Puppy alone for long periods - is this ok

[keeplaughing]

Next door neighbours seem to have acquired or looking after a puppy. I heard it for the last couple of days barking / whimpering and just looked out of my window (cos it had been going on for a while) and it's in the their kitchen , by itself, lights on, but is just wandering around, sounds a bit pissed off. What should i do? Is this what happens with new puppies? Do you lesve them alone like this? (I think no, but don't want to be an interfering neighbour if thi is ok)

someone thought they might be doing 'controlled crying' but the puppy was in the kitchen with lights on and non stop barking until at least 1.30pm (when I went to sleep) abd still doing at at 7am and still doing it now - no-one is in there with it

Do you mean 1.30am? As in, they are leaving it in the kitchen all night on it's own?

If so and it is a new puppy, it is probably just settling in, although not sure why they are leaving the light on for it?! Puppies can/do cry at night to start with and some people prefer to just leave them to it instead of going down to them. It should settle down in a few days.

Yes 1.30am. OK, I'll see how it goes then. Am not guessing at this as can see into their kitchen from my house so I know it's been there by itself this morning as well. and there are plastic bags in there it's been playing with (ie carrier bags)...

Doesn't sound like someone trying to settle a new pup in - leaving it all night with the lights on

Personally, I'd call the RSPCA.

Hmm, not sure what to do really, poor thing is still barking away, someone is in the house as the back door is open. Maybe I'll just go round to see them and find out

You'd be suprised Bella, I have known people leave the lights on as they think a puppy is crying because it's scared of the dark... It is odd they would leave the lights on though, but I suppose that is a possibility. People can have amazingly odd ideas about puppies and dogs, things that others take for granted would seem obvious.

Playing with carrier bags is not a good idea though and dangerous for pup.

If you are on good terms with them, pop round and ask, no reasonable person would mind this. Or, anonymously put a book through their door if they are scary... There may be a perfectly reasonable 'excuse', or maybe they are just clueless and need some advice.

Good luck.

My pup is afraid of the dark

She won't go out in the garden unless you put the security light on for her - she just stands at the door pointedly looking at you until you flick the switch, then bombs outside quite happy with herself. Probably not scared so much as nosey, though!

I know, Midori, people do some very strange things with puppies but, sadly, many think it's perfectly acceptable to go out to work etc and leave a puppy alone. Maybe I'm too long in the tooth but I've seen too much of that

oh this is sad

Keeplaughing Hope you have managed to find out what's happening with the pup by now.

Bella - ITA with your stance on not leaving a pup alone for long periods. There is no way I would even have contemplated a dog if I was working. I volunteer for a national charity but that requires 3 hours a week of my time. Thankfully my neighbour and I have an unspoken pet-sitting arrangement with our existing cats (and her cat & dog) so she is more than happy to come across to my house and fuss pup, let her out for wee etc. I think she is secretly hoping I will leave pup at her house for the 3 hours as she is as smitten as we are