Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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

Does anyone have a dog? Question about leaving dogs alone

184 replies

Watchingthesunset · 12/04/2023 17:28

We would very much like to get a family dog. We have given it a lot of thought and the only obstacle seems to be that dh and I both work outside the home.

Dh works full time and I work part time 3 days a week. So the dog would have to be left at home from 8-3.30 3 times a week which is when ds gets home from school. There would be someone home by 3.30 for the foreseeable as we've a teenager and a pre teen.

We could potentially set the dog up in the conservatory with a bed and some toys and a dog flap to go in and out the garden throughout the day.

Everything I'm reading online says dogs shouldn't be left alone but I'm thinking in reality there must be lots of people who work and have a dog.

OP posts:
OfTheNight · 12/04/2023 17:46

We use doggy day care. Expensive but so worth it. The staff are amazing and provide tonnes of enrichment. Our older dog would probably manage on her own for a fair bit, but I know she would be unhappy. Dogs love company and they need mental stimulation and exercise.

hermioneee · 12/04/2023 17:48

Okay here's the question.
Do you think it's a good life for a dog to be left alone for 8 hours a day, and probably then for another 8 hours at night? At least 16 hours a day for an animal that self domesticated because they wanted to be around humans.
Bathroom breaks do not make a good life.

ReadtheReviews · 12/04/2023 17:49

They dont play with their toys alone. And dog theft is so high these days, the times of letting them go into the garden alone are no more.
If it's only three days per week that that was the case, I think they'd be ok with someone popping them out for a puddle in the lunch hour. Id give them freedom of a couple of rooms to ealk about in and leave the radio on classic fm or talk.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
DrHousecuredme · 12/04/2023 17:50

Ok it has a dog flap so, once trained to use it, toileting shouldn't be an issue. Apart from that though it would need to be an older dog who was already used to being left for a while. I used to own a dog and Dog's trust happily rehomed a dog to me on the basis that I only viewed a few hand picked dogs that could cope and that a dog Walker came at lunchtime to break the day up.
I don't think this would suit a puppy though.

BiteyShark · 12/04/2023 17:51

Mine goes to daycare. Expensive but worth every penny.

The issue with letting them have free access to outside is if they bark and cause a nuisance. Mine in the garden will bark at other dogs in the distance, squirrels or just for fun (he obviously can hear something). He gets called back in straight away but if you are out for many hours you might find your neighbours complain.

Your dog may be fine with a dog walker breaking up the day but each dog is individual and some are fine for a few hours but others might be stressed or destructive.

Do you have money for daycare/walkers and if so is there availability?

DrHousecuredme · 12/04/2023 17:54

Also, this arrangement relies on a teenager being willing to go straight home after school but in reality what will happen when they get detention, join an after school club or just want to hang around with their mates? Teens can be a bit thoughtless, even the nicest, and I'm doubtful that they'll be happy to rush straight home every day for a dog.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 12/04/2023 17:56

Where I live there are loads of dog walkers, friends with dogs and jobs all use them for lunchtime walks or company visits. Is that the same where you are?

maddy68 · 12/04/2023 17:58

Dog flaps are really handy. But to set up in a conservatory the dug would be too hot !

mindutopia · 12/04/2023 18:02

You will need someone at home or a dog walker/daycare. Our dog is let out again for a walk and fed about 12-1pm every day. Dh and I both work from home, so always at least one of us around.

Also, I wouldn’t rely on a child to let the dog out and care for them on their own. Our dd loves the dog and always wants to walk her. But straight home from school, she’s focused on snacks and tv. Would completely forget about the poor dog for at least an hour. 🙄

shadowchancesassy · 12/04/2023 18:02

I have an 8 month old puppy and a 4 year old dog, they are often left for 6/7 hours on there own. Puppy is crate trained and never has any accidents. (He's left at night longer 11-7:30) I don't understand the whole not leaving dogs longer than 4 hours. Mine are perfectly fine and sleep the whole time or chew they're toys. I've asked my neighbour if puppy crys she says no so..

TooOldToCareAboutOthersOpinions · 12/04/2023 18:03

Dsis leaves her nearly dog that long but 4am till midday.
No doggy daycare that time in the morning.
Dog is always fine has food and drink. Can come and go as pleases into garden
Never had an accident.

