Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Thread gallery
7
BoredZelda · 07/07/2025 13:41

theleafandnotthetree · 07/07/2025 11:53

So dogs shouldn't ever be outside unsupervised? I have literally heard it all 🙄

Show quote history

Not for 12 hours, no.

Hollybobs1 · 07/07/2025 13:39

Could you hire a one-off dog walker?

MyMilchick · 07/07/2025 13:39

Gloriia · 07/07/2025 12:56

Also, medical procedures are often delayed or unexpected complications where an overnight stay may be required, what then just hope it isn't distressed and scared left outside overnight as well as all day?

She already said her brother would be available after 8pm so presumably if she was kept in he'd be able to go to her house.........

Annoyedmillennial · 07/07/2025 13:38

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.

What type of large terrier do you have?

we have an Airedale and there are Airedale terrier Facebook groups where people will take in a fellow Airedale for free?

where are you located? And do you have an Airedale - I’m sure there must be similar groups for Irish etc

worth investigating

SquirrelMadness · 07/07/2025 13:38

I don't think leaving him alone outside for 12 hours is acceptable, especially if it's on a heatwave day. Shade won't be enough in a heatwave. I think you need to book the expensive sitter.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 07/07/2025 13:34

I think you need to fork out for the sitter, sorry x

OnTheBoardwalk · 07/07/2025 13:31

Can you get a cheap camera and monitor him for a few trial, shorter, times before your appointment? See how he behaves.

Only issue with this however is there anyone you could contact if there was a problem?

I would myself go for the expensive dog sitter. It would be one less thing for you to worry about

Ihopeyouhavent · 07/07/2025 13:29

What would happen if you couldnt get home that night, or god forbid, not get home at all?

What if there was freak weather, hot, cold or wet?

How could you focus on yourself and being in hospital knowing your doggo was locked in the garden alone?

Newbie8918 · 07/07/2025 13:28

I think you have 2 options before you resort to this extreme option.

  1. use one of the expensive minders. It’s one day.
  2. make an emergency appointment for boosters

my dog would bark all day if locked outside and become distressed. We’re also due a mega heatwave and I wouldn’t want her unattended for that long in extreme heat.

hellosunshineminesagin · 07/07/2025 13:28

I think you will be worrying all day about what he has managed to get up to and a terrier can dig a way out of your garden. I would book the expensive dog sitter so I wouldn’t have that worry whilst I am already worried about the biopsy. I don’t think you are cruel at all.

leli · 07/07/2025 13:26

I would not leave my dog all day in the garden. I would get a vaccination and book the kennel or pay for the more expensive dog sitter. I've had cancer and I know the potential for illness is scary but I would be more scared of losing my dog.

SErunner · 07/07/2025 13:25

Jojimoji · 07/07/2025 11:18

Kennels, even for a day, can be extremely stressful for dogs.
May or may not be the case that it's stressful for OPs dog, but in his own back garden with access to food, water and shade I'm sure he'll be fine. I would always choose my back garden over kennels and strangers for my dogs.

Dogs cannot tell the difference between 10 minutes and 10 hours. Once you've left him and he's assessed his situation, the overwhelming likelihood is he will nap most of the day.

You can’t own a dog if you think that is true? They absolutely do have some appreciation of time lapse, although obviously not in the same way we do. A dog not used to being left for long periods will almost certainly become very distressed at being left for 12 hours+. Some of the responses on this thread are baffling. Im not one for treating them like children/humans but you can’t just leave them for an entire day with the justification it’s okay because they won’t get stolen. Ours are very used to being left but become agitated/distressed on the (very rare) occasion they are left for longer than usual eg because we’ve got stuck in traffic. OP does have options to ensure he’s properly cared for so I suggest she arranges one of those.

RCJJ · 07/07/2025 13:23

If it’s definitely totally secure, he has shade and food and water I think for a one-off given the circumstances it would be fine. Mine loves the garden, it’s his favourite place.
If you think it would cause additional worry on the day though, go for the expensive sitter. For the peace of mind!

