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Original poster

How long do you leave your dog in a work day

30 replies

Tpeake · 13/07/2024 10:04

My hours have really upped at a school I work at and I'm now there every day doing roughly 5hours a day I feel terrible for our 2 year old dog don't get me wrong he gets walked early morning and evening but I just feel really bad for him for being alone in the day I leave the radio on for him and water always available anyway I'm wondering about getting someone in to play with him let him out for a wee midday but wondering if it's a silly idea how long are your dogs left for

OP posts:
ItMustBeNiceToBeQueen · 13/07/2024 10:06

How long is your travel time? With the 5 working hours, how long is your dog actually left? It does sound like a drop in visit or dog walker would be a good idea.

Karmaisac4t · 13/07/2024 10:06

When I worked in an office he was left for 8 hours 4 days a week, we hired a dog walker who came and took him for an hour walk around lunch time, and then came 2 hours later and spent an hour playing in the house with him. Now that we WFH I can see it wasn’t ideal.

HappiestSleeping · 13/07/2024 10:08

It is usually recommended to leave them for no longer than 4 hours. If you could manage to get someone to walk him during the time away, it would be useful.

We have left ours for five hours once due to an extended hospital visit, but this is the exception rather than the rule.

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Letsnotargue · 13/07/2024 10:09

It really depends on the dog. Our greyhounds have always been fine being left for 5 hours but they are known for being lazy dogs that love their sleep, and they’ve always been at least 3 when we’ve had them.

Is your dog a puppy? Or a high energy breed? Does it need a lot of entertainment from you when you’re home? My dogs just sleep whether I’m here or not so I’m sure they hardly notice if they’re alone, but this definitely wouldn’t be the same with all dogs.

Miley1967 · 13/07/2024 10:09

Ours is left for around six hours a day for four days a week ( I wfh on a friday ) and I do feel very bad. In summer months then one of our two kids at Uni is often there. Ours is seven years old though and until we recently lost our older dog very suddenly, they had each other. He has a good walk in the morning and my kids tell me that even when they are there he mainly just sleeps all day upstairs. I do feel guilty though and am always rushing home to be with him. I may look into a dogwalker but they are quite hard to find where we live. We find because he is left in the week, we never go anywhere without him at weekends and he comes on all holidays with us.

Hoppinggreen · 13/07/2024 10:09

Both me and DH mostly WFH but pre Covid when we didn't if it was going to be more than 4 hours in total he went to daycare.
Its very unusual for both of us to be out at work on the same day now but if we were going to be then a neighbour would let him out for a wee at lunchtime

Theyearwas1973 · 13/07/2024 10:14

I have never liked leaving my dogs for more than 4 hours at a time. I’d leave my current dog up to 5-6 hours but only very occasionally and certainly not every day.

Are you able to get someone in to let your dog out for half an hour each day? Often pop in services are cheaper than full dog walking. I used to offer this service when I was a dog walker and it was very popular and would help break the day up for the dog.

Emmajohnson2nd · 13/07/2024 10:21

I totally get where you're coming from. It's tough leaving our furry friends alone for long periods. I work around 7 hours a day and my 3-year-old pup is home alone too. Like you, I walk him early in the morning and again in the evening.
Leaving the radio on and ensuring he has plenty of water are great ideas. Getting someone to come in midday to play with him and let him out for a wee is actually a fantastic idea, not silly at all! It can break up the day for him and provide some companionship.
In my experience, having a dog walker or pet sitter stop by has made a big difference in my dog's behavior and happiness. Plus, it gives me peace of mind knowing he's not bored or lonely.
Do any of you have tips or routines that work well for your dogs during the workday?

itistooeasy · 13/07/2024 10:22

max for leaving out dog before i have a dog walker come around or take her with us is 4 hours

RaininSummer · 13/07/2024 10:23

I do think it is too long if it is that often. As a one off it's not too bad. He is a young dog so probably needs more stimulation.

itistooeasy · 13/07/2024 10:24

oh and those 4 hours are only 3x a week

itistooeasy · 13/07/2024 10:25

Emmajohnson2nd · 13/07/2024 10:21

I totally get where you're coming from. It's tough leaving our furry friends alone for long periods. I work around 7 hours a day and my 3-year-old pup is home alone too. Like you, I walk him early in the morning and again in the evening.
Leaving the radio on and ensuring he has plenty of water are great ideas. Getting someone to come in midday to play with him and let him out for a wee is actually a fantastic idea, not silly at all! It can break up the day for him and provide some companionship.
In my experience, having a dog walker or pet sitter stop by has made a big difference in my dog's behavior and happiness. Plus, it gives me peace of mind knowing he's not bored or lonely.
Do any of you have tips or routines that work well for your dogs during the workday?

is that 5 days a week?

Fallulah · 13/07/2024 10:33

Two days a week she (ten year old sleepy rescue) has this routine:

7:30 walk with me
8am we leave
10:30/11 ish Dog Walker comes in for a 30min ish walk
2ish: dog Walker comes back but sometimes dog will refuse this walk (diva!) so they just have cuddles/sit in the garden
4:30ish I come home
We sometimes take her another short walk before bed, depending on what she asks for.

