What do you do with your dog if you're out of the house all day?

[confusedlots]

I'll start this by saying we are definitely not dog people. I have a bit of a fear of larger dogs and just about put up with small ones.

We have a family member attending an upcoming gathering at our house, who owns a small dog. They'll probably end up being at our house from lunch time until maybe 7pm or 8pm. We've been informed that the dog will have to come too. I have already said that it can't come inside, and was told it will be kept outside. We don't have an enclosed area and I raised this too and was told it would be kept on a lead all day. We have a pet who will most likely be scared by the dog, although it won't be allowed into the house. I really don't want the dog here, but also don't want to be seen as being awkward so will just have to go with it and let the owner keep it outside on the lead all day.

But what do other people do in the same situation if you own a dog? Do you take it everywhere with you? Even to other people's houses?

I'd use a dogsitter or decline the invitation

I wouldn’t dream of taking my dog to someone else’s house, even if invited to. If I’m going to be out for more than a few hours then he’d either go to my parents house or DS would look after him. If neither were available then I’d stay home.

What is the plan should the weather be inclement, or too hot? Poor dog...

I'd have thought it would be better to have out your foot down or suggest they use a dog sitter.

I adore my dog and generally take him everywhere (aside from leaving at home for an hour or so at a time for short errands). I check him on a pet camera in this situation and use a dog sitter if I need to do anything more substantial. I must admit we don't have anyone in our social or family circle who actively doesn't like dogs and most have their own so we mutually bring them.

Is your objection to it coming inside solely your 'pet' or is it that you just don't want a dog in your house?

can't your 'pet' (why the bloody mystery??) just go upstairs?

perhsphs they'll put their dog in their car for periods of time & take it for a walk.

too many unknowns.

@Iheartmysmart

why not if you're invited to. Is it too badly behaved.

The dog stays at home, not a problem at all.

I do have a friend though who cannot leave hers alone at home for any amount of time whatsoever, which is a huge pain in the arse. It also means that her and her husband can't ever go shopping together, as they can only do things that they can take the dog along to.

He comes too if we go somewhere for more than 3 hours. He's an old man and we don't know how long we've got left with him (although this didn't become relevant until 6 months ago when he had a hip op). He literally curls up in his bed and sleeps.

I'm out of the house all day Mon to Fri, dh Tues to Thurs, DH pops in on his lunch break but if he can't MiL and DF are both semi retired and will come and left him out, give him some food and love.

Absolute max 4 hrs, but rarely left for more than two.

If its a whole day event then he either comes with us (luckily our family love him as much as we do) or one of us stays at home. He has medical needs so can't be left too long.

We've been informed that the dog will have to come too

To my mind, this is the only relevant bit. I have a dog. A larger but really, really well trained dog. I love my dog to bits. We spend loads of time in joint activities. But what I do with him when I am not at home is not the issue. The issue is that I don't inform people that they have to accept my dog in their home. And neither should anyone else. There are kennels and day boarders, dog sitters, family, friends, walkers - the options are many. But they are the dog owners options, not yours. You should be putting your foot down and telling them that they are welcome without the dog or not at all.

I was thinking this.

Depends what time lunch is & if there is much travel.

Also don't stay so late!

We only have two sets of friends who aren't dog people so don't have this issue very often but when we do we either send the dog to my parents or uncle or one/both of us would just go to the event for a shorter amount of time so we were home within 4 hours.

My parents in law would leave their dog at home- he has a dog flap to go in and out but it would likely limit their visit a bit but they aren't people to do long visits anyway really.
My own parents dog can't manage more than 3hrs alone but I don't think they have ever taken it in anyones house other than mine (which is fine). In that circumstance pre baby I would have probably gone and spent an hr in the middle with her or now/if I wasn't available then one of them wouldn't go for more than an hr or 2- they have often taken 2 cars to things for that reason. To be honest though my dad doesn't do socialising for very long so that would be fine by him! Or if it was a distance away then 1 of them wouldn't go at all.

I think everyone is different and every dog is different. Larger dogs that need lots of exercise, or younger dogs that need more one to one, you'd probably decline the invite or get a sitter. My dog is 4, small breed, really chill. I'd take him for a long walk before and then leave him with lots of food, water and safe toys. He has free roam of the entire house which is huge compared to him so he's usually pretty cool, although I don't leave him that long often and take him with me if I can.

You know this dog is going to end up in your house don’t you?
if you try to hold firm you will be called unreasonable and an evil dog hater
The owner has absolutely no intention of leaving their dog outside the whole time

I'd probably just come for 3 - 4 hours so I could leave the dog at home. I wouldn't dream of taking my dog if the host wasn't keen.

Or I'd ask my dog walker to come in the afternoon.

This. Insisting your dog come to another person's house is plain rude.

This we come as a package or not at all bollox is ridiculous. Don't come then.

For anyone who thinks it's ok to leave a dog at home for 8 hours, I'd like to see how you felt if you had to stay at home for 8 hours without being allowed to use the toilet. Not particularly comfortable, I'll wager.

@JuneJubilee He’s pretty well behaved for a spaniel but he’s also getting older, has arthritis and some sight problems. At my place and my parents, he has his orthopaedic bed, raised bowls and he knows where the garden and everything is. I’ve also got easy clean flooring, washable paint on the walls and throws on the furniture. I don’t think it’s fair on either him or my friends to take him places that aren’t set up for his needs.

Exactly, that's why you hire a dog walker or doggy day care, failing that, have a friend or relative come in and let the dog out. You know like working people do.

on odd occasions we've left both of our dogs for the whole day. They have the run of the whole house and will
also use doggy loo pads in the utility room. They've got each other for company and we leave a light/radio on if we're coming back when it's dark.

Yup.

You're already being awkward by keeping the poor thing outside all day. If it were me, I wouldn't be coming.

My dogs are rarely left for long, but on the very rare occasion I have to be out for an extended period I make sure they have a good long walk before I leave them.
I think it's not so much the length of time, it's how the dog deals with it. Some dogs can't be left hardly at all without becoming stressed, some are fine being left for hours. Mine are luckily in the latter category.
If my dog did suffer from separation anxiety and I couldn't take him with me I'd find a daycare or other solution, I would not 'insist' on bringing him.

It's not at all awkward to not want someone else's dog in your house.

It's for the owners to find a solution-not Op!