People leaving dogs at home while they are at work

[Sparkles57]

AIBU to find it appalling when people go to work all day and leave their dogs home alone?

I have two and work full time and I spend a small fortune on daycare for them through the week. If I’m out at the weekend I’ll leave them for 5 hours max, any longer and I’ll pay someone to drop in and let them out etc.

I’ve noticed lately from people talking at work it seems to be the norm for people to just leave their dogs in the house when they’re at work! 10 hours alone seems really cruel to me, so I’m really surprised by the blasé attitude a lot of people seem to have to it.

On the other hand, mine are kept downstairs at night so they are on their own for a good 9 hours whilst I’m in bed, so maybe I’m just being a judgey bastard?

We've found that having a dog flap and secure garden has been really useful - the doggo pops in and out through the day for toilet

I've only recently gone back to work after mat leave, but DH and I now both work roughly 8-4 and hired a dog walker to come twice a day to take our 2 DDogs out for a walk. So far, she's had to practically drag them out each time! They're perfectly happy to sleep during the day, the same as they did while I was home really. Some dogs really do spend a large part of the day sleeping! Now our plan is to continue with the visits, but not necessarily have them as walks, she'll just come and spend time with them in the house. We do also allow them free reign of the house at night, which often means them sleeping on our bed/bedroom floor, so in terms of balance I still feel they get enough time and attention, despite us both working full time. Everyone's circumstances are different 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think 30 years ago it was far more common for mum to be a SAHM and far less common for both of parents to work FT.

I was about 14, 30 years ago. I didn't know a single mother who didn't work full time. Not one. We are talking circa 1990 here, not 1950!

I work from home and if I have to go out at any point during the day I pay for daycare or a drop in so mine are never left for more than an hour. When people say their dogs are fine being left all day, I just think, well, yes - I’d be fine all day if I was left in a room. Whether I’d be happy, stimulated, enriched etc is something quite different. If people disagree and think I’m OTT with my dogs I don’t care. I just know my dogs live their best life and that’s what I want for them.

Also mine are downstairs together 10pm to 7am without us, so maybe it evens out. I’m a light sleeper and have insomnia so there’s no way the dogs will ever sleep in my room with me. I think it also depends on the breed as some are a lot more independent than, say, cavaliers which can develop chronic separation anxiety.

As long as the dog is having at least one decent walk a day and is loved and fed and cuddled and played with I don't think it matters if they are left all day. Ideally you wouldn't get a dog knowing your going to be out all day 5 days a week (unless you
Budget for dog walks) but if circumstances change then what can you do? I'm sure the dog will get spoilt on weekends and evenings.

I'm at home a lot through the day and my dog sleeps all day. some days she cuddles up to me others she's upstairs on her own wanting her own company and couldn't care less whether I'm there or not. I have one day a week where she is on her own all day 7-4 and she is absolutely fine. big walk before work and big walk after.

Those who agree with the OP.... is it human company you believe the dogs require?

I have five dogs. Now actually, because of our lives, they are hardly ever left, but we don’t spend every hour interacting with them.

If I leave the five together, with free flow access between the kennels and a large (16m2) run, with a selection of beds, toys, unlimited water, shade and sun areas and able to toilet freely, is that still cruel?

Sometimes if we are at home but working we will put the dogs in the run. That might be for a few hours. Is that cruel by your standards?

And before anyone gets worked up, the dogs live in the house with us. Never ever overnight in the kennel/run. And by kennel, I mean brick built full height building, not a wooden hut thing.

I agree in principle but I think a half decent dog owner will make up for itvwitb long walks, play and fuss, maybe even popping home if they can. it's probably a fine line, some who don't work can still neglect dog cos they can't be arsed.

I don’t think it’s bad leaving a dog with the right temperament but some people are just oblivious. They think they’re just popping out and it’s cool but I’ve lived in places where neighbours dogs just howl and bark for hours. Some owners are perhaps aware and just cunts but others aren’t even aware of it, save for shoving a recording in front of their noses

My neighbours dog used to cry in the evenings if she went out, between us we worked out it was because she was in the utility room (where she slept etc) whereas her evenings were usually spent in the lounge.

Started leaving her in the lounge and all was fine!

We also have a dog that didn't enjoy coming on holiday with us, hardly ate for the week and had to sleep with one of us otherwise cried every 45 minutes in her crate - as in her actual crate that we took with us 😳

Creatures of habit in many cases...

At least you’re aware of it RandomMess.

My parents used to leave the dog for few hours but think it was cool (doubting myself from previous comment but think the neighbours would have mentioned it having a good relationship).

Ten hours is extreme for any dog though

You do also read the posts here where people get a puppy and then are startled that after the huge sacrifice of 2 weeks off work, the puppy can't be expected to thrive on a daily lunch hour visit.

We were very careful when Ddog was a pup so he had some time on his own, but built it up very gradually. We wouldn't leave him for more than 2-3 hrs as a regular thing - in fact he's generally on his own for one hour in the morning then an hour before we get hime, but occasionally due to circumstances he's fine with up to 6 hrs and one day the dog walker forgot to take him out and he was ok if a little frisky.

Just seems sad for young dogs to be on their own all day.

I agree 10 hours is extreme! We're lucky DH works from home if that changed our dilemma would be to crate or not to crate as there is that fear about her chasing/attacking the cats..

