Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Tell the truth.. do you leave your dog home alone?

226 replies

Be1atrix · 13/10/2019 11:32

Just that really. As a family we're all desperate for a dog but work full time. We would pay for a dog walker to come in at lunchtime.

In The Doghouse section people who leave their dogs at home get shot down. But surely there's people who work full time who have them? How do they manage?

OP posts:
Luckypoppy · 13/10/2019 11:33

Yes. She is perfectly fine. Had dogs all our lives and only had one that wasn't able to stay at home during a normal work day and we had to find him doggy day care.

BiteyShark · 13/10/2019 11:33

I work full time but I pay for doggy daycare.

KnifeAngel · 13/10/2019 11:34

No it's incredibly cruel. The most our dog was ever left was 4 hours.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
Hoppinggreen · 13/10/2019 11:34

I do it by working part time, often from home and sending ddog to daycare if I’m going to be out for longer than 4 hours.
I’m sure some people leave them all day with a walker coming in halfway through but it’s not something I would be comfortable with and if that had been the only option I would not have got a dog

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/10/2019 11:35

No. We wouldn’t leave them for more than four hours.

Even with a dog walker for an hour, s/he’d be alone from what 8.30 to 1 and 2 to 5, five days a week? Plus any socialising/shopping/weekends away at the weekends.

Think of the poor dog.

It may work with an older dog who you know has a history of liking their own company. That’s it.

Sexnotgender · 13/10/2019 11:36

Yes but husband has a very flexible job so he’s never alone for more than a couple of hours.

RJ44 · 13/10/2019 11:36

We both work full time and have a dog. I check on him every lunch time but honestly he's absolutely fine. He sleeps all day whether we are there or not! Probably would start off with shorter periods on its own obviously but I think people are a little OTT on the doghouse thread.

Span1elsRock · 13/10/2019 11:36

Of course people do it. Our NDN's leave theirs from 7am to 6pm with no dog walker. I've reported them to the RSPCA who didn't want to know.

But just because they do doesn't mean it's right. Dogs are pack animals, and are miserable and lonely being left. It's about the quality of life you can give a dog that matters, and leaving it alone for 40 hours a week isn't kind to that dog. You're doing it for you, and not them essentially.

You may get away with it with an older dog that's happy sleeping most of the day but certainly not a puppy or younger dog. We've got two, who have a long walk in the morning then come to work with us (own business). They're around people 24/7 because that's what they need.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 13/10/2019 11:38

You don’t know whether the dog sleeps all day if you’re not there. If he does, what else can he do? He can hardly read to himself or watch the telly.

There’s a theory why they sleep all day when you’re there and they’re aren’t used to it - it’s because they can finally relax because you are there.

QueenBeex · 13/10/2019 11:38

My dog is 13 next year, I've had him since he was a puppy and I've always left him whilst I go to work. He's perfectly fine when I get home he's sound asleep with his tongue out having a nice dream kicking his legs aroundGrin

QueenBeex · 13/10/2019 11:40

I do think it depends how long for though. I wouldn't do a 9 to 5 job and leave my dog the entire time.

Andiwilltrytofixyou · 13/10/2019 11:42

Mine are left with a dog walker visiting. I do work from home on occasions and they happily sleep all day then too.

The concessions I make are getting up early and walking them in the morning, and they get a good walk after work too, it does take a chunk out of the evening by the time the dogs are walked, fed and I've got dinner it can be quite late.

Also no after work activities as I don't think its fair to leave them in the day and then again in the evening. So no quick drink after work, no cinema trips, no gym classes... not a problem for me as I live in a beautiful part of the country and long dog walks are a good enough leisure activity, but something to consider.

MondeoFan · 13/10/2019 11:44

I work 7-2pm and my eldest DD leaves for school at 8.30am
So my dog is technically on his own from 8.30-2.10pm 4 days a week.
I do take him out once home from work though and again after tea.

nobigotsallowed · 13/10/2019 11:44

The Dog House board can be quite militant, in my experience. Don't get me wrong, I believe you should only have a dog if you can properly look after it, obviously, but I don't believe that means that you're a bad owner if you leave your dog alone for more than a couple of hours, assuming it's not a rescue with separate anxiety.

I leave my dogs for a max of 4 hours and ask our dog sitter/walker to come in if it's longer than that.

I'm a bit unclear what you're asking though. You say you work full time, but will get a walker in to break up the time, which is responsible. The people who work full time, who can't/won't get a walker in, but really want a dog, so get one regardless, are irresponsible and cruel.

Paddingtonthebear · 13/10/2019 11:44

Our dog is left alone at home for a couple of hours a week, when we are doing school run, shopping, swimming lessons,restaurant visits etc. She comes to work with me during the day. I personally wouldn’t have a dog if I worked full time because I think they get bored at home alone if left every day.

Singlenotsingle · 13/10/2019 11:45

I waited til I retired before I got a dog.

EleanorReally · 13/10/2019 11:46

4 hours maximum
very rarely 5 or 6 but that is only occasional
dh works very part time.

FrangipaniBlue · 13/10/2019 11:47

Yep.

Dog is left alone for around 6hrs a day, approx 4/5 days a week but not all at once, it's only for 1.5-2hrs at a time.

Combination of dog walker mid morning and either DH/ILs/Me mid afternoon.

Rest of the time he pretty much comes everywhere with us, even on holiday Grin

JustaScratcj · 13/10/2019 11:50

No, we don't. I work from home and DH isn't working at the moment so we are with him most of the time. The most we've ever left him is five hours but that was a one off. He's 2.5yo.

FrangipaniBlue · 13/10/2019 11:51

I should add, he does sleep all morning until the dog walker comes and after he's left later in the afternoon, middle period he plays with his toys.

I DO know this because we have a camera in the room he's in, we can check on him and also talk to him if needs be

FastAway · 13/10/2019 11:52

DDog is left from 8-11, out with dog walker until 2 then alone again until 6 twice a week. He has been doing this since 10 months old and he’s fine.

Oliversmumsarmy · 13/10/2019 11:53

Never worked ft. Only time Ddog was left alone was when I was going shopping or out somewhere where she would have to be left in the car for a while and it was hot weather.

If we did leave her at home we usually cane back to a destroyed house.

Didn’t think that putting her in a crate was a great idea for an hour or so. We wanted her to be able to move around the house

PenelopeFlintstone · 13/10/2019 11:53

I do but we have two so they keep each other company. Lately, we’ve been split between two houses 50 miles apart and we’ve had to leave them alone overnight. We don’t love doing that but dogs aren’t allowed at the second house. They’ve been fine. Left in our very big garden with a big sofa to sleep on, which is under a roofed area, with food and multiple large water bowls dotted around.
We don’t even walk our dogs actually. One is getting a bit old and has some kind of spine/nerve injury and will be in terrible pain the next day if he’s too active, and the other one goes to work running around on a farm 3-5 days a week so doesn’t need it and needs to rest on her days off.

TwiddleMuff · 13/10/2019 11:54

I think people have a better understanding about dogs now. As a child we had a dog that was left alone each day. She licked all the fur off her paws out of stress/boredom.

I just couldn’t have that on my conscience. If I worked away full time I just wouldn’t have a dog. But I do a mix of home and office work and make sure the dog isn’t alone longer than 3-4 hours.

Coffeeandchocolate9 · 13/10/2019 11:55

They are pack animals. Just because people do, doesn't mean it's what is right for the dog.

Hundreds and thousands of working people who have nobody at home all day don't get a dog when they would otherwise desperately like one because they understand it's not fair on the dog. It's not just about an opportunity to pee but about chronic loneliness and boredom. Some dogs can cope with it - I don't think any dogs thrive with it.

If due to work a dog is left alone for 2 x 4 hours (30 minute or 1 hour break in the middle). Then you're asleep for 8 hours. That's only 8 hours out of 24 that a dog would be getting any interaction or company. 😔

I am lucky enough to be able to have a dog because I have retired family she can go to while I work.

The is a reason why charities won't rehome to people who are out of the house for more than 4 hours at a time. They're not saying it to be awkward.