OnaBegonia · 12/04/2023 18:04

I homecheck for rescue and 7.5 hrs left alone is too long, you'll need a dog walker to break his day up, we recommend 3/4hrs max. If it's a puppy you're planning on he can't really be left initially at all.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 12/04/2023 18:05

DrHousecuredme · 12/04/2023 17:54

Also, this arrangement relies on a teenager being willing to go straight home after school but in reality what will happen when they get detention, join an after school club or just want to hang around with their mates? Teens can be a bit thoughtless, even the nicest, and I'm doubtful that they'll be happy to rush straight home every day for a dog.

no, it’s not fair to expect a teenager to spend their youth rushing home to let your dog out because you’re not there. They get a bit older and want to go out after school with their mates or have revision classes, or to a hobby. Don’t put it on them, it’s not fair.

MuffinToSeeHere · 12/04/2023 18:06

shadowchancesassy · 12/04/2023 18:02

I have an 8 month old puppy and a 4 year old dog, they are often left for 6/7 hours on there own. Puppy is crate trained and never has any accidents. (He's left at night longer 11-7:30) I don't understand the whole not leaving dogs longer than 4 hours. Mine are perfectly fine and sleep the whole time or chew they're toys. I've asked my neighbour if puppy crys she says no so..

You regularly leave an 8 month old puppy in a crate for 6/7 hours? Poor dog!

RedHelenB · 12/04/2023 18:06

Similar to my dog and they're fine with that.

OnaBegonia · 12/04/2023 18:06

To add, those saying dog flap, run of the garden, this is fairly unsafe as your dog could be stolen, escape, be injured, would never consider this with any of mine.

OnaBegonia · 12/04/2023 18:08

@shadowchancesassy
Your puppy spends 15 of 24 hrs in a crate? That's neglectful.

DrHousecuredme · 12/04/2023 18:08

shadowchancesassy · 12/04/2023 18:02

I have an 8 month old puppy and a 4 year old dog, they are often left for 6/7 hours on there own. Puppy is crate trained and never has any accidents. (He's left at night longer 11-7:30) I don't understand the whole not leaving dogs longer than 4 hours. Mine are perfectly fine and sleep the whole time or chew they're toys. I've asked my neighbour if puppy crys she says no so..

So an 8 month old puppy sometimes spends 15 hours a day in a cage crate?
I'm fairly relaxed about leaving dogs. Alone but this seems excessive 😕

WonderingWanda · 12/04/2023 18:11

Get a cat instead.

MrsBigTed · 12/04/2023 18:14

DDog is left home alone 1 day per week from 10.00-5.30. It wasn't the plan when we got her, but circumstances evolved.

She's 9, and I suspect bored during that day but she isn't destructive and hasn't ever had an accident. She's a small terrier breed, and doesn't get on with doggy daycare.

MuffinToSeeHere · 12/04/2023 18:16

MrsBigTed · 12/04/2023 18:14

DDog is left home alone 1 day per week from 10.00-5.30. It wasn't the plan when we got her, but circumstances evolved.

She's 9, and I suspect bored during that day but she isn't destructive and hasn't ever had an accident. She's a small terrier breed, and doesn't get on with doggy daycare.

Do you not get a dog walker in at all during the day?

I appreciate situations change but that's such a long day for her to be alone with no enrichment or way to go to the toilet.

mycatsanutter · 12/04/2023 18:19

Those are the exact hours that ours would be left alone , she is 2 now . We either ask my mum or fil to walk her or my DH comes home at lunch or we pay for day care ( only £12 ) . Our old dog was fine being left that amount of time , she had a bone and would just sleep but I do think it's too long for a young dog .

unsync · 12/04/2023 18:20

No, dogs are like toddlers. Would you leave a toddler on their own all day?

shadowchancesassy · 12/04/2023 18:20

@MuffinToSeeHere yeah he's walked twice a day, plays, goes to training, goes to group training sessions. Loves longs walks but I'd say once a week he's left that long. He's used to it and is good as gold. Better than an anxiety ridden dog Confused

UrsulaPandress · 12/04/2023 18:21

So sad that so many people think it’s acceptable to leave a dog alone for so long.

Get a cat.