To shut my dog in the garden for the day?

Are there any local community charities where you live that could help as it’s a medical reason?

Not sure what else there is to say. You've made up your mind which sounds fine. Left with door open, make sure it can't slam shut, access to garden. Brother looks in when not working.

Sorry if it's already been suggested but maybe pay someone to pop in and do a couple of welfare visits rather than pay for a full day.

It sounds like you have tried your best and he would be happier outside. If you know any neighbours at all I would tell one of them what is happening and ask them to check up on him and maybe let him in at 6pm if you are not going to be back. Perhaps have them over beforehand to meet your dog? I hope your procedure goes well and you recover quickly. X

It’s okay posters saying it’s only one day - the dog doesn’t know that! Dogs can form associations to stressful circumstances just like humans do. If he does find it stressful you could be storing up problems for the future.

With all that extra info, your dog wil be fine. Really wish you the best for the appointment, OP

Im a firm believer that our dogs can handle more than we think they can. Im also a firm believer that you know your own dog.

Its not sonething i would do but my dog is a spoilt asshat.

Youre doing the best you can in your circumstances, as a one off itll be fine

Sorry, I’m not buying this. It is not hundreds of pounds for a sitter, even at short notice, especially as you’ve said you’re up north where things are generally cheaper anyway. Childcare doesn’t cost that much. The problem you will have is availability as most will be busy, but as others have said I am sure you could find a friendly late-teens who has finished exams and needs a few quid who would happily sit with him for the day. Local facebook groups would be a sensible place to start for this. If you wanted to you could find a solution to this problem.

Well anything is possible...

It's possible, which is far too high a risk IMO.

I'd use the expensive sitter even if it meant putting it on credit. That's too long to leave a dog alone regardless of whether they are inside or outside.

Do you have any local dog walking friends? Just someone that could check in?

A neighbour? Student? Do you have a local whats app group?

It just feels like you are uneasy and you don't need any more stress on the day of a biopsy.

My worry is that so many things could go wrong and it would be better to have a little safety net.

Is that likely in a secure garden in rural Scotland?

I've lived in places where it is regularly well above 30C in summer and dogs are often left outdoors. They're fine, as long as they have shade and plenty of water. I wouldn't do it if I had a good alternative, and it's likely not the best idea to put a dog out on a hot day if it's not acclimated to it or has special circumstances that make it particularly vulnerable to heat, but it's not a death sentence for most dogs.

Aren’t you worried he might be stolen?

Also dogs, or certainly ours, aren't always that clever. They overheat and don't think oh i need a bit of shade. They can't seem to work these things out for themselves which is why they have owners. Even 18c would be warm if the sun's out.

Totally agree but the OP has said she's in NE Scotland and it's only forecast to be 18c there on Thursday. I am shocked by the number of people who didn't see this as an issue before she posted the location though.

I can't believe a sitter would even be that expensive the op said hundreds which would seem extraordinary.

Anyway op hope your hospital appointment goes ok and you manage to get someone to let your dog a couple of times. Leaving it unattended in the garden for hours shouldn't be an option.

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 really does depend on your dog. I've had dogs that could be left out for a day without issue, but I would worry about leaving out my current dogs, because they aren't used to it.

If you don't think he'll try to escape, it should be fine. If you have time, I'd have him spend more time out in the garden alone to accustom him to it, though of course it won't be the same if he knows you're home. He may be less likely to settle than he will be if he realises you're not inside.

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.

So what would you do in that case then?

It's absolutely fine.

My dogs were regularly out from early to late, they were used to it, they had a kennel outside and a kind of dog door back into the back storeroom of the house where they had dog beds. They slept outside or had access to outside all their lives from bedtime to breakfast and then again through my working day. They were spaniels and they never knew any different and had a bloody good long life.

They had a long walk in the evening and were with the family til bed time. Where I live (not uk) it's quite common for dogs to have never been in a house, so these things are relative.

I would book a dog walker to pop in! A single dog walk is £20 for 30 minutes, you could ask them to visit halfway through the day and let him out/play with him for the 30 minutes instead of the walk.

Any mumsnetters that can help? I'm guessing you are a long way from me (south coast). But I would volunteer if nearby.