Does anyone have a dog? Question about leaving dogs alone

[Watchingthesunset]

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.

@Delatron doggy daycare 🤦🏻‍♀️ I think the problem here is people treat dogs like human children. And that's resulted in hundreds of dogs with anxiety problems. I grew up with dogs and owned 11 myself and not one has had any problems with fireworks/separation anxiety. Treating a dog like a human has done it no favours clearly. There's nothing wrong with leaving a dog alone for long periods mine have been happy to be left because you teach them from young and get them in a routine. It's crazy that people are taking there dogs out in cars all day to pop to shops and be left in the cars because they believe dogs can't be left home for more than 3hrs 😂

Please don't use the conservatory - mine is also shaded and it would still cook a dog or a cat if that was the only shelter they had in summer, they don't regulate their temperature the same way we do and flaps can break.

In answer to your actual question, I had a similar schedule when I was ready to adopt pets and after talking to friends with dogs, friends with cats and several rescues, eventually made the decision to get cats instead of dogs because dogs really can't be left for that long. It was the right decision for me and for them.

Daycare is one option. My dog didn’t like it but others do.

I pay for a dog walker.

Dogs should not be left alone at home all day. Just don’t get a dog.

You're right that in reality some dogs are left alone while people go to work. But that doesn't make it right. Some dogs may have been taken on years ago but due to change of circumstances the owner now has no choice. But you're talking about taking one on in the certain knowledge that they will be left alone 3 days a week. You're also working on the basis that your teen/preteen will be home at 3.30. Now if they're anything like my kids that could be subject to all kinds of variables.. bus doesn't turn up/football practice/ kids generally wandering home with absolutely no sense of urgency. So I think what you're suggesting is very very unfair to any potential pet dog.

@Delatron I'll carry on as I am thanks. But you do you 👌🏼

Dogs vary, some are fine left alone for a few hours, others get separation anxiety even after an hour. Some breeds are better than others, however a lot of it is down to the dog's personality and also training.

My dog is fine for quite a long time, if you work from home he ignores you for many hours, in fact he was pretty annoyed at lockdown when the kids and their boyfriends arrived!

How did you know yours didn't like day care? Did he tell you? How do you know he likes the dog walk? Does he tell you?

Our dog is left for them hours and he is completely happy. He has a walk at 7am and his breakfast. He settles down and sleeps This is really totally depending on what breed of dog you get Ours is a lurcher he loves to sleep as do greyhounds. I wouldn't never leave a puppy that long and all dogs are different so what might be ok for one dog won't be for another.

Btw, doggy daycare is pretty new as are dog walkers, we had dogs in the past and worked

@OddsocksinmyDocs

My dog hates kennels and being around dogs so doggy daycare isn't an option. Not all dogs are sociable

He showed nervousness at doggy daycare.

If you are not in the house - how do you know he’s happy to be left there all day alone?

You can tell when dogs like walks because you’re with them and they’re wagging their tails and running around.

Defend it all you like. It’s no life for a dog by itself for 8 hours alone in a house with no company or stimulation. Dogs are social creatures. Yes they sleep but not all day.

Don’t get a dog if you can’t look after it properly!

What look after my dog properly? Yes I will do. Thank you.

I work those hours and need to go home at lunch to let them out for a pee. I wouldn’t risk having a set up of a dog flap into the garden as it could be quite likely someone would steal the dog these days

I don’t know what your lifestyle is, you haven’t mentioned anything about your lifestyle. My point was those are all things to consider IF you’re going to want to be doing any of them at some point in the next 15 years or so.

Because when we've watched him the few times we have set the camera up, he's either slept or is at the window, wagging his tail and watching traffic which he likes to do when we are at home too. If he hated being home alone, he wouldn't sleep.

Don't get a dog if you're going to rely on somebody else to walk them for you!!

As I said, I personally don't agree with doggy day care 😊

Hmm I don’t agree that if he hated being alone he wouldn’t sleep?

I walk my dog every day bar one when I have to work more so I pay someone. Maybe you should try spending more time with your dog and actually walking it more rather than leaving it alone all day. Poor thing.

But you agree with leaving your dog alone all day. Smiley face.

If he wasn't content, he wouldn't sleep.

'Poor thing' 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Dogs do sleep when they are: bored/lonely/sad.

They don’t just sleep when they are happy? What a bizarre thing to claim!

@shadowchancesassy dogs don't necessarily develop separation anxiety or fears due to the way they are handled/ trained. Some do, but for others it's just their personality. Like a PP mentioned here gundogs are breed to be with people so it's far more likely that they may be prone to separation anxiety. It's not about treating dogs like kids!

My breeder recommended doggy day care once a week even if we didn't need it as we have a hound, a natural pack dog and we have only one dog. She bloody loves it! Its really not like treating dogs like children!

Having had many dogs and grown up with many dogs, I can honestly say, none of them had any separation anxiety but I know for a fact that they would have been miserable left for 7.5 hours alone.

But you agree with paying somebody to walk your dog for you. Smiley face. If you were that concerned, perhaps you should be at home all day for your dog too. Poor thing.

I am at home all day with my dog. Is there something wrong with you? I work from
home. That’s why I got a dog. I walk him
6 days a week.

One day a week, I don’t quite have the hour and a half I normally have to walk him so that one day someone else does it. I’m still at home though! For company and to let him out. You know spending time with my dog?

You leave your dog alone all day. There’s a big difference.

I'm on the fence.
My 2 dogs are left 7.30-4.30 Mon-Fri.
10 years ago when I got them, I was a SAHM, was with them constantly.
Last couple of years and covid/cost of living/DH cancer has hit us hard. I've had to start work full time.
We can't afford dog walkers/day care for both dogs (one is fear aggressive so would need 1:1 anyway)
My only other option would be to rehome them. But why would I smash my heart, and the kids hearts, when the dogs seem totally happy? They are whippets so lazy shits, walk and run every evening, for hours at weekends. We live rurally so it's pretty idyllic for them.

So basically yes I leave mine. Should I? No. Do I have an option? Also no. Life isn't perfect but my dogs are pretty bloody lucky compared to the millions in the country that don't ever leave the house.

@NotYourHolidayDick life can happen to the best of us and it sounds like you have the best reasons for doing what you do. What I would say is that you didn't deliberately enter into this arrangement, and also the dogs have each other for company.

Maybe that's the ticket OP - get two dogs !