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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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MassiveOvaryaction · 07/07/2025 11:54

You can't be certain that your garden is fully pet proof until you try it. Would your dog come to harm (e.g. busy roads, farmers with shotguns) if he managed to get out?

I think I'd call on a friend, or if not possible go for the expensive sitter.

wineosaurusrex · 07/07/2025 11:54

it's absolutely fine!

hattie43 · 07/07/2025 11:57

I’m undivided . In theory it sounds ok but if the dog does get out or somebody turns up and something goes wrong it’s a long time before you find out . It’s the unexpected that’s the issue .

Eyesopenwideawake · 07/07/2025 11:58

neilyoungismyhero · 07/07/2025 11:40

Don't be silly

Show quote history

What's silly"

*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.*

So he's going to be in the garden. But he's going to be in the house??

HurdyGurdy19 · 07/07/2025 11:59

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.

I think what the OP meant was she cant leave the dog indoors for the day, because it won't wee in the house. So even if she left it inside, with puppy pads for it to use, it still wouldn't go. That's why she's considering leaving it outside all day, as she doesn't want the dog to not wee for 12 hours.

ChaliceinWonderland · 07/07/2025 11:59

Borrow my doggy.

Spanador · 07/07/2025 11:59

Umbilicat · 07/07/2025 11:50

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

Show quote history

OP is saying she can't leave him in the house as an option because he won't go to the toilet so would be holding wee in too long

Dunnocantthinkofone · 07/07/2025 12:00

It wouldn’t be my choice (and clearly it wouldn’t be yours either given that you have attempted to find a sitter etc) and I would do what I could to find the money for the expensive sitter - if for no other reason than your peace of mind

Becausemymumtoldmeso · 07/07/2025 12:01

Where do you live @Dogingarden ? If somebody posted this on the local Facebook page I would gladly help out for free! You should try it- or ask for someone to at least come and walk him and return him to the garden perhaps? I’m in Suffolk area if that helps- if you let us know the area, someone on here might offer to help :)

Eyesopenwideawake · 07/07/2025 12:01

Ah, OK. Leave the back door open. Chances of being burgled are tiny (especially with a dog!).

Crazymayfly · 07/07/2025 12:02

Have you any friends you could ask? Or could you pay for a dog walker to pop in? I’d not be comfortable doing this with mine. Where abouts are you located?

Saracen · 07/07/2025 12:02

Absolutely fine as a one off. If I were you I would be sure to have someone's number in case of emergency (e.g. you are kept in hospital overnight) and hide a key. Then you could ask a friend/relative/neighbour to come sort him out if necessary.

This is what I always do if going away for a long day far away. We are comfortable leaving our ferret in the hutch in the garden for one day, with plenty of extra food and water. We have a backup plan in case of car breakdown or some other problem preventing us from getting back.

Good luck, I hope it goes well!

godmum56 · 07/07/2025 12:05

another vote for paying the sitter. I hope your day goes as well as it can.

Birdy1982 · 07/07/2025 12:05

I wouldn’t - although personally I would take a hit on cost
If you can’t get a sitter contact dog walker & ask if they could swing by for a couple of visits

JockTamsonsBairns · 07/07/2025 12:08

SteelyEyed · 07/07/2025 11:38

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!

This.
We lived super rural for years and, on the very seldom occasion necessary, my dog was happy to lay out in the large garden. She had her bed, access to water, and shelter under the trees. The garden was fully enclosed with a padlock on the gate.

We did leave the rear patio doors open though, so she could come inside if she wanted.

It's commonplace in rural areas.

Noshadelamp · 07/07/2025 12:09

Depends what your dog is used to. Does he like staying outside?

My terrier would have barked and cried for ages outside as he was used to being inside and thought I'd forgotten to let him back in.

Is there anyone that can come in and let him out for the toilet- dog walker or neighbour?

I'm sorry about the situation you're in but if it was me with my dog I would pay the expensive sitter.

Thelnebriati · 07/07/2025 12:09

How does he react if you shut him in the garden for a couple of hours while you are there to check he's OK?

Tooblondetooyoung · 07/07/2025 12:10

I'd go with the expensive option. Or ask around for a friend or someone!

I'm assuming from what you say that this is fairly imminent in which case (unless you live in the far north) it would probably be in temperatures from the high 20's to the early 30s. That would be my main concern that it would just be too hot even with shady spots.

FrenchandSaunders · 07/07/2025 12:11

I think that sounds absolutely fine OP.

Some people treat dogs like children these days, you're not locking your kid in the garden for the day. It's a dog and he's got shade, food, water.

NewGoldFox · 07/07/2025 12:12

He’ll be fine. Wishing you all the best with the biopsy.

ThatLoudBear · 07/07/2025 12:13

You know your dog and it sounds like you've put a lot of thought into it.
It's just not something I'd ever do, though. That's not to say you're wrong, but I'd rather pay for the more expensive sitter. For me, there are too many variables and leaving my dogs all day like that would just be too anxiety inducing (but, I am a tad neurotic!).
Hope hospital goes okay!

ExtraOnions · 07/07/2025 12:15

We had dogs in the 80s, prior to “Fur Babies” and everyone having “anxious” dogs. It was perfectly normal for dogs to be outside all day .. as long as they have shelter, food & water, I fail to see what the problem is.

They are outdoor animals .. the hair is a bit of a giveaway.

We also never took our dogs on shipping trips, to friends houses, to the pub, or cafe - and we especially didn’t kick off when places were pet-free

Yerroblemom1923 · 07/07/2025 12:16

Sounds fine. My dad had a dog that lived outside in a converted shed with a run, he was still walked 3 times a day and had a heater in winter. Years ago dogs lived outside in kennels! He'll be fine.

Tedsshed · 07/07/2025 12:17

I'd be concerned that when he barks to come into the house and can't get a response from you that he'll go into full terrier mode. They're called terre-iers for a reason. They are diggers. If he's an older dog you'll probably be fine. Lots of terriers still have the genetics of working dogs who were bred to patrol farmyards on their own, seeing off foxes and rats who were after the grain and guarding their territory. But young terriers are phenomenal diggers and terriers like Lakelands are climbers too: they'll climb, fences, trees, ladders, rock faces... So if I were you I'd want to have a tracker collar on him so if he does go for the great escape, you have a hope of finding him. Particularly if, as it sounds, you're new to the area and he isn't familiar with it. And I would also be prepared for him to be quite emotionally affected by this experience, too. I've had Borders, Lakelands, Cairns and JRs, and while all were confident, independent sort of dogs, some of them were quite clingy and clearly distressed by any major change of routine.

treesocks23 · 07/07/2025 12:17

I would say try to utilise FB local groups, perhaps see if there’s a responsible uni student back from uni for a while? My son is doing some pet looking after like this.

alternatively, have you checked with the kennels if you could sign a waiver to allow your dog to go without the vaccinations? I know some will do this if missing kennel cough