Im not even an animal lover and I think this is awful!

And not only cruel but they must come home to their house all pissed and shit on?

People used to just let their dogs out and run around the streets all day lol
I remember it well and no micro chipping either

The way some people are trying to justify leaving their dogs for long periods with barbs about 'your standards' to the OP is ridiculous. Being sarky doesn't make your point correct.

Lots of dogs sleep downstairs overnight without company - that's absolutely true - but then some of those dogs are also being left for 8 hours a day. How much time do they actually have any company at all?

If I have to leave my dogs for over about 4 hours I make arrangements for them to be taken out/have some company during that time. We can't really afford it (£13 an hour), so we cut out cloth accordingly. Is it ideal? Not really, but we work and don't want to leave the dog for extended periods so we pay to make sure that doesn't happen.

Some people will always leave their dogs for long periods of time, it's been happening for as long as I can remember (certainly as a kid in the 70s), but don't make out that it's perfectly fine, because it's not.

Couldn't agree more

For all those people explaining away any concerns about dogs being shut in on their own all day - how would you cope with no loo breaks or anyone to interact with? It's abuse.

Some dogs are evidently fine. But the ones that bark and howl all day, destructive behaviour, obviously arent "fine". And yet the owners when challenged say the dog should just put up with it.

Most of these dogs aren't rescues anyway, it wasn't a choice between being shut up in a kennels or being at home with loving owners who happen to work FT. Their owners got them as puppies, knowing that they would be working FT but somehow assuming the dog just needed to fit in. Why do they have the dog in the first place - who is it for?

It is fine to leave an adult dog for four hours. I do on occasion (seldom, but I know he is fine, if he has had a good walk and lots of attention the rest of the day/evening) But it is the assumption that the dog needs to suck it up if it is longer, it is the dog's fault for complaining (barking howling) when it should know it is living a happy life with devoted owners The owners created the market for that puppy to exist, they aren't usually rescuing him from a horrible fate

Re dogs and telling the time, there’s been quite a bit of research into this and it seems to indicate that dogs do have a sense of time, perhaps by smell.

“Some researchers have suggested that dogs are using their advanced sense of smell to sniff out how long it has been since some event happened. After you leave the house, your scent lingers, decaying slowly over the day. If you have a fairly regular schedule, it’s possible your dog has figured out that at the point when your smell has decreased by a specific amount, you’re going to unlock that front door (and he needs to get ready to come charging up to greet you).”

I know people who are not on the breadline and can afford all sorts of perks - okay they are not millionaires but they choose to spend their money on things which could not be considered essential (cruises, beer, horseriding lessons for their children, takeaways); but they still make the assumption that the dog has to fit in with their life because they "know lots of people who work and have dogs". Getting a dog is expensive and then they grudge the money spent on actually making the dog happy (paying for a dog walker or a visit in the day), as if the dog is to blame for being an expensive pedigree in the first place.

I'm not including in this the people who genuinely agonise about leaving their dog in the day when their situation has changed and have to save every penny and weigh up whether the dog would be much worse off rehomed or in kennels.

If the dog is not stressed by it, then YABU.

Our dogs (mine is now dead, but my partner's is still around) have been left when necessary. I.e. when they weren't able to come to work (they were at one place we both worked at) and when both of us were working (I haven't since having my daughter).

And for them it was a choice between being rescued, or that. They'd have been on their own a lot longer (and more depressingly) in the rescue centre.

Life changes.

It's all well and good if you have family, friends and neighbours ready to help you out when you are going through a crisis.

It's all well and good if you have spare income that you can use on dog walkers and daycare.

It's all well and good if your dog likes going to daycare/to a different environment.

Unfortunately not all dogs like going to daycare or somewhere other than home, they like to sleep on the couch waiting for their owner to come back.

It's so easy to judge others when you're not in that situation. If you go through a marriage breakdown or if you lose your family or whatever you get crucified if you rehome your dog as you can't be around every 4 hours and if you keep your dog which may be your only companion you get slated for having to go out to work despite your dog being fine with it.

Of course you weren't aware as to what would happen when you got the dog...

My neighbours had a dog that they left most of the day from 8 until 5.30 5 days a week. Sometimes they would pop home at lunch time and let him out in the garden.
Sadly they got another dog. Now they bark frequently and i can hear the tearing around the house with high pitched helping and barking.
One of the dogs launches itself at the lounge window at the slightest movement by anyone outside or walking past. They get a walk short 6am.and 7pm. On Sundays they get left all.day too.as they go out to family for Sunday dinner. I've no idea why they have these dogs or what they gain from having them.
The dogs sound really uptight with thier frequent sessions of barking.
I hear next door yellingvat the dogs to shut up I mutter "stfu" several times a day.

I see no joy for the dogs, my neighbours or us in the ownership of those dogs.

Too right. Only people who can afford to not work or to spend a fortune on dog walkers should be allowed to adopt them.
So what if that means dogs stay in kennels instead. At least they are not alone, they have the stimulation of other dogs barking and fighting all day long. Plus volunteers walking them.
I for one think that unless you can feed them sirloin you have no business having a pet.
Jesus.
Next time I have to leave dog at home for y hours,which happens about once in a fortnight, I will remind myself that she would be so much better off back to the shelter.