Or is DH? I think that, if you have a dog, you shouldn't leave it by itself for extended periods of time?

[WhatsWrongWithYou]

DH is taking DS1 and DS2 somewhere for the day, and is suggesting I go too with DD. I'd quite like to go, as we could go off and do our own thing for a few hours while they watch their match, but it would mean leaving our dog on her own for a good 6 or 7 hours.

DH says it's fine, loads of dogs get left all day and she'd just sleep and wander round the garden anyway (she has a dog flap and the garden is secure).

I seem to be the only one who holds this view, which seems ironic to me since I didn't want a dog in the first place and he did.

So, am I just being precious or is he unreasonable when he says I'm using the dog as an excuse not to do things?

Depends on the dog, of course, but I think 7 hours is a little long for most. They're sociable animals for the most part and like to be around people.

Is she used to being left alone at all? It's usually recommended to build up the leaving time gradually, and if she's not used to being left for any significant period of time you don't know how she's going to be. Don't want to come home and find she's chewed all your furniture from anxiety, or driven your neighbours crazy with with barking/howling all the time, not to mention it isn't nice to think of the dog being anxious and distressed while you're out.

I think up to 4, maybe 5 hours is fine - and should happen regularly so the dog doesn't get separation anxiety. Any longer is cruel, and even if it's not often (the dog doesn't know you're coming back, and can start panicking you've abandoned it - not to mention getting very bored). All those people who say "I leave my dog all day and she doesn't care" - er, dogs can't talk! How on earth do you know? You're not there!! Dogs are adaptable souls and can tolerate a lot, so they might not chew your house up or pee everywhere, but that doesn't mean they don't care or are happy with arrangements. Dogs are pack animals, and their human family is their pack. If you have to leave them for more than 5 hours, make alternative arrangements with a neighbour, dog-sitter or otherwise. If you can't do that, don't have a dog.

I think I agree with you, lurcherlover - I often say she's not a cushion so why treat her like one? It just irks me that DH is more likely to take the 'just leave her, she'll be fine' approach, when he was the one who wanted a dog in the first place.

She does get left for varying lengths of time most days, but very rareiy for more than four hours. But as I said before, I think I'll cultivate a dog-sitter for times when I need longer away from home. Not sure how this would work for impromptu outings like today's would have been, though.

I think its fine. I have 2 pugs, so they have each other for company. I work 4 hour shifts on Tues and Fri, and 8 hours on Weds. Im with them the rest of the time, so I figure they are happy, content dogs, and I wont feel guily about Wednesdays as they have a fabulous life the rest of the time.

If the dog is generally a laid back little creature, I would leave her. Take her for a good walk before hand so she is tired - leave some chews out.

YABU. A dog will be okay if you leave it for 6 or 7 hours occansionly. My parent s have done this and the dog has been fine.

Just as an aside, OP, you say that your dog has access to a secure garden via a dog flap but HOW secure is it?

I'm asking, and giving a warning, as I get to hear of a great many dogs being stolen from gardens when left unattended in gardens, outside shops and the like. I'm an independent rescuer and get emails about this type of crime almost daily. There are scors more which i never get to hear of but dog theft is becoming very common.

Your dog doesn't have to be a pedigree to be at risk - he may be a terrier or lurcher of interest to coursing types, he may be stolen as bait for fighting dogs or for breeding or to sell on.

PLEASE people, DON'T leave your dogs unattended, ever, not even in your own gardens. If you don't believe me, take a look at DOGLOST This is just one example of a few dogs which have been stolen from their gardens in the past few days - and these are only the ones whose owners know of DOGLOST and put their missing pets' details on the internet.

Apologies for bad grammar and typos, was trying to do 3 things at once!

Yep, depends on the dog but generally fine. Mine used to regularly get left for 7 hours during the day and was always fine, didnt mind a bit. We used to leave a couple of biccies and the radio on. We left a video camera running one day to see what she did - spent the first five mins sniffing around then laid on sofa and slept for rest of the 6 hours of tape!

Jan, you watched six hours worth of tape of your dog sleeping?!

Boy, that takes dedication! :o