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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To shut my dog in the garden for the day?

442 replies

Dogingarden · 07/07/2025 10:49

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.

OP posts:
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Coffeeishot · 07/07/2025 11:09

Yes a dog walker will just put him back in the house for you. My dog walker also does "pop ins" for dogs just to make sure the dogs are OK, but it doesn't look like you want to pay.

JMSA · 07/07/2025 11:10

My dog would go off his head with anxiety at this, but they’re all different. Good luck with your op.

Starlight1984 · 07/07/2025 11:11

What will happen if there are any complications with the medical procedure and they need you to stay in hospital overnight?

Coffeeishot · 07/07/2025 11:12

JMSA · 07/07/2025 11:10

My dog would go off his head with anxiety at this, but they’re all different. Good luck with your op.

Mine would .dig the garden up or just bark at birds ! Then scratch at the door to get in

JMSA · 07/07/2025 11:13

I can’t imagine kennels being much cheaper than a dogsitter popping in though.

JMSA · 07/07/2025 11:14

Coffeeishot · 07/07/2025 11:12

Mine would .dig the garden up or just bark at birds ! Then scratch at the door to get in

Show quote history

Mine would be scratching at the door after 5 minutes! He’s normally a laidback chap but would be super confused in this situation and has separation anxiety.

noctilucentcloud · 07/07/2025 11:14

Have you contacted the local kennels to explain and ask if there's an isolation kennel? My dog can't have one of the vaccines because of a medical condition so goes in the isolation kennel away from other dogs. I'd also contact your vet today to see if your dog can get the vaccines now to allow him to go in. That way you have peace of mind. The other things I'd try is asking on my local Facebook page if anyone could pop in (eg teenagers just finished their exams) for payment. I'd also see if your booked dog sitter would be willing to do it if you gave her a lift to your house and back that day, or you dropped the dog at hers and picked it up after.

Eyesopenwideawake · 07/07/2025 11:15

Why will he go for 12hrs without a wee if he's going to be in the garden?

Confused.

Sweetestofpeas · 07/07/2025 11:16

He'd probably be fine, but you just cant be sure, and I'd worry about theft or him getting out. Id go for the expensive sitter. Failing that, can the cinnamon trust help? Im sure they help with short term placements for owners who are elderly or ill.

JMSA · 07/07/2025 11:16

urghhh47 · 07/07/2025 11:00

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.

I don’t know about this. If it got into the wrong hands then it’s pretty much an admission of an empty house.
OP, is there a friend or neighbour who could help?

Minfilia · 07/07/2025 11:17

After a horrible experience watching a woman in hysterics bringing her dead dog into the vet after he went outside and choked to death on a stone, no, I wouldn’t do this in any circumstances.

JudgeBread · 07/07/2025 11:18

Depends on the dog. My dog would be fine with this but she mostly hangs out outside anyway, has an outside kennel which she prefers in summer, and is very independent. If he's going to be going wild with anxiety of course it's cruel, if he'll just loaf around enjoying the sunshine it's fine. You know your dog better than Mumsnet so only you can really judge how he'll respond.

Good luck with your procedure 💐

MyMilchick · 07/07/2025 11:18

It's a once off and this is important, he'll be fine for one day

Jojimoji · 07/07/2025 11:18

Kennels, even for a day, can be extremely stressful for dogs.
May or may not be the case that it's stressful for OPs dog, but in his own back garden with access to food, water and shade I'm sure he'll be fine. I would always choose my back garden over kennels and strangers for my dogs.

Dogs cannot tell the difference between 10 minutes and 10 hours. Once you've left him and he's assessed his situation, the overwhelming likelihood is he will nap most of the day.

minnienono · 07/07/2025 11:19

Seems ok to me, my ddog hated kennels and fog sitters and was absolutely fine being left as you suggest, dogs vary and as long as they don’t have separation issues and are used to being left, they will be fine, needs must.

Ellie1015 · 07/07/2025 11:20

Seems fine to me. Not ideal but not harmful dog will be safe and well and you need your medical procedure.

TomatoSandwiches · 07/07/2025 11:20

You need to hire the expensive sitter, you've already been irresponsible by missing his vaccinations, don't make another mistake by leaving him alone like that.

Daisyvodka · 07/07/2025 11:21

Do you have any dog walkers in the area (not sitter - although apologies if thats what you mean!) who'd be able to do a couple of visits throughout the day? Could you get an overdraft on a bank card or extend an existing overdraft to pay for it (i know its not the done thing to suggest this really but if its truly a one off this is what i would do)
So sorry that you are facing this, i hope you get good news.

Lavender14 · 07/07/2025 11:21

My worry would be its a long time to get bored and start barking or do damage tbh. Are you in any way close to a neighbour who you could leave a back gate key with so if he does bark they could go in and check on him?

Or if you drive, could you drive him to other family without a car for a sleepover or a stay for the day?

What about home from home boarding where he'd be the only dog?

When is your appointment? Could you get an emergency vets appointment between now and then for the vaccine and explain the situation?

Zebedee999 · 07/07/2025 11:22

MooreMooreMoore · 07/07/2025 10:53

Borrow my doggy?

Yes this or similar. I look after other peoples dogs free of chARGE NOW AND AGAIN IF THEY ARE AWAY FOR A LONG DAY.

NewAgeNewMe · 07/07/2025 11:24

Would you be happy posting your area on here and see if a MNetter can help. I couldn’t leave my dog as she’d go mental but my sister in law could leave hers as she would be fine.

whynotmereally · 07/07/2025 11:25

Weather theft and anxiety would be my concern.

if it’s over 18 degrees or rain then no
if the garden is not secure and there’s risks of someone getting in no
if the dog is anxious or not use to being left for long periods or not use to being out in the garden for a long period of time no
But other than that it’s doable although I’d try to find a dog sitter or kennels first

Thedevilhasfinallycaughtupwithhim · 07/07/2025 11:26

So long as he isn’t going to bark all day, this sounds fine. Most dogs prefer being outside than shut in.

thismummydrinksgin · 07/07/2025 11:28

Sounds ok to me, obviously it’s not ideal but that’s life and it’s a one off. I’d make sure he had somewhere to get out of rain and sun and concentrate on the medical procedure x

Bloozie · 07/07/2025 11:28

He'd almost certainly be fine, but I'd pay for the expensive dog sitter.

Not because I think your plan is cruel. I'd just worry too much about my dogs in that scenario. What if it was really hot? What if it was really wet? What if they really barked? What if they dug everything up? Etc etc. The peace of mind would be worth the extra money.