AIBU to leave dog in shower for one day?

[showerdog]

Elderly dog has back issues, can't be left unsupervised not in a crate because he will jump on and off furniture and risks hurting himself. He is not destructive and never has been, but his crate is broken. Can I leave him in a large, walk in shower for one day whilst I'm at work? He sleeps in the shower in the summer when it's shut, only difference is the door will be shut. He will obviously have his usual blanket and water. AIBU? I can't think of another safe place in my open plan house. Even the toilet is a risk as he will try and sit on it or jump on it.

Ignore people saying you’re being cruel. It’s crate rest for his own good and it’s fine. Sounds like you’re just wanting to keep him safe for a few hours then you’ll let him out. If he will have a soft surface and all he needs and can get up and turn around if uncomfortable, sounds fine to me. I can imagine this is a stressful situation! I have a crate but chances of being near are slim 😆

Maybe the OP shouldn't have a dog if she is leaving it for 4 hours a day to go to work.
Most dogs do noy like being left alone for long periods, whether in a crate or an open space. Dogs, unlike cats, are far more sociable and destructive or bonkers behaviour is a manifestation of their stress.
So perhaps thecreason that no-one is pandering to the OP is that they feel it is irresponsible to leave a dog alone, letcalone one who is carrying a big injury

Terrible idea, he will get too hot and overheat.

4 hours is absolutely ok to leave a dog. We have a pet cam and all our fog does is sleep on the sofa. However, OP's dog is recovering from surgery so must be crated as has been repeated countless times.

As usual, MN is showing how utterly batshit it is around dogs - and lots of posters seems quite happy to broadcast their ignorance and inability to read the OP's posts too 🙄

OP - I have no issues with crates but my concern about leaving the dog in the shower while recovering from surgery is that the floor is slippery and he could really injure himself.

I would leave him in a carpeted area somewhere so he can't slip or skid - if he's small can he not just be left in the pen your friend is bringing over?

Youre being dramatic. If we're going to go down the route of "how would you like it if..." I wouldn't like to eat the same food every day at a specific time regardless of how hungry I was, sit quietly while others had varied exciting food that smells amazing, have to sit when told to sit, and as PP said, shit outside.

Op having had a dog that became destructive when he reached old age and the stress I felt every time I left the house, your priority needs to be keeping him safef, ignore the indulgent whiners on here. its not cruel to prevent your dog injuring himself further.

Maybe the OP shouldn't have a dog if she is leaving it for 4 hours a day to go to work.

Don’t be ridiculous. Most dogs are absolutely fine being left alone for a few hours, and in fact it isn’t always great for a dog to have 24/7 contact with humans.

I work from home and my dog was a ‘lockdown puppy’ so for the first year or so he was basically never left alone. Then I started working out of the home for a few hours here and there and we noticed a massive change in his behaviour because he was actually getting enough rest and downtime when I went out. He had been overstimulated and unsettled when he had constant access to me at home.

Now when I pop out for a few hours I only have to say ‘back soon!’ and he hops onto his bed and curls up for a snooze until I get home. I have a camera on him and I can see that he sleeps like a log until I get back, with zero signs of separation anxiety.

I don’t agree with people leaving dogs alone for entire days, especially on a regular basis, but I keep seeing this idea repeated on MN that you shouldn’t get a dog if you EVER need to leave it alone, at all, which is frankly just hysterical nonsense.

Exactly!!!

Oh I know, we have to wear protective gear to use our toilet just in case the heat escapes the shower and kills us mid flow.

I'm not a fan of crates, but I can see why some people use them and know that some dogs really like them. And crate rest following an op - well, if you've got to do it, you've got to do it.

As for leaving dogs alone, most dogs will just sleep, especially older ones. After all, most dogs survive the night by themselves. It sounds as if OP's dog gets enough love, attention and exercise so people should just lay off.

The shower doesn't sound suitable. If he needs to spend time in a crate following surgery then you should arrange a replacement, inconvenient though that might be.

I definitely would leave my dog in a crate, I think the shower room sounds bigger & better to keep him safe. I know not everyone feels like this but I really dislike crates personally.

@youkiddingme

Im guessing you're a lot taller & weigh more than 9lb though.

much more than I'd like to read posts by people who have. no comprehension skills.