We’re lucky that she was 7 when we got her and had been fostered so we knew she would be ok being left. My OH has a day off in the week and the other two days she goes to my mum who treats her like a grandchild!

Runnerduck34 · 13/07/2024 10:34

Tbh depending on the dog I think that fine.
Key is - longish walk in morning 30-60 mins and and same again in evening.
Let out to go to loo just before you leave and as soon as you go out. Topped up water bowl, Some toys and possibly radio on quietly.
Of course if you have a anxious or destructive dog the you may need to get someone in to break it up. But as long as they have decent length walks twice a day and particularly in morning before you leave they will probably mainly sleep when you are at work and get into a routine.

cloudy477654 · 13/07/2024 12:16

The longest I leave mine is about 6h but that's very occasional. Just when DH and I have to go to the office on the same day. If it's going to be longer than that my Dad goes over to take him for a walk.
If we started needing to do this more regularly though I would probably sort out a dog walker or daycare.

henlake7 · 13/07/2024 12:28

Mine are left for 13hrs. Although it is different circumstances to most people in that its overnight. I work 2 nightshifts a week so they are left then.
It does mean I have to make compromises though like leaving puppy pads out they are trained to use as its not fair to expect them to go that long without toileting. I got low energy breeds as well who are happy just to sleep.
Luckily my lot have zero seperation anxiety and are happy with their routine. But I didnt even consider getting a dog until I was part time and working hours that could accomodate a dog (even then a friend took them for the first 6mths and we built up to all night).

Debs2024 · 13/07/2024 12:32

I would say 4-6 hours I used to go home in my break to let mine out. I had 2 so company for each other but they say dogs have no sense of time unless they are hungry of course. Mine were fine but someone to go in is a good idea I used to do it for people shouldn’t cost too much .

YaWeeFurryBastard · 13/07/2024 12:37

On the days I’m in the office I have a walker come in and take them for a walk in the middle of the day. Realistically they are left for 4/5 hours either side of this three times a week. If we’re out for the day it can be up to 6 hours after a good walk. I wouldn’t do any longer as I don’t think it’s fair.

mooncloud1 · 13/07/2024 14:07

Thing is, and maybe it isn't ideal to leave a dog for 5/6 hours a day but surely that is far far better than a dog in a rescue centre potentially waiting forever for a home. Your dog may be left 5 days a week for 5/6 hours but you are there every evening, all night, every weekend , you will also have annual leave where the dog won't be left as long. The dog will regular walks and a lot of company.

I'm not saying anyone on this thread had said this, but when people ask about leaving dogs and then get jumped on saying they should get rid of the dog for it then to go to a rescue and be much much worse off.
People's situations change and they may get a dog and be able to be home all day then be in a position where the dog has to be left, how can that not be better than getting rid of the dog?!

mooncloud1 · 13/07/2024 14:09

henlake7 · 13/07/2024 12:28

Mine are left for 13hrs. Although it is different circumstances to most people in that its overnight. I work 2 nightshifts a week so they are left then.
It does mean I have to make compromises though like leaving puppy pads out they are trained to use as its not fair to expect them to go that long without toileting. I got low energy breeds as well who are happy just to sleep.
Luckily my lot have zero seperation anxiety and are happy with their routine. But I didnt even consider getting a dog until I was part time and working hours that could accomodate a dog (even then a friend took them for the first 6mths and we built up to all night).

I think this is absolutely fine, they are used to it and then you have the rest of the week with them

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 13/07/2024 14:10

Doggy day care 3 days a week.

HcbSS · 13/07/2024 14:11

5 hours max, with a long walk either side. If it needs to be longer he has a dog walker come at lunchtime.

abracadabra1980 · 13/07/2024 14:13

I leave mine for up to 4 hours. This includes travel time. When I'm away longer, which is not often, I pay a dog walker/sitter.
Unisex to work in welfare and the guidelines for rehoming were 4 hours max. Obviously a puppy needs a lot more attention.

hereismydog · 13/07/2024 14:15

henlake7 · 13/07/2024 12:28

Mine are left for 13hrs. Although it is different circumstances to most people in that its overnight. I work 2 nightshifts a week so they are left then.
It does mean I have to make compromises though like leaving puppy pads out they are trained to use as its not fair to expect them to go that long without toileting. I got low energy breeds as well who are happy just to sleep.
Luckily my lot have zero seperation anxiety and are happy with their routine. But I didnt even consider getting a dog until I was part time and working hours that could accomodate a dog (even then a friend took them for the first 6mths and we built up to all night).

I leave mine for about 9hrs during the day, he doesn’t give a flying fuck and won’t even move off the sofa 😂

We walk him first thing in the morning and then as soon as we get home, with long exploring walks on days off. We tried doggy day care and he developed severe resource guarding and severe distrust of strangers (the day care have never actually been honest about what happened to him there) so he would be too frightened of a dog walker to let one anywhere near him.

The setup works for us and he is pretty happy with it, but he is a lazy little bugger.

BrightLightTonight · 13/07/2024 14:30

Mine are left for about 9 hours - and are perfectly happy. However, there are 2 of them, so keep each other company and they have access to the garden via a dog flap, so are not having to hold their wee/poo all day