Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Opinions on dogs left home alone

47 replies

SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 09:51

I have a new neighbour who has a dog; the dog is left in the house all day even though there is a front and back garden; whenever he goes ouyt dog scratches, whines and cries and i am sitting here on my pati listening to this; i find this unacceptable as dog could be in garden on wandering lead and not locked inside the house. I dread to think what it might be like in there as his last property apparently smelt of urine and faeces. What do I do?

OP posts:
IncrediblySadToo · 08/07/2019 11:54

Sorry about all the odd words, this iPhone is bloody annoying! Hope it still makes enough sense!
The dog loafs around not loads!

millsy1 · 08/07/2019 11:59

The longest any dog should be left alone is 5 hours max. No question. Any longer, then please find a dog walker / dog sitter, otherwise find a new home for your poor pet.

WiddlinDiddlin · 08/07/2019 12:03

They are probably unaware of the dogs distress, pop a nice note through asking if they know - it may be a new thing following the move.

Leaving dogs outside is risky, leaving dogs in with access to outside is risky unless your garden is SUPER secure.

In any case, dogs upset by being left are not any better with access to outdoors, dogs do not run around gardens playing and amusing themselves.. they dig holes, bark, try to escape, chew stuff.. same as they will do indoors if not happy being left!

Greyhounds...... steal things off work tops and are big strong muscular dogs. Anyone taking on one and not expecting that is a bit feeble minded I think!

They are delightful dogs but consider them institutionalised and mentally backward, because when pet dogs were learning about the world... houses, cars, stairs, other dogs, washing machines, prams, hoovers, dogs that look like cats, dogs that look like donkeys, small children, big children....... etc.. All a greyhound has learned is.. kennel, paddock, van, race meet, trap, track, other greyhound.

So introducing a greyhound into your home means a lot of work slowly introducing all the normal things, which takes time.

Also whilst greys are typically used to not having direct human contact for most of teh day, they are ALSO used to being kennelled with a friend, not left loose in a house, and they are used to people coming and going, sounds, other dogs being moved around etc - so the total silence of an empty home, filled with unfamiliar stuff and free choice to do.. whatever...

Expect to come home to a repurposed sofa, dug up carpets and wee/poo all over.

If I were taking on greys now ... I'd get a kennel pair direct from a trainer, dogs who have genuinely been kennelled together all their lives. Crate train them and I'd have as long as poss off work to settle them in then get a dog sitter for my return to work and gradually ease them into being left. Done this way there are far fewer problems.

MammaToBe2019 · 08/07/2019 12:05

Every dog is different so no one can say how long they should be left! I have 2 dogs and they are left for roughly 8 hours every day whilst i am at work, both just sleep and play together. A friend has the brother to one of mine and he can only be left for around 3 hours before he becomes stressed and paces the house. My dogs are both very big breeds (Greyhound&Akita) they have been used to our daily schedule since i brought them home as puppies. Both are very well taken care of, have everything they need and are both very happy dogs.
OP if you are concerned, have a chat with your neighbour. It's possible that he is not aware how his dog behaves when left alone.

MonkeyTrap · 08/07/2019 12:17

I usually find the 'can't leave dog alone for more than 4 hrs a day' thing totally ridiculous and impractical.

If you can’t manage it don’t have a dog. They aren’t essential.

Both DH and I work 50+ hour weeks, dog goes to daycare or we use dog walkers. Dog has never been routinely left for more than 4 hours (bar the odd time we have gotten caught up etc) if we go for the day he goes to family or we arrange a walker. It’s really not difficult and if you have a dog you should be prepared to take those measures.

LazyFace · 08/07/2019 14:15

Mussolini... I do have a dog and I'm also at home. Believe me, he's a rug all day, turning left and right is all he does (after sniffing at the worktops and trying to open the bin as soon as I leave for the school run).
Walks are for socializing. If a dog gets two one hour proper walks I think it's fine to be left for more than 4 hours.
But of course this doesn't apply to every dog, mine is a LGD and they're used to being left to their own devices.
A little lapdog for example I wouldn't leave alone.

SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 16:13

I know about the last place because the lady that now lives there told me the house smelt of urine... as it is housing assocation and she needed bedrooms for her children she took it. I dont understand how someone who is home all day can leave their dog inside except one walk in the early hours and themselves sit outside with the dog scratching and crying at the door. Go figure. It just doesnt make sense xx

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 16:17

He is very aware of how his dog behaves as he is sitting outside of the front door while his dog is in the house. If a dog is an escape artist a wandering lead would allow it to have some fresh air and freedom; the poor thing is going stir crazy and I am not the crazy one lol xxx

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 16:20

yep terrier x and beautiful x

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 16:28

Hi Wiidlin we are wayyyy past a note through the door as I have made him aware multiple times of the problem; posted on my local fb only to have his family attack me verballyand on fb, and then got dog poo left outside my house; they managed to get me blocked from my local fb because I would not leave it alone, animal welfare far more important than village gossip! There is no abuse per se even though the dog often yelps indoors I have no idea what is happening. If someone cares enough to see what is going on, then that is something. If this was a child I would be onto social service right away but the RSPCA cannot do anything with random information from a concerned neighbour. Believe me, I have tried. Thank you for your input xx

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 16:36

Hi I had a dog he was my Boy I took him everywhere with me, even to the shop in the car.. well I had no choice as he was a huge GSD(pushed me out of the way when I opened the front door bless him xx) and would get in the back of the car before I could get in lol !!! That said, I dont expect everyone to be in such a priveleged position as I was being home all the time, but I cannot help because I am now more disabled than when I had my dog. Even though I could not walk far I took him out for walks and exercise and we used to be out 2-3 hours a time and then an evening walk around the block. This guy is not disabled just selfish and oblivious to the needs of an animal that relies on him. I was hoping that there might be some way I could get him to take responsibility and be accountable. Thanks xx

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 16:40

aww would love a rugrat right now xxx

OP posts:
MyGastIsFlabbered · 08/07/2019 16:41

Ok so I have dog. Due to a change in circumstances I've had to increase my hours at work. I can't stretch to doggy day care. Are people seriously suggesting I give up the dog, a well loved family member?

Pinkblanket · 08/07/2019 16:50

So he's actually there while the dog is shut inside??

RubberTreePlant · 08/07/2019 17:04

You know how your new neighbours previous home SMELT?!

That's professional level gossiping OP.

PookieDo · 08/07/2019 17:14

I have a dog and I have on occasion unexpectedly had to leave him for 5 or 6 hours but it is really not ideal and I try not to. I do not think he cries, I think he sleeps but I worry about him the whole time and rush back and always make arrangements when I know I need to be out longer. I would never leave him in the garden he would bark IME far more. I have been looking at dog cameras actually because I would like to know if he does cry at all even when I am gone for 4 hours. My DD is currently home with him nearly every day right now anyway. With his previous owner she left him 8-5 and the neighbours said they never heard him

He has the whole house to run round and usually seems to have been asleep when I get back! No mess nothing trashed. He gets much more upset when I leave him at the groomers.

He has an annoying habit of alert barking at night sometimes if people slam car doors outside

On a side note I have never ever laid eyes on my opposite neighbours dog. I can hear it barking a lot and she talks about the dog when I see her but to my knowledge she has never walked it, never taken it out in the car. It’s so fucking weird Confused

SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 17:20

I know because the new people moving in told me every room SMELT of dog urine.. any more questions>>. ?

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 17:21

Professional level gossiping> Get a Life this is Real

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 17:22

yes pink he is sitting outside with the dog indoors... most of the day... except when he goes for a walk without the dog.... go figure

OP posts:
SiriusMoon · 08/07/2019 17:24

yeah i dont get it either..... why have a dog to keep indoors? weird

OP posts:
TildaKauskumholm · 08/07/2019 17:33

Let's face it, there are many who own dogs but shouldn't because they can't be arsed to train them, keep them on a lead in public, see to their welfare. I've never understood it, is it a need to have (or appear to have) dominance over something?

Fucksandflowers · 08/07/2019 17:42

I know because the new people moving in told me every room SMELT of dog urine.. any more questions>>. ?

Professional level gossiping> Get a Life this is Real

Gosh, how rude!

Wondering how an old neighbour knew about the house the new neighbour used to live in is perfectly valid and expected.
I was wondering the exact same thing.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread