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Original poster

Leaving a dog at home during the day

134 replies

quidamaz · 25/04/2020 16:55

Hi MNers.

Do any of you leave your dog at home during the day while you're at work? How do you make it work? Does your pup cope ok?

We've just got a new puppy (much loved, much wanted, but bad timing) but from September when I'm back at work he'll be alone from 730-430 every day with a dog walker at lunchtimes.

(PLEASE don't jump on me and tell me a hundred times why I shouldn't do this. I KNOW people do this! There's no way people don't leave their dogs surely? We had originally budgeted for doggy daycare but at £25 a day we can no longer afford it now DH has lost the business thanks to Corona. It's going to take us at least 18 months to get back on our feet financially at the very least.)

Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:
LaLaFlottes · 25/04/2020 17:57

With a walk before you leave in the morning, a decent walk from a dog walker and then someone home from 4.30pm that’s not too bad? Then a nice walk when you get home?

3 days a week our dog has a walk at 6.45am and we leave at 7.15am. Then dog walker comes at 11am and she gets a good walk, around 75 mins. Then we are back at 4, she’s fed at 5 and walked again at 7.
She’s 10 though now and does spend a lot of the time snoozing! She’s exhausted at the moment as she’s not getting as much peace to sleep!
So personally I think it could work, but I know there are lots of different opinions on this.
Good luck with everything Smile

MiniChoc · 25/04/2020 18:48

The dog we had growing up was home all day when we were at school/work and never had a dog walker or anything. I think they just adjust?

Wolfiefan · 25/04/2020 18:49

The thing is that some dogs will cope and some won’t. How long can you leave your dog at the moment?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
bandcojj · 26/04/2020 09:53

I'm interested in this too as we're considering getting a dog that would be left at home during the days, too. Local services do 'puppy visits' for the first year which cost £16 for an hour which I think is pretty good and that's not much than what you'd pay for a walk.

Wolfiefan · 26/04/2020 10:00

@bandcoji to toilet train a pup you can’t leave it. At all! And that takes weeks. Or even a few months to reliably have a dog that won’t have accidents.
Daycare can be a good solution but there are issues around neutering and expense and finding a good one etc.

mencken · 26/04/2020 11:04

take a note round to everyone in earshot please, telling them what is happening and that you ARE receptive to complaints about noise. and if you get any - you'll either just have to afford daycare or rehome the animal. Your desire for a dog does not mean that everyone else has to be subject to endless barking and howling.

it has become clear in the last few weeks that the fuckers up the road have dogs who are quite happy as long as there are people in the house. This means that the last three years of hell for us could have been avoided by paying for daycare. I really, really hate these people.

SirVixofVixHall · 26/04/2020 11:08

Honestly? I did do this, with one dog, when i was alone and had no choice, but he was miserable. I vowed never to do it again.
I remember some tv programme, the secret life of dogs maybe ? Showing that dogs are unhappy home alone. They get stressed, they only seem fine because when you get in again they are pleased to see you and all seems well. Could your pup go to doggy day care ?

teqcar · 26/04/2020 11:12

Iremember some tv programme, the secret life of dogs maybe ? Showing that dogs are unhappy home alone. They get stressed, they only seem fine because when you get in again they are pleased to see you and all seems well.

This. My neighbours dog howls for hours in end when they go out. As soon as it hears their car it stops and runs to the window barking at them and wagging its tail. They didn't believe me when I told them how distressed their dog is. The SSPCA don't care because it's not without food/water. The dog just howls and howls non stop.

ALovelyBitOfSquirrel · 26/04/2020 11:22

PLEASE don't jump on me and tell me a hundred times why I shouldn't do this. I KNOW people do this! There's no way people don't leave their dogs surely?

So, you've clearly already been made aware that leaving a puppy /dog alone for so long is a shitty thing to do but you're going to do it anyway, so there was little point in posting if you don't want honest opinions Hmm

We had originally budgeted for doggy daycare but at £25 a day we can no longer afford it

You should find a way, even if it's someone popping in for an hour or so. A couple of shorter visits even.

Showing that dogs are unhappy home alone. They get stressed, they only seem fine because when you get in again they are pleased to see you and all seems well

This!

to toilet train a pup you can’t leave it. At all! And that takes weeks. Or even a few months to reliably have a dog that won’t have accidents

This.

People that leave dogs alone for so long should not bloody have them. What do you expect a puppy do do all day on his own? You're being in incredibly selfish. You wanted a puppy and that is that. Selfish.

Somanysocks · 26/04/2020 11:30

Well if it works for you who cares if your dog spends the rest of its' life in lonely misery, you clearly don't. Confused

Too many people with dogs really shouldn't have them.

RainMustFall · 26/04/2020 12:07

Please don't do it. A dog may make you happy but at what cost to the happiness of the dog? If it's a puppy even more so and it will shit all over your house.

MiniChoc · 26/04/2020 12:41

Alovelybitofsquirrel stop jumping on the OP and actually read her post! It says circumstances out of her control AND she says there'll be a dog walker once a day.

FGS. People can't just bloody be nice.

Dragongirl10 · 26/04/2020 12:49

I am sorry but it is very unkind to leave a dog for that amount of time , they are social pack animals who need others and exercise.

I understand this is hearbreaking but do you really want to inflict misery on your beloved pet/ spend the summer finding someone who loves dogs and may be willing to have him/her for a several hours daily for very little pay, a retired person maybe, someone who works from home?
Someone who likes dogs but doesn't want the evening/weekend/holiday responsibility. Pay whatever you can manage in the longer term. Get to know them over the summer, let pup train with them too.

If you cannot find a long term workable solution you would be being very unkind to keep your dog l am afraid.

