people should get rescue dogs but no rescue centre near me re-homes dogs to families with children under the age of 10, so I can’t)
I just wondered on average what is considered fair to leave them at home on their own? Obviously not as a puppy but when they’re a little older? I work part time, so most days it’s fine. I’m just wondering if the couple of days I’m out for longer would be ok still or we’d need a dog walker.
Thanks.

[Newyearnewunicorn]

My fairly old dogs happily stay at home for 3-4 hours about once a week. Occasionally leave them longer ( once every few months) and they’re fine. I don’t use a dog walker as it would traumatise the eldest.
It depends on the dog and older settled dogs are easier to leave. Young ones even at 3 or 4 can hate being left.

[BiteyShark]

Mine is left around 3 hours in any period of time then the odd hour here and there. Any longer than that and I can see him getting up and waiting for us at the door (I have a camera pointed at him ).

Mine is 2.5 years old.

[Tunt]

I went back to work when puppy was 11 months..... one day a week I would be out the house from 7-6 and a dog walker would take him from 11-3, not walking that whole time obviously. It was totally fine. I’m happy to leave him for 3-4 hours generally, up to 6 in a blue moon.

[anonforthespies43267]

Mine can be left for up to 10 hours, not v often and a max of once a week however I have 2 and they have each other for company. I plan it so they’re left 4 hours in the morning then the dog walker comes in for an hours walk, then 3.5-4 hours after dropping them off she comes back for a 30 min home visit for cuddles and lets them out for the toilet.

[Wolfiefan]

The puppy stage lasts for months not weeks. So you can’t take a couple of weeks off work then leave a dog alone for four hours at a time. The little buggers need watching full time to ensure they learn to wee outside!
I can leave mine up to four hours in a day but very rarely do. She likes to have her humans about. She’s 2.5.
Breed also makes a difference. Some breeds are much more prone to separation anxiety than others. If you get that then you can’t leave your dog. At all.

[HoraceCope]

i would say 6 hours if necessary.

[rookiemere]

Ours is 11 months and has ( on rare occasions ) been left for up to 4 hrs with no ill effects. Once the dog walkers forgot to collect him and he was on his own from 8-4 an other than being particularly keen for attention and a walk, seemed ok.

However we're on holidays at the minute and he's being left after walks for around 5 hrs 2-3 days a week and seems to be destructive during that period. So I'm thinking 4 hrs is the max.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

The usual figure that gets bandied about is 4 hours. However, there's a vast variation in what an individual dog will be able to cope with. Some dogs (with significant clinical separation anxiety) can't go 10 minutes. PestDog used to have to go 10 hours a day 5 days a week and was absolutely fine (I even attached an activity monitor to his collar - he literally moved for 5 minutes in the whole day and spent the rest of it sleeping; I ought to add that this wasn't a situation of my own making).

[Nesssie]

Mine does 8 hours a day absolutely fine. Large breed=large bladder.
All about routine, appropriate stimulation and building it up gradually.

[missbattenburg]

As others have said, so much depends on the dogs' age, temperament and experience. Just be prepared (have a plan) for if it cannot be left.

e.g. don't get a dog you don't know (inc puppy), hoping it can be left for several hours and not be in a position to provide/afford/arrange cover if it cannot cope.

Also be aware that some dogs (especially young ones) will next extra time and attention when you get back home. If they have spent several hours sleeping already that day, they may not be ok to settle back down again straight away because you're tired, have to get on with making tea, just want to relax for the evening. If you choose a dog that is like this you will need to be prepared to provide significant interaction and/or walks outside of work time.