How long do you leave your dog home alone?

[sarah8484]

Just that really. What's the longest you leave your dog home alone? I work 9 hour shifts, and usually have someone to watch my dog (7 month old jackchi) but theres no one to watch him for the two days im at work next week. Would/have you left you pet alone for 9/10 hours? I feel its way to long. I have friends who do but their dogs are bigger breeds.

[fedupandlookingforchange]

Much older dogs and bigger only tend to leave them a max of 6 hours

[Wanderer1]

I've a large 20 month old collie X and the longest I've ever left him is 7 hours and that was an accident (caught in traffic on the way home). My rule is no more than 4/5 hours as a regular thing and 6 hours once in a blue moon and if he has had a really really good walk.
We get a dog walker in if he needs to be left all day.

[BiteyShark]

3 hours is typically the max ours get left alone now. I think on the odd occasion it's been about 3.5 but certainly no more than 4.

I work full time but our dog goes to daycare.

[BrokenBrit]

At 7 months I wouldn’t leave longer than a couple of hours and certainly not that length of time.
An adult dog maybe 4-5 hours on average if built up to it.
But they are all individual. My old dog just sleeps all day apart from her short walks and has no separation issues so would be fine longer if needed. But my 3 year old only does 4 hours max, he thrives off people contact and stimulation.
Get someone in to take him for a walk and play and split his day up at the minimum, or go to day care.

[Topseyt]

I rarely leave mine for longer than 3 to 4 hours.

9 or 10 hours is definitely much too long and he won't even be able to get outside to toilet.

You need to investigate local dog walkers or any doggy daycare or overnight boarding facilities near you.

[Juanbablo]

Our 4 month old puppy is left 3-4 hours at the most 1-2 times a week. He just sleeps. I wouldn't be comfortable leaving him more than 4 hours and if I had to be out I would get someone to come in and let him out to the toilet and play with him for a while.

[Pipandmum]

They are rarely left alone for more than two or three hours. But on the odd occasion (say three or four times a year) I have left them alone all day - say 8 hours max. I make sure they have a good walk before.
They are calm dogs though, no signs of stress or separation anxiety plus they have each other.
I'm not sure what size of breed has to do with it, I think 9-10 hours way too long on a regular basis - anyone doing that without a dog walker shouldn't own a dog.
If your dog is normally settled when you are out and you really can't find someone to walk him then I guess there's nothing you can do. If your dog gets stressed pay someone.

[Amicompletelyinsane]

Once a week mine are left for 8 hours. It was never the initial plan but life changes. There are two of them, they have access to the house and garden. They spend the whole time asleep on my bed. They get a big walk as soon as I'm home. The rest of the week its a max of a few hours. It's not ideal but circumstances change and things happen.

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

In the past, due to circumstances outside my control, DDog was left 10 hours a day 5 days a week. He coped, but I always considered that he coped unreasonably well, and that most dogs wouldn't.

Nowadays I'm self employed and usually work from home (and when I'm out, my lodger is usually in). DDog often disappears to the other end of the flat for hours at a time when he knows I'm working (and hence being boring!), so I'm not sure he's fussed either way.

Each dog is an individual - I've come across dogs that can't cope with being left for 20 minutes.

[elQuintoConyo]

3 hours once or twice per week. Once we left her I think 6 hours and I felt terrible, but found her asleep in the same place we'd left her (our bed!) when we got home.

She has great long walks but I think us part greyhound and she is very happy snoozing. DH works from home so she is used to company. She has no separation anxiety and doesn't bark.

[DogInATent]

With a much older and bigger dog I aim for 4 hours max, occasionally it's been 5 when I've been caught in traffic. Perhaps once a fortnight it's 7-8hrs but always on those days there's someone in at least once during the day to give her a run in the garden and lunch.

[Friendsofmine]

I had a husband who worked from home with dog then when things changed put the dog in day care full time until a year later when I started working from home a bit more.

