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Original poster

To shut my dog in the garden for the day?

442 replies

Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 10:49

Please read the full thing before you call me cruel.

I will be gone from about 8am until late on the night because I'm travelling for a medical procedure that I can't put off any longer. There is no way to make the time shorter due to where I live in relation to the hospital and I need the treatment asap.

I had a dog sitter booked but she had an accident and is currently on crutches and unable to drive. The others in my area are booked or just far too expensive. I have family but only my brother is able to drive and works 12hr shifts so he's only able to visit after 8pm. The house is rural detached with no close neighbours.

He can't go to kennels because I accidentally missed his vaccine boosters during the move and the local ones won't take him without them being up to date.

Dog is a large terrier. I have a large, safe garden with plenty of shady spots regardless of the time of day. I would leave multiple beds for him, including a dog house that was already in the garden when I moved in. There is also an automatic water bucket fitted to the house (previous owner) which he uses happily when we're in the garden. I will leave dry food out.

He absolutely will not toilet in the house, even with puppy pads, so he'd potentially be going 12+ hours without a wee which makes me very uncomfortable because he's had kidney issues in the past.

Please don't be awful - I'm terrified of what the biopsy will show and I'm doing my best.

OP posts:
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SpanielsGalore · 07/07/2025 14:57

Haven't RTFT so I don't know if anyone has suggested it, but could he go to the house of the original dog sitter? I know she is on crutches, but she could still look after him for a day.

NoelFaraday · 07/07/2025 14:57

For peace of mind the ‘expensive’ option is the right thing to do.

if your dog is stolen or gets out then you are to blame.

Gloriia · 07/07/2025 14:57

SquirrelsTail · 07/07/2025 14:55

Working dogs work in much harder conditions and it’s not roasting today either

It's not a working dog, it's an indoor pet dog.

Do you think a working dog would adapt quickly to being cooped up indoors for 12hrs?

SquirrelMadness · 07/07/2025 14:56

It's forecast to be 28c where I live on Thursday. Other parts of the country are forecast to be much hotter. It's too hot to leave a dog outside all day.

SquirrelsTail · 07/07/2025 14:55

Working dogs work in much harder conditions and it’s not roasting today either

2andadog · 07/07/2025 14:54

@Dogingarden I have a large terrier too, she is definitely an outdoors girl. I would build him up to it over the next couple of days.

Leave him outside for a few hours today, a few more the day after and make sure he's ok.

Does he go into the dog house? If not get some treats in there and a comfy bed and encourage him, also try the temp in the middle of the day to make sure it's shady. Spend some time getting him used to all the areas of the garden and I'm sure he'll be fine. Good luck with it all.

Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 14:47

WeregoingtoIbiza · 07/07/2025 14:44

Will one of your family members that can’t drive, come and stay for a day or two to look after your dog?
mine wouldn’t stay outside but I have a dog flap so I know he could get out if he needed to

My parents love at the other end of the country and are quite elderly so the trip is too much for them. My brother has tried to change his shift but it's not possible.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 14:46

I haven't had chance to read all of the replies properly but he absolutely loves the garden and will actively choose to be out there if the back door is open. There's a lot of mature trees in one area that provide shade all day. The previous tenant also built a dog house in the garden.

I can't afford the expensive sitter - it's hundreds of pounds at this point because my appointment is on Thursday 10th.

If I have to stay in, my brother will stay overnight at my house with my dog. He's tried to change his shift but he's a nurse and it's not possible.

I'm so worried about leaving him but I can't figure out another way at this point.

OP posts:
WeregoingtoIbiza · 07/07/2025 14:44

Will one of your family members that can’t drive, come and stay for a day or two to look after your dog?
mine wouldn’t stay outside but I have a dog flap so I know he could get out if he needed to

Ohdearwhatnow4 · 07/07/2025 14:40

Could you put camera up in garden and if theirs a problem call your brother?

Gloriia · 07/07/2025 14:40

shiningstar2 · 07/07/2025 14:31

Could you explain your predicament to your local dog kennels and ask if one of their workers would be prepared to have them at their home if you paid? Also some people who look after dogs in their own homes while people are on holiday take only one dog at a time. If there is one in your local area that could be a solution as boosters less necessary. I would guess that most reputable dog home people would normally want boosters but if you explain your predicament they might be willing to help.

The op doesn't seem to want suggestions or solutions, probably wants everyone to say yeah leaving a house pet outside alone unsupervised for hours when it is hot is ok when it really isn’t.

GigiGrey · 07/07/2025 14:40

I personally couldn't do this to my dog. I'd worry that he might get distressed being stuck outside all day. Your dog might be used to being left for a few hours in the house, but is he used to being shut out alone in the garden for hours at a time? I'd then worry about him looking for alternative ways out of the garden and injuring himself or going missing. This could also cause separation anxiety in the future.

I'd have to either book the expensive dog sitter or leave him indoors and have a dog walker pop in and take him out for a while part way through the day.