SirVixofVixHall · 26/04/2020 12:51

That is up to NINE HOURS alone every weekday, possibly seven or eight, depending on how long he spends with the walker. Even for a mature dog that is far, far too long. For a puppy it is a disaster. Yes lots of people leave dogs at home all day, (although less commonly now that we understand more about dogs and how miserable it makes them). It really is not kind or fair though. Would you like it ? At home alone all day every day, with nothing much to distract you, and nothing to do except wait for the person who makes you feel safe to return ?
I really think that if you can’t work out a better solution you need to re-home your puppy.

missyB1 · 26/04/2020 12:54

If you and your dh are both out of the house all day,and you can’t afford daycare, then frankly you are not in a position to have a dog.

user1994 · 26/04/2020 13:02

I have five dogs and we both work, however our hours can be flexible.

On a day where we are out of the house for 8 hours, one of us walks them for an hour before work. We have a local lady come in about 4 hours later for an hour to fuss them, give them treats etc. Then they are walked again as soon as we get home.

However, all of my dogs are over the age of five and are lovely company for one another and very close. When they were all puppies I worked from home so they had company all day.

In your situation and as long as the dog has a really decent walk before you leave for work (not a ten min round the block) then feed them breakfast when you get back they should be relaxed enough to rest until the dog walker arrives. I would want an absolute guarantee from this person that they were walking the dog for an hour. Then get the dog walker to leave them with a frozen Kong, something that will keep them occupied for another 45ish mins. Then as soon as you get home you take them out for another good walk.

Ideally I wouldn't be doing this until the dog was older but it is what it is. It also depends on the breed, mine are naturally laid back, but if you have an anxious or ridiculously high energy breed then this may not work.

user1994 · 26/04/2020 13:09

I should also add that I only work 3 days per week and as I mentioned my hours are very flexible as are my husbands. If we were out of the house for 8/9 hours every day? No I wouldn't be doing that.

IMO dog daycare is not always the answer either. They are often run by people who do not have enough experience and place far too many dogs together in too small a space which can have awful ramifications. Many dogs do not do well in this environment either, they can be highly stressful and highly charged at times. I would never send my dogs to dog daycare. They would hate it and are far happier at home in their own surroundings.

whatthehelldowecare · 26/04/2020 13:12

We do it and he's absolutely fine! He's alone from 8am until around 4, sometimes 5 o'clock. We have a dog walker in for an hour at lunchtime, and family pop in every now and then.

We have a video monitor thing and can see him throughout the day. He gets a little worked up when we leave, but after 10 minutes he's totally fine and just naps/potters around himself and plays!

I actually think he was a bit peeved when lockdown hit and we were suddenly around all the time! Although I do worry what he'll be like adjusting again when we go back to work ☹️

Celeriacacaca · 26/04/2020 13:14

Please think of your neighbours. Ours did this and it was an absolute nightmare. The puppy howled, whimpered and barked all day while they were out, and you could hear it scratching at the front door. This was even with a lunchtime walk with the dog walker. It was pitiful (and very annoying) to hear.

You need to come up with an alternative solution for everyone's sake, not least the dog.

Crinkle77 · 26/04/2020 13:16

People that leave dogs alone for so long should not bloody have them. What do you expect a puppy do do all day on his own? You're being in incredibly selfish. You wanted a puppy and that is that. Selfish.

This. You shouldn't have got a puppy.

EventRider1 · 26/04/2020 13:20

I never get these people who say they never leave their dogs or have only left them for 2 hours max. Who are these people and do they not have a job/life?!
Mine used to get left from 8am to 5pm Monday to Thursday while me and DH were at work. We used to have a dog walker come in around midday but she fired us as she couldn't 'handle them' when they were in a group setting, so now they just get on with it on their own.
They have their own doggy room outside and dog flap that lets them outside as they please so they can run around, play, sunbathe and go to the loo.
I would be cautious about leaving a dog shut in the house all day but I know plenty of people who do and their dogs manage fine. If you have a secure garden, then I would look at getting a dog flap.

ReginaPhallange47 · 26/04/2020 13:22

Op you are setting yourself up for a pasting here. Do you not know that failing to be with your previous pooch 24/7 is a cardinal sin on MN?!

Of course in the real world it can work but it really depends on the dog. With mine and DP work schedules there are usually only 2 days a week when the dogs are alone all day. They get a good walk every morning and evening and one of us will always come back at lunch to let them out for wee and a run. They manage fine. No howling no anxiety issues. They sleep. Some will argue that they are just sleeping through the boredom and loneliness but they sleep when we are here too!

For us it works but if you end up with a dog that doesn't handle separation well then you might have issues of howling, chewing and all sorts. So take that into account.

But don't listen to the crazy people here who seem to think they only the retired or unemployed should be allowed to have dogs. Providing you can make arrangements that are fair and doable for your family they will be fine.

mencken · 26/04/2020 13:23

it's not a matter of 'being nice' - it is a matter of hell for the neighbours. And quite possibly for the dog although I am less bothered about that, gone off the bloody things given how owners behave.

sorry, OP, you'll need to change your plan and cancel the dog.

ReginaPhallange47 · 26/04/2020 13:23

Precious pooch obviously 🙄

LJC1234 · 26/04/2020 13:34

We have a little rescue dog that came to us very unexpectedly . He was already fantastically toilet trained when we got him. DH works from home most days but some days he will be left from 9-4 ish . Admittedly it's rarely but we have a camera and we watch him. He just sleeps and never howls or disturbs the neighbours . Of course it isn't ideal but it is possible OP as long as he or she is getting enough walks before / after and at lunchtime