HashtagShitShop · 07/07/2025 13:23

theleafandnotthetree · 07/07/2025 13:19

Except this is a dog

Show quote history

Doesn't change anything. Still dependant on owners for their care like children are on their parents. The op could be kept in or anything could happen, it's still not OK.

urghhh47 · 07/07/2025 13:22

@JMSAour local board is an anominous but I take your point. I would ask everyone I knew to help before just leaving my dog for that length of time in the garden. There must be someone the OP knows who could look after the dog, help out by dropping by for 30 mins during the day etc.

MissPeachyKeen · 07/07/2025 13:21

Pay for the expensive one, or get a dog walker. Or speak to your vets to see if they can help (vet nurses often do pet sitting). Assuming you're in the UK, temperatures are going to be 30c this week and the heat likely to last over a week. Its simply not safe to leave your dog out in hot temperatures.

AuntyHistamine · 07/07/2025 13:20

MadMaxx1 · 07/07/2025 10:54

Sounds absolutely fine. He will have shelter, food, water and a cosy bed plus access to the toilet.

it’s one day he’s a dog.

A dog yes, which are social animals that shouldn’t be left for more than 4 hours without at least some firm of interaction.

theleafandnotthetree · 07/07/2025 13:19

HashtagShitShop · 07/07/2025 12:29

Sorry no, this is not OK, not in the current weather at the moment with no one to keep an eye on him. My mixed breed black dog was a sun worshipper and would not have the sense to sit in the shade if not having an eye kept on him. Also gardens are suntrap a and it doesn't take long for my thermometer in the back garden to read 40 degrees even if the rest of the world feels more reasonable.

Personally you get the dog sitter there via taxi or a lift or you book an expensive sitter or ask around friends and family.

Dogs don't ask to come to our homes and are dependant on us to care for them to the best of our ability. You wouldn't ask if it was OK to leave a 5 year old kid alone on the garden all day

Except this is a dog

BristolHelp · 07/07/2025 13:19

No way.

Options:

Get the vaccine and put him in a kennel for the day/overnight

Sign up to Pawshake and find someone to drop in on him / feed / play.

Get a dog walker to take him out twice.

Pay for a sitter

Look for a sitter near the hospital who will watch him in their own home

theleafandnotthetree · 07/07/2025 13:18

Minfilia · 07/07/2025 12:22

Does your reading comprehension need some work?…

Show quote history

I was responding to the person who said she'd never do what the OP is proposing because she saw a woman at the vets whose dog had died after swallowing a stone.

CinnamonBuns67 · 07/07/2025 13:18

Whilst it's not ideal, in the circumstances yanbu dog will be fine for the day, assuming it's not too hot outside, he has shade, food, water in a secure garden. But I do think you should try asking a neighbour or someone to look in on him/let him out before taking the risk though but ultimately if you've got no choice you've got no choice. Please get him caught up with his vaccines asap.

RB68 · 07/07/2025 13:17

I think if he has shelter its fine but maybe pay for a dogwalker in the afternoon/early evening that then puts him in the house which should be fine say from 6.30pm

2024onwardsandup · 07/07/2025 13:16

You have an option - you need to pay for it

TheBlueUser · 07/07/2025 13:15

My dog would be okay with this, she doesn't suffer separation anxiety and while she might bark a bit I don't think she would be overly distressed.

She would likely sleep 90% of the time.

Sometimes needs must OP, and it's not like you're leaving for a week.

The possibilities of delays is a real one though, so I would try and think of a back up plan for this.

Orange202 · 07/07/2025 13:15

My dog would be better off inside too - to be honest, I'd be a bit worried about foxes coming for his food if he was out. There is always a slight chance that you have to stay in after a day procedure, so that would be another reason to keep him indoors, with lots of water and food.

If you bring him for a quick walk before you leave, he'll only be 12 hours without potentially having a wee.

My dog can easily manage that, as he hates going out in the rain, so if it's a rainy morning I wait to see if it will clear, then bring him out with a golf umbrella.

You could put some paper down by the door and in the bathroom in case of accidents - my dog is elderly and sometimes has a wee in the night without waking me up, and those are his spots.

Hope it all goes well, your dog will be fine!

Swipe left for the next trending thread