To think that you shouldn't have a dog if it's going to be alone in the house every day?

[perceptionreality]

Next door have a lovely dog. But since they are all out all day, the dog barks and howls all day long until they get home. It sounds very sad and is not pleasant to hear.

I have never had a dog myself though. AIBU?

Sorry but I think no dog is really happy to be left alone home all day. They may not pay you much attention when you are actually at home, but this doesn't mean they like being totally alone.

Was it the RSPCA who filmed dogs left alone home all day. All the owners thought their dogs were happy to be left home alone. All of the dogs in reality displayed anxiety and happiness at being left alone - not necessarily howling or barking.

If you work all day somebody needs to come in once to take the dog for a short walk and give it some attention imo. Actually have a friend who pays for a dogsitter to do this. If you can't do this, then imo you shouldn't have a dog.

I rang the RSPCA a few months ago as our neighbours dog was howling all day, it also sounded as though it was on a chain. You could hear metal moving IYSWIM, so it's also possible it was chained up

I was given short shrift! Unless I KNEW the dog was being ill-treated there was nothing they could do.

Their landlord put them out shortly afterwards because he'd found the house in a state when he'd turned up to collect back rent he told us this after they left and showed us the house. It was disgusting. He'd let it partly furnished, carpeted etc and he was having to scrape the carpet up because of dog dirt etc.

I'm not a dog person as such (couldn't bear one to be hurt though) and the life that poor creature must have had is awful to contemplate

I've had 2 dogs since they were 8 weeks old. They are now 4 and 5 years old. I used to work from home but will soon be working full-time away from home. My DH also works out of the home. What am I supposed to do? Turn the role down or get the dogs put down?

I know leaving the dogs at home all day isn't ideal but the parents clearly need to work and most likely treat the dog well when they're in. The dog is better off in a warm home all day than in Battersea Dogs home or in the wild. Just tell them that their dog barks during the day and hopefully they will be able to put measures in place to limit or stop it. It's also unusual for a dog to literally howl all day so maybe you should say something but it's not fair to say they shouldn't have a dog at all because they have jobs. It's like saying I shouldn't have had a baby if I'm going to leave her and go to work. I'm sure she's going to miss me too but I'm not turning down the job.

capricorn - You need to arrange for somebody to come in and see to your dogs. Dogsitters, friends or relatives. you wouldn't use your argument to ignore the welfare of a child. I don't think it is a good argument to ignore the welfare of a dog either.

Leaving a child at nursery, where they will be stimulated is not at all the same, surely? The point is that the dog has nobody to stand in as carer. It sounds so miserable it makes me sad.

Someone I know got a puppy, had it for less than 24 hours and took it back to the breeder. They took it back as at the vet checkup the vet said it was going to be bigger than what they thought (mongrel) and also that it was unfair to have a dog when they work full time.

So the day she took it back, what does she do? Gets a smaller breed of puppy - which is still going to be left 9 hours a day.

And some people use doggy daycare if they're out all day. Yes it costs, but it's a lot cheaper than childcare! There are many options in-between turning down a job and having your dogs killed .

No one is saying people shouldn't have dogs if they have a job, but that if they're out of the house all day they need to make arrangements so the dog isn't distressed and/or annoying the neighbours - which in this case it clearly is!

My MILs dog is a cocker spaniel.. and it is (from other owners who we have spoken to) a fairly common problem with the breed, to suffer from anxiety.. they are quite a highly strung dog, temperament wise.

If they are going out and he is quiet, and he is quiet as they come home, then they are not going to know about the noise unless you tell them, and they will assume that he is settled and happy.

As a dog owner myself, if a neighbour came and let me know (politely and not yelling at me about it), I would be grateful and thank them for making me aware of it.

We used doggy daycare for our dog and she loved it. I felt bad when I took her out as no longer needed it! (And over compensated with v long walks!).

I would maybe mention that the dog is howling/barking...obv mentioned in a tactful way. They may not be aware. If they are responsible dog owners, they should try and address it.

If you are out of the house nine to six and you get someone to come and walk the dog for an hour it's still alone for most of the day. It's better than nothing but it'snot really a long term solution.

We only got MuttDog when it was clear that I would be allowed to take her to work with me. She is never alone for more than 2 hours. I think it is cruel to get a dog then leave it alone all day. If my circumstances changed I would put the dog first and pay out for daycare.

RSPCA wont give a shit though - despite having something like 88 million in the bank they're busy playing the 'we are too poor to help' card. Feckers.

OP, would you be willing to help out at all? Not that you should have to, not at all, but maybe you'd like to? You could always offer to give it a bit of company, or take it for a walk. I think I'd have to say something though - your neighbours aren't necessarily horrible, they just might not understand and would be grateful of the heads up

(I'm seriously considering setting up a Doggy Daycare when I retire - with optional 'in a warm and loving home not stinky kennels' boarding - I realised last summer how much I would pay for something like that and thought hmmm)

YANBU at all. Cockers are dogs that need to be with their owner most of the time, and are prone to separation anxiety. They are known for being your shadow; mine follows me everywhere, including the loo. She can be fast asleep, but if I go upstairs, I'll turn round and she'll be right behind me. I knew this about the breed because I researched them before I got one. I think it's totally unfair to leave a dog alone all day, especially when it's a breed with a high need for attachment and company. Dogs are social group animals - they haven't evolved to spend time alone, and it distresses them.

