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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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7
Khayker · 07/07/2025 18:07

Does he have shelter from the rain and wind? To not provide this could be potentially dangerous plus illegal as it's one of the basic requirement of the Animal Welfare Act. I would need to go with a dog sitter regardless of cost.

Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:52

And for all of you concerned about my neighbours - there's noone within a mile.

Doggo is currently snoozing in the garden and refused to come in for his tea. I had to take it out to him.

To shut my dog in the garden for the day?
OP posts:
House4DS · 07/07/2025 17:52

@Dogingarden It sounds a sensible plan to me if...

  • the garden is totally secure (no escape risk)
  • there are no neighbours to annoy if he starts barking
One of mine would live in a hole he's dug at the bottom of the garden given half a chance. In a similar scenario I'd also leave the back door wide open so they can come in and out, but understand if you're not keen. So much better than being put in a kennel for the day, and your brother will give them company in the evening.
Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:46

Whaleandsnail6 · 07/07/2025 17:41

You seriously got quoted "hundreds of pounds" for one day dog sitting? Thats nuts.

Also very surprised Rover has nothing for you, even just for walk visits. Does your dog have very specific needs?

I wouldn't feel happy leaving dog unattended in the garden for a whole day. You won't know if he is barking, up to no good or even escapes until you are back.

Could you look within the area closer to the hospital and see if you could drop off at a sitter on way/pick up on way back?

Or ask you brother to help with cost of expensive sitter and pay him back?

Chances are dog would he ok in garden but if he isnt, you may come back to concerned/angry neighbours and a distressed dog.

I live in the middle of nowhere. The closest big city is 60 miles away.

The hundreds of pounds is from a local woman who takes dogs into her home.

OP posts:
Sidebeforeself · 07/07/2025 17:45

You literally started a thread asking if you were being unreasonable … but dont seem to want to be told you are

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 07/07/2025 17:45

I think I would try to find a way of getting a square of turf in a low pot close to the kitchen door for my dog to use if he was desperate for the toilet, then leave him in the house with a couple of large water bowls and some food treats plus kibble, and the radio on. I think that is preferable to leaving him outside. Mine tends to sleep when he’s left in the house alone so I would expect to come back to him being very excitable and needing to go out, so it maybe that you will need your brother or someone to help with the walking him anyway. Perhaps have an ask round people you know again to see if anyone can call part way through the day to let him out or take him for a short walk.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 07/07/2025 17:43

Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:34

I'm not rearranging a biopsy for breast cancer.

Show quote history

So you just want everyone to say it’s fine to leave your dog in the garden for 12 plus hours? You’re going to do it anyway so this thread is pointless.

Whaleandsnail6 · 07/07/2025 17:41

You seriously got quoted "hundreds of pounds" for one day dog sitting? Thats nuts.

Also very surprised Rover has nothing for you, even just for walk visits. Does your dog have very specific needs?

I wouldn't feel happy leaving dog unattended in the garden for a whole day. You won't know if he is barking, up to no good or even escapes until you are back.

Could you look within the area closer to the hospital and see if you could drop off at a sitter on way/pick up on way back?

Or ask you brother to help with cost of expensive sitter and pay him back?

Chances are dog would he ok in garden but if he isnt, you may come back to concerned/angry neighbours and a distressed dog.

Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:34

Jackiepumpkinhead · 07/07/2025 17:26

Then you’ll have to pay the very expensive sitter. Or rearrange your medical appointment. You seem to have posted this hoping people would tell you it’s fine to leave your dog in the garden for 12 hours plus. You know it’s not OK.

Show quote history

I'm not rearranging a biopsy for breast cancer.

OP posts:
Tutorpuzzle · 07/07/2025 17:34

No, you put the expensive sitter on your credit card.

You can then focus on yourself for the day.

I think you know this.

From experience, if you can’t afford last minute doggy emergencies, you really shouldn’t have a dog.

TomatoSandwiches · 07/07/2025 17:32

Have you looked at dog sitters nearer to the hospital or along the way op?
There may be more availability in a town/city than your rural area.

Jackiepumpkinhead · 07/07/2025 17:26

Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:16

There is no one on rover or borrow my doggy.

