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.

It doesn’t sound cruel? He will have shelter food and water.
Could you do a test run and maybe get a webcam set up to check him?

12+ hours is a long time, especially with his kidney issues. There’s also a chance you may need to stay in hospital longer and what if he gets distressed, barks non-stop, or tries to escape?

Could you ask a neighbour or post in a local community group? Even someone popping by once would make a big difference. You’re not cruel, just in a tough spot but it’s worth finding a backup.

I'd go for the expensive sitter, and please get the boosters up to date.

You know your dog.

I know that if there was really no option of someone stopping by the house to let him out or walk him, then my dog would be a lot less stressed in my garden napping under his favourite tree than at a kennels he's never been to.

It's not ideal, but it would be a better last resort.

I wouldn’t do it, get a zero interest credit card, pay for the expensive sitter and cut the card up then pay it off over a few months. You will have enough to worry about without not knowing if your dog is ok. Good luck and I hope all goes well for you.

I'd pay for the expensive sitter. Even routine medical procedures like biopsies can have complications and your dog has kidney problems so you need peace of mind there's a plan in place that doesn't involve your dog being shut outside for hours.

Rover app?

I couldn't do that to my dog as he has separation anxiety and will eat things he shouldn't. But if you have a dog that sleeps all day then in guess the dog would be ok. I would try the rover app though, 12 hrs is a very long time.

Genuinely surprised that this is an issue - when I was growing up (rural location) it was completely normal to leave dogs all day, outside of course in large back yards. The odds of anything happening are tiny. Wouldn't waste a moments thought on it - seems so neurotic to me!

No, I would definitely not be doing this. Find an alternative, you not have any friends that can pop in?

It is one day, I'd be okay with it through autumn or spring, it might be a bit hot this time of year.

I have neighbours who have a large breed that is permanently alone in the back garden, they've been reported, as long as dog has water and untied it's apparently fine.

One day should be okay, My dog would bark all day and probably wouldn't shade, i
I wouldn't risk it.

Don't be silly

Maybe different if that's how the dog has been brought up & what it's used to?

I agree with everyone saying ask around your neighbours. It’s a long time for a dog to be left, I would worry so much about my dog that it would add to the stress. Outside all day he would probably be fine, but the potential of him being not fine is still there. Do you ever leave him locked out ?
I would have him or check on him if I was local to you, so you could also try putting your rough area on here. In my lengthy experience of larger terriers they hate being alone so that is colouring my response too.
I’ve used Rover for my dog when I’ve taken her on holiday but had a day going into places where dogs aren’t welcome, it’s been good, so you could try the website to see if there is anyone nearish to you.

When is your procedure? Why can't you get the dog vaccinated and then use kennels?

What are you going to do if there are complications and you have to stay in overnight? Can't you get your dog vaccinated? Ask a neighbour or friend for help ?

We're forecast another heatwave as well

My dog would be to loud for this. I always use a dog sitter/walker. Could you post on a local page to see if any teenagers post exams might do it for cheaper? I would worry you will be longer than expected at least you will have someone to call on if needed. If you used a dog walker it wouldn’t be pricey they just walk then go again?

My dog would probably be OK - except for the fact that like all the others I've had, she will insist on lying in the sun for far too long (even when we're sitting in the shade) and this would absolutely terrify me if I was considering this. Which I wouldn't - we ensure our dog's vaccinations are always up to date, partly because she goes to kennels when we go on foreign holidays AND because you never know when there might be an emergency necessitating it.

This is one such occasion.

OP, what if something happens that means they need to keep you in overnight? This did happen to me once when I went in ostensible for a day only procedure.

This. There will be someone who can help. In principle it might be fine, but it’s a long time with no supervision and I’d worry if it was me. I don’t think it’s cruel, I think he’d be fine for the day, I’d just worry about mine barking/escaping/getting into trouble somehow/being stolen. We’re also in a very rural area and there have been dog thefts, so we’re cautious. Edited to add that as PP’s have said, add in heatwave and the possibility of you being kept in and you definitely need someone to keep an eye.

My dog has been known to spend that long outside in the garden at this time of year of his own volition because he is a dog. What you propose would definitely be OK for mine as a once off. But if you have 'trained' your dog otherwise and he is perpetually in the house/by your side then it's trickier obviously. But I would still do it because again, it's a dog.

I don't understand this either and I'm a dog owner, please explain ...

Personally I'd pay for the expensive sitter and cut back on something else, but I don't think it's the end of the world. Good luck with your procedure, OP

You're going to get so many mixed replies but the reality is that only you know if your dog will be OK with that set up.

I'd say if you're having to ask a bunch of Internet strangers you have your doubts and I'd be using the expensive sitter.

So dogs shouldn't ever be outside unsupervised? I have literally heard it all 🙄

sorry if you dont want to answer but are yoju allowed to drive after this procudure? maybwe ask you0r brother to come over after work still just incase

I know right?