I've never left my dog for more than 4 hours at a stretch. Yes it's restrictive, but I knew that when I decided to get a dog. If I had to leave her longer than that, I'd pay someone to come in and see her/walk her. OP you mention that the dog goes quiet for half an hour - could it be that someone is visiting it at that point?

We do leave our dog at home whilst we go out to work. That means he is by himself from 8.45 to 2.15. He is out in his kennel during that time and we know from the neighbours that he doesn't make a squeak whilst we're away.

He gets walked in the mornings and in the evenings and seems settled in his routine. I hope he likes living with us and know that he likes to go and sleep on the bench in his kennel whilst we're busy.

YANBU -It is cruel

zookeeper - Its still not ideal I agree. But better than leaving a dog for say 9 hours alone.

YANBU Most people I know who have dogs and work go back at lunchtime to exercise and allow a wee break. the most I leave my dog is 5 hours, but I am usually at home so its not that often. With the short daylight hours I wonder if the dog get ANY exercise at all. But they do need a wee break - can you hang on more than a few hours?

I think you are perfectly within your rights to mention it to them - even if you dress it up more as a noise inconvenience then concern over their dogs welfare. However, if you talk to them and get nowhere - then ringing RSPCA may make it obvious where complaint came from.

Why don't you ring RSPCA just for advice first. I feel sorry for this dog.

Is it possible someone else is popping in. If you don't mind walking, letting dog out - you could offer- but would suggest you do it inthe "oh I can do a dog walking service for you" and precheck out the rates. If you do if for free you might get taken advantage of.

We have a dog and leave her while we are at work. She is fine (we know this because we have very good neighbours). People are very quick to judge if you do go to work, but our dog gets walked before we go and again in the evenings- good long walks as well, and lots of fuss. Vet says she is fine. I find it's a difficult subject- some people are very judgy about it and I see more mistreated dogs who are poorly trained and pandered to with owners who are around all day, although I do see the other side and leaving dogs for hours and hours can be very distressing and you do have to be careful in terms of the breed and temperament of the dog.

I am quite shocked at people saying to contact RSPCA- you should just tell the owners. If its was me I'd be far more upset that someone had gone higher up, rather than speaking to me first- give them the chance to address the issues, they probably don't realise and can then get a dog walker, family member to help out a bit. It does sound like the dog is distressed and as other posters have said that breed is very clingy, but it could be really simple to solve.

the owners might have no idea, they might only need to leave a radio on and exercise it more in morning and evening, they need to know so they can look at what to do and whether to have someone come and visit/walk/fuss the dog during the day

I rarely leave my emotionally disordered spaniel anywhere for any length of time but I would have thought three to four hours would be ok, if it wasn't for my neighbour letting me know that he howls after two hours !

Mention it to the owners. If they are dog lovers they will be horrified and upset that their dog is in distress. You could also mention in that you would be happy to pop in and take it out (presuming you are) and take it from there. No need to get the RSPCA involved until you know there is something to be concerned about.

YADNB
I had the same with an old neighbour. I would work from home occasionally and alhtough I could block the noise out I hated hearing a distressed animal. In the end I offered to take the dog out for a walk. I used to let him into the garden where he could also bark at the odd passing cat but it was a happy bark. We became friends as they were greatful and I doubt they ever realised the dog barked.

Tell your neighbours. Write them a note if you fear awkwardness? I was in this situation when I lived in an upatairs flat last year; the little dog in the basement was alone for approx 8hrs per day Mon-Fri. He would whine and yelp all day and would only stop if we talked to him out of our back window (over looking their yard). Highly distressing for a couple of softies :( You have my sympathy.

YANBU it sounds awful. When I had a dog, he was left home all day 3 times a week. Even though I hired a dog walker for those 3 days I still felt awful. It does seem a shame to have them if you're not there for them.

YANBU at all. I have a lovely little dog and would not dream of leaving him all day alone. Dogs need human companionship more so than cats say, and both can suffer stress and depression.

The dog needs at least to be looked in on/walked/given attention sometime midday. I will only leave mine for a few hours and then with radio on in a warm and comfortable place with something to chew on.

If they can't provide basic care in any way then they should not own a dog IMHO

yanbu in this case as the poor thing is clearly upset

yabu to think that you shouldnt have a dog full stop if its going to be alone. Im off work atm, but before our dog was left for 6 - 7 hours a day with maybe one quick visit from my mum / dad to let her out for a wee. Shes fine, infact if on a rare occasion someone comes home early she is very affronted and dishes out dirty looks for daring to interrupt her peace