My dog is now 10 and because he doesn't have access to the garden when home alone I only leave him 3 or 4 hours then a dog walker comes for him and takes him out for 2 hours (inc driving the dogs to the woods etc) then brings him home. I do this on the days he would otherwise be home alone for more than 6 hours. Pay for a dog walker or day care.

[Booboostwo]

Maximum 4 hours with the company of other dogs and access to both house and garden, no more than twice a week.

[BiteyShark]

I do think you can't really tell how they are unless you watch them.

I know when mine was younger and we were getting him used to being left he could be quiet when you left and came back but was up and down off the sofa all the time inbetween waiting for us to come back.

I still watch mine live from my phone and he typically snoozes on the sofa so I know he is ok. However, longer than 3 hours and he becomes restless.

[RIBlue]

Mine’s 12 and antisocial so daycare or walkers not an option. She has a 40 minute walk in the morning, left 8:30-1pm, 20 minute walk and a 20 minute cuddle on the sofa at lunch time then left 2-5ish, then another 40 mins walk. It’s not ideal and I feel guilty most of the time but she just follows the sun around the house sleeping on sofas and beds between times and appears happy enough. It certainly wasn’t the plan but I acquired her sort of as a rescue and it’s the best we can do. Someone has to go to work and keep in her in bonios!

[ImGoingSlightlyBrad]

9 hours?

I'd have to be incapacitated in some way and unable to contact any family or friends or professional dog care.

4 hours has always been my tops - even for older dogs that seem fine being left.

[LochJessMonster]

8 hours (9 if traffic is really bad) but he is a large breed (therefore large bladder) and 6 years old. Very independent and no separation anxiety.

Can you put him in a doggy day care for those 2 days?

[RedRed9]

Doggy day care is your answer here!

Honestly, mine has the best time there. I feel bad for not needing to take him more often! It’s £20 a day.

[Friendsofmine]

Ps. It is possible to get a dog walker who will just take your dog alone as I did this with a previous dog. So that is an option if yours is not socialised etc.

[Spidey66]

Usually about 3 hours or so-on one occasion only 8 hours as we were out for the day. She does not appear anxious about being left on her own. I'm working, but my husband retires, so the 3 hours is for him to go shopping or in the evening for us to go out together.

[goodwinter]

4 hours max in any given day. He's a sensitive rescue, so we don't chance it. Often there's someone home all day with him as we work our shifts around it.

[Toria70]

3 hours absolute limit.

We run our own business, and they have 4 days at home between DH and I, and 3 days at work where they are spoiled rotten and fussed over.

It's really cruel to leave a young dog IMO.

[Glassio]

4 hrs max (in total a day, I'd never just pop back then leave him for even longer again) they're already alone 9ish hrs through the night.

[steppemum]

we often leave ours for 4 hours. (although we both usually work from home)
Occasionally we have left him for 6, but then we get a friend to come in an let him out for a wee.

twice he has been left for 8 hours, first time by accident (friend forgot to come over) he was fine. I know that, because when he isn't fine being left he finds things to chew, and takes items of ours to his bed.

BUT, he has had a 1.5 hour run before we leave him for 6 hours, and then is left with a Kong with peanut butter in, which he spends all day licking.

I think that your dog is too young.
If he can't get out for a wee, he will not be able to hold it for that long, and will be upset about weeing in the house.
He will be distressed, as it is not usual.

Surely someone could come round, let him out, spend half an hour with him and leave? Many of the dog walkers round here would do that if you don't wnat him to be walked?

[palacegirl77]

I wouldnt have a dog if it was going to be left for long periods (4 hours plus) regularly. They may not seem anxious but its about their mental well being. Dogs are pack animals and love social interaction. I have a 4 year old labrador. He is absolutely fine being left, but he is only left twice a day for 30 minutes whilst I do the school run and the odd hour if I do the food shop / doctors etc. If I need to go out for the whole day he goes to his Grandpas! Just because they can cope, doesn't mean they should have to in my opinion.