Lovemyassistancedog · 07/07/2025 14:39

It sounds like you're new to the area but if you go out for walks from your front door and when you bump into other dog owners, ask them if they're local and, if they are, explain to them? I know it's a bit weird to ask a stranger for a favour but dog walkers are often very friendly.

SquirrelMadness · 07/07/2025 14:37

Blackkittenfluff · 07/07/2025 14:30

She can't afford it.

And she's getting a biopsy.
Her health has to come first on this one occasion.

The dog will just have to manage, as a one off.

Show quote history

It depends where she lives and what day her treatment is. If it's 30c outside, even with access to water and shade, the dog may get heatstroke and heatstroke can be fatal. She asked whether it will be ok. I don't see the point in pretending it will definitely be ok.

She hasn't said where she lives, if it's only forecast to be 20c where she is on that day then heatstroke isn't an issue. I still wouldn't do it but in the heat it could be fatal. I can't see what's wrong with pointing this out.

Borrow my doggy is an app that people can use to request free pet care. I don't think it's insensitive to suggest she explores all the options.

80smonster · 07/07/2025 14:34

I’m a cat owner, but on the off-chance something goes wrong, I’d pay the expensive sitter. Don’t you have a local facebook group? I’d ask on there if anyone golden hearted would do it, if I couldn’t afford the sitter. Agree with others, what if you are kept in?

shiningstar2 · 07/07/2025 14:31

Could you explain your predicament to your local dog kennels and ask if one of their workers would be prepared to have them at their home if you paid? Also some people who look after dogs in their own homes while people are on holiday take only one dog at a time. If there is one in your local area that could be a solution as boosters less necessary. I would guess that most reputable dog home people would normally want boosters but if you explain your predicament they might be willing to help.

Blackkittenfluff · 07/07/2025 14:30

SquirrelMadness · 07/07/2025 13:52

Most people are suggesting booking the expensive sitter, not cancelling the biopsy.

Or trying Rover, borrow my doggy, local Facebook groups etc.

If the dog ends up with heatstroke she's going to feel awful. She has a solution, it's just pricey.

Show quote history

She can't afford it.

And she's getting a biopsy.
Her health has to come first on this one occasion.

The dog will just have to manage, as a one off.

Onleemoi · 07/07/2025 14:29

I’m not shaming anyone. The OP is in a tricky position, but I don’t think calling people hysterical and mentioning “furbabies” is a normal reaction to people saying 12 hours alone in a garden is too much.

Wheezygonzalez · 07/07/2025 14:29

When are you going though because it’s not clear if you mean today, tomorrow or later in the week. Have you seen the temperatures? Not sure where you live but it’s going up to 30 by us and even in the shade the air temp will be too hot.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 07/07/2025 14:29

He'll be fine. Put him out when you are there so he gets accustomed to being out there.

GemGEmGemster · 07/07/2025 14:27

It's fine. It's a dog. I'd leave mine in those circumstances but she'd bark the house down bcs she's a twat and my neighbours would be livid. Don't over think it.

caringcarer · 07/07/2025 14:27

You're doing the best you can whilst dealing with a health issue. It's just 1 day. My 2 dogs really wouldn't mind but they'd bark if anyone past the house which might annoy my neighbours but as you're rural it sounds fine as long as dog has access to shade and plenty of water.

Mingenious · 07/07/2025 14:26

Onleemoi · 07/07/2025 14:20

Imagine trying to shame people for caring about their pet’s welfare.

I wouldn’t do it, I’d get the expensive day care option.

Perhaps she can’t afford it?

Imagine trying to shame people for putting their own health first.

My own dig is very rarely left and if he is it’s only for a few hours. Would I leave him on his own for longer if I needed to go and have a biopsy? Of course I bloody would.

SquirrelMadness · 07/07/2025 14:26

SErunner · 07/07/2025 14:12

@Jojimoji we’ll have to agree to disagree then. I don’t think leaving a dog for 12 hours on its own is acceptable if you have alternatives (which the OP does but is for some reason choosing not to use them). And I said they don’t process time like humans (obviously 🙄) but they absolutely do have a perception of time lapse otherwise leaving them for days would surely be fine so long as they have enough food/water. It is recommended they aren’t left for more than 4 hours or so for good reason. Some dogs obviously can manage longer and owners will know their own dog best, but 12 hours is far too long for any dog, particularly when there are alternatives.

Absolutely agree, I'm shocked by how many people are fine with this. Especially when we're between heatwaves.

There are so many options now for finding pet care. I can't believe people just leave their dog outside all day without exploring other options. Especially when a pet sitter is available, they're just expensive!

shiningstar2 · 07/07/2025 14:25

I wouldn't ask for help on Facebook. You don't know who might answer. Also wouldn't leave him in the garden that long. No garden is so secure that someone couldn't get in if they really wanted to. I would be stressing all day in case he got stolen
If noone you know can have him I think k your only alternatives are the expensive day care that would take him or get the boosters and delay the procedure. Only other thing I can think of is can you drive to your brother's the day before with dog and collect when you are feeling better a day or two after the procedure. 🤔