Show quote history

Then you’ll have to pay the very expensive sitter. Or rearrange your medical appointment. You seem to have posted this hoping people would tell you it’s fine to leave your dog in the garden for 12 hours plus. You know it’s not OK.

Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:25

Wheezygonzalez · 07/07/2025 15:39

There's a lot of mature trees in one area that provide shade all day.

OP, I say this kindly realising the situation you are in, shade doesn’t matter when it’s 30 degrees out, even with mature trees and water. The air temperature will be too hot. I have seen this first hand with a dog in a park, he was hyperventilating.Luckily there were people around.

It's not going to be 30c though.

To shut my dog in the garden for the day?
OP posts:
tumblingdowntherabbithole · 07/07/2025 17:21

Can you not find a dog walker to come in and take your dog out?

hellosunshineminesagin · 07/07/2025 17:20

What area are you in? You may find a mumsnetter willing to pop and check in on him

Original poster
Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 17:16

Jackiepumpkinhead · 07/07/2025 15:35

Pointless asking on here, plenty of dog haters that couldn’t care less what you do with your dog. No, you can’t leave your dog out all day. You pay the expensive sitter or look on Rover, someone should be able to come over to walk him and let him out for the toilet.

There is no one on rover or borrow my doggy.

To shut my dog in the garden for the day?
To shut my dog in the garden for the day?
To shut my dog in the garden for the day?
To shut my dog in the garden for the day?
OP posts:
theleafandnotthetree · 07/07/2025 17:06

Gloriia · 07/07/2025 16:36

Why do you do that, wouldn't you rather it be inside with you and take it out for walks, exercise and interaction as is the norm?

Show quote history

It is now the norm amongst some dog owners in some places but is certainly not so in historical terms or indeed in many cultures, more rural areas etc. Dogs are animals, animals are by nature outside creatures. My dog's preference is also to be outside in all but the most dire weather- why on earth would anyone go against nature AND a dog's preferences? This anthropomorphism in relation to dogs is out of control to the detriment of both dogs and their owners who increasingly will be described as cruel by a subset of people who consider treating them as anything less than a human infant to be abhorrent

Ambergrasswashingbasket800 · 07/07/2025 17:04

He'll be fine OP. Leave a lot of pots around with water and plenty of food, his dog bed, it's one day.

Ohplesandbanonos · 07/07/2025 16:57

@Gloriia - no he wouldn't. I work at home most days so quite often the door is open but he chooses to go outside first thing and I call him in for bedtime at 10pm. If I go out to the office for the day his routine doesn't change, other than the door being shut. I'm sure OPs dog will be fine for a one off.

@op Maybe try It for a few hours while you're in but shut the door - see how he reacts with the safety net of you being in?

Alternatively see if you can book a dog walker for 2 walks (one morning one afternoon). Should be cheaper than a sitter but removes the issue of not being able to toilet.

IsIroningEssential · 07/07/2025 16:56

We found someone at short notice on the Rover app.

cocog · 07/07/2025 16:56

Can’t you get a vaccination done and book him into the kennel just incase he escaped or something else happens it doesn’t seem to be very good if that’s not what he’s used to.

carly2803 · 07/07/2025 16:51

i think thats fine to be honest

the only reason i do not do this is for security reasons and im scared my dog would get nicked!

but he will be fine for one day left alone!

Gloriia · 07/07/2025 16:36

Ohplesandbanonos · 07/07/2025 16:23

I often leave my dog in the garden for the day. It's where he chooses to be, he has access to water and shade and doesn't bark (confirmed by neighbours). I wouldn't leave food out because of rats and the potential for flies to lay eggs in it - feed him in the morning and when you get home.

Why do you do that, wouldn't you rather it be inside with you and take it out for walks, exercise and interaction as is the norm?

Annoyedmillennial · 07/07/2025 16:33

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.

As per my other message you say you have a large terrier - there aren’t many of those so assuming an Airedale the Airedale groups on Facebook are insanely active with a helpful bunch willing to step in and take care of the handfuls that they are.

or if you have another terrier breed, take a look on fb either way.

Ohplesandbanonos · 07/07/2025 16:23

I often leave my dog in the garden for the day. It's where he chooses to be, he has access to water and shade and doesn't bark (confirmed by neighbours). I wouldn't leave food out because of rats and the potential for flies to lay eggs in it - feed him in the morning and when you get home.