To shut my dog in the garden for the day?

[Dogingarden]

Please read the full thing before you call me cruel.

I will be gone from about 8am until late on the night because I'm travelling for a medical procedure that I can't put off any longer. There is no way to make the time shorter due to where I live in relation to the hospital and I need the treatment asap.

I had a dog sitter booked but she had an accident and is currently on crutches and unable to drive. The others in my area are booked or just far too expensive. I have family but only my brother is able to drive and works 12hr shifts so he's only able to visit after 8pm. The house is rural detached with no close neighbours.

He can't go to kennels because I accidentally missed his vaccine boosters during the move and the local ones won't take him without them being up to date.

Dog is a large terrier. I have a large, safe garden with plenty of shady spots regardless of the time of day. I would leave multiple beds for him, including a dog house that was already in the garden when I moved in. There is also an automatic water bucket fitted to the house (previous owner) which he uses happily when we're in the garden. I will leave dry food out.

He absolutely will not toilet in the house, even with puppy pads, so he'd potentially be going 12+ hours without a wee which makes me very uncomfortable because he's had kidney issues in the past.

Please don't be awful - I'm terrified of what the biopsy will show and I'm doing my best.

I'm not a dog owner but assuming he doesn't have separation anxiety and it's definitely secure and no close neighbours if he barks, seems fine.

The others in my area are booked or just far too expensive.
It would be a case of using the very expensive one for me. As well as your dog’s welfare you’ll be paying for your piece of mind as then you can focus on your difficult day without worrying about him

Borrow my doggy?

I’d use the expensive sitter!

I don’t think it’s cruel, it sounds a decent set up as a one-off; but the devil finds work for idle hands, and I’d be concerned a dog that’s usually used to having your company most of the time suddenly finding itself left alone for 12+ hours would become mischievous and try to dig / chew / jump his way out of the garden.

Is there a local community forum or Facebook group where you could potentially ask if any neighbours might be able to pop in? In rural communities, people are often very aware of the difficulties of easily getting help in and likely to help to.

Sounds absolutely fine. He will have shelter, food, water and a cosy bed plus access to the toilet.

it’s one day he’s a dog.

I think you know your own dog. If your house is safe from potential dog theft and you think he’d be perfectly happy/safe lounging around the garden all day (our old dog would’ve been fine with it and would often choose to sleep in the back of the garage on warm days) then carry on.
Another option would be to book a dog sitter/someone to pop in halfway through the day through Rover.

Sounds fine.

I think this is ok
My dog would much prefer this to being locked up inside. Shade,water, food and maybe a kong or two is fine.
Good luck with your procedure.

Could you not leave your back door open so the dog can go into the garden and house. I think it's fine for 1 day. Give him a licky mat and a bone and he will be fine.

Mine would bark and bark and bark if I left him in the garden all day and we’d have a neighbour mutiny on our hands when we got back so it’s not something we’d be able to do.

Does your dog go 12 hours without weeing over night? Mine will if he’s had a proper walk in evening so I think if I was ever in this situation I’d get up really early and go out for a really long walk and leave him in the house. I’m sure he’d just sleep all day anyway - it’s what he does whether we’re here or not.

It’s not ideal but you have to put your health first and it’s only a one off.

If it’s your only real option then why post here for people to just tell you you’re cruel anyway?

fwiw I think it’s ok as a total one off. Good luck for the procedure 💐

No you absolutely can’t leave him for that long. I’m sorry but you need to find a solution. You could get an emergency appt at the vets to have him vaccinated so he can go to kennels (I’m sure they would do this if you explained the situation). Or pay for the expensive sitter somehow. What you’ve proposed is not a solution. I hope you make appropriate arrangements and that your appointment goes okay.

I personally think this is fine. The dog has food, water, shelter, entertainment, is safe and secure.

The only issue is if the dog struggles with being alone for long periods of time. If there’s no evidence of that then go do your procedure.

Admittedly, I come for a from a country where it is common to leave the dogs for the weekend. Again with food shelter entertainment. Many a child has earned pocket money going to the neighbours house to feed the dog.

You know your dog and you know what it can handle.

I’m afraid I’d book the expensive sitter as my dogs welfare is paramount and I know you’re rural but if a chancer comes across him then may steal him
it’s just not right leaving him imo

For one day In a remote place it should be fine as long as you leave plenty of food and water.

Put it on your local Facebook group. Someone will definitely help you. That will be much better than leaving him in the garden when that's not what he's used to.

You pay for the far too expensive dog sitter I'm afraid. Even if they come by for the afternoon.

You can't leave a dog for that long locked outside. What if there is a thunderstorm (common at the moment) or something we're to happen?

I get you are in a bind but pay for the more expensive sitter , or see if there is a dog day care that can take him and drop him home i think it is to long to leave a dog to mooch about the garden unsupervised all day.

Do you have neighbours you can ask for help?
I'd rather my neighbour ask me to pop in than you leave him outside.

He will be absolutely fine.
His needs are met and he'll probably just nap most of the day.

When is your appointment can't you get him his booster and organise kennels i know mine will take them if they have had a booster within 2 weeks of boarding.

If he is normally okay to be left in the house for shorter periods, I think I'd just try and book a dogwalker to take him out in the middle of the day rather than trying to get a dog sitter for the whole day. Mine would prefer this because it would be closer to his normal routine, whereas he'd be confused to be left in the garden all day if it had never happened before.

I would have to get the expensive sitter, it is just too long to leave a dog alone in the garden. But I would ask my neighbours first to help.

One question - will you definitely be able to get back that night? Is there any chance the hospital could keep you in? Do you have a contingency plan? Otherwise I think the plan sounds reasonable but ideally I’d want someone to check in on the dog.