Am I right to feel guilty or just being silly? (Leaving dog at home)

[Hercy]

I have an 18 month old lab and generally, he's not left alone in the house, other than maybe half an hour a day. Or things like meals out occasionally.

I mostly work from home, have one day in the office (which OH works from home on), but would like to work 2-3 afternoons a week in the office as well, where he would be left for approx 4 hours.

I have done it a few times before, and I'm pretty sure he just sleeps, but I worry that doing it with such regularity wouldn't be fair on him. I would always make sure he'd had a very good walk immediately prior to leaving him and know that he generally sleeps all afternoon anyway. When I have done it before, nothing has been out of place and his bed/sofa will feels warm where he's clearly been sleeping.

But, I don't know, it just doesn't feel right leaving my little boy for 2 afternoons EVERY week. Is that silly or am I right to be thinking I shouldn't?

It sounds like your boy is exercised, stimulated and loved. It also sounds like he suffers no stress at being left. He will be fine I reckon.

I leave our springer the same period of time, sometimes a little over 4 hours but not often. He has a walk, some training, a chance to toilet plenty before I go. Left with bed, water and kong (never touched). I am sure he also just sleeps. We walk ASAP when I get back.

I have cameras installed in the house and I check up on them if I am out. I can see them playing, chewing the rawhide treats and popping in and out of the house through the flap. But generally they sleep.
A camera costs just 30 quid and you can watch them on your mobile.

I think 4 hours a day is fine. It's long full days that are the problem. Make sure he gets an energetic walk just before you go, so he'll be happy to sleep for most of the time you are gone. Leave the radio on for him and get him some challenging toys, big chews etc.

My young, happy springer is left for longer than this, regularly. It's his sleep time. He's often in the same place I left him when I get home (my sofa spot usually...).

Our collie is left alone from 9 til 3 while im at work and i have an app on the iPad that I can view him on and also has a motion detector. After a good walk before work, the only motion it detected was him moving from one end of the couch to the other (oh and when the postman was at the letterbox). I'm sure he will be fine however if you have always been in the house with him he may have some issues to start with but he is young enough to get used to the new situation

Have you seen the documentary dogs: their secret lives. It deals with exactly this, and it's available on 4od. Essentially only 5 of the 40 dogs they studied showed no signs of separation anxiety in the end, and even the dogs that seemed unconcerned showed increased levels of cortisol in their saliva, showing they were stressed by their owners' absence (except the 5 I just mentioned).

It also shows some strategies for helping the dog to deal with this, so you might find it helpful. Definitely worth a watch.

He will be fine.We have had dogs all our lives DH and I and now work with dogs.That amount of time for a well exercised dog with no extreme separation anxieties is perfectly acceptable.Didn't see the documentary,avoided it tbh because the 'experts' can always find something to worry,guilt trip owners - same as in child care.Where a bit of common sense should prevail.You know your dog,and most dogs if walked,fed and toileted enjoy - and need - some chill out time.When we go to bed at night our dogs settle and sleep ,and its in their routine to do so for a short part of the day ,otherwise we would never get any work done..I had one customer who would not even leave her dog to go to have her hair done.He ruled her life.
Enjoy your part time job,and your dog,and on your days off he will get lovely long walks and a bit more of your company.

It's two afternoons a week, he will be fine :)
You on the other hand......

I leave our dogs home alone for about four hours at a time every weekday, but there are three of them so they have each other for company.

I'd say four hours would be the maximum you should leave him, but it's only a couple of afternoons a week & I'm sure he'd be fine. Like you say, he'll probably just sleep. You could try leaving the radio on for company.

See, I'm someone who has deliberately left mine for a few hours a couple of times a week, just so that they can get used to sometimes being on their own. I don't work atm, but didn't want them becoming completely dependent on my company. They seem to sleep, and often just wag their tails when I get back and then go back to sleep. Most dogs have to be left at some point, and it's less stressful for them if they're used to it and know that you'll always come back imo.

I am sorry to hijack the thread but wanted to ask snakey, do you leave your two alone separately? I am sat in another room now, the dogs in the kitchen. Ddog1 has taken to the puppy beautifully, after having been rather aloof for 48 hours. They are asleep in the same bed.

Just concerned the puppy will never settle on his own. Realistically, he won't really ever need to be alone though, I can't think of a situation (apart from an emergency) where this would arise.

Just don't want to fall into the 'doing it right at all costs', when I don't actually need to

There are a lot of things out there that can help dogs cope with your absence from music CDs aimed at calming dogs, kongs & incense. Once your dog gets used to the new routine I think he'll be fine. As you say, big walk beforehand, do a bit of training to tire his mind & he'll be glad of the break. Why not try it out before you commit for real? Gradually increase the time you are out to the four hours. See how he copes. If he's fine then make it a permenant arrangement. Good luck, hope it works out for you both.

needs my mum had 2 pups from a litter ( mad woman) and the girl one is incapable of being left on her own ,the boy doesn't care whether she is there or not ,so I think it very much depends on the individual even if they've always been together IYSWIM. BTW how is your pony?

I have two and I do things with them together and individually, whether it's walking, training, playing or leaving them by themselves. Just don't want them to be dependant on each other. This of course means taking more time than if you were doing things together.

I do sometimes leave them separately, but not often. The pup cries, but he has been babied

I had a rather large shock when I filmed one of my dogs many years ago whilst I was out. I had had complaints off the neighbour that she was barking whilst I was out, I thought I would film her to see what was happening. Well...the dog was barking because the man from next door was coming to the lounge window and banging on it in order to get her to bark. His son would then throw stones at the window to goad her to carry on. It was awful! I reported him to the police but I had to stop giving her the run of the house and put in the opposite of the house where other neighbours would have seen him doing it

Rather off topic but thus thread just reminded me!

I thought thought too, on topic, dog walkers/pet au pair type people will come and let the dog out if you want. They charge between 5 and 10 pound. So I suppose if it was longer you could do that, or if you feel four hours is too long you could get them let him out a two hour. But I think he will be fine anyway!

I'm sure he'll be fine.

Is he on kibble? If so, think about getting one of those ball things that you put their food in, that dispenses a nugget at a time when they push it about. Feeding in a bowl takes seconds - if he's a typical lab! - whereas having to work for it will keep him amused for ages. They get great satisfaction from working for their food and will probably fall into a happy doze afterwards :)

Kongs and other treat dispensers/toys are great too but with labs so prone to weight gain its good if you can make his daily ration part of the fun rather than using extras.

CEvert linky for the camera please?

Thank you. I need to probably leave the puppy alone but it's only been 3 days, I'll let him settle with us all first. My god, he's easy, he's takes every thing in his stride. And plays by himself! Ddog1 just stares at me all day!!

Trying hard to give each one some individual time, particularly ddog1.

Floral, thanks for asking. Last X-rays show the best possible healing, surgeon was delighted. Started gradual turnout 3 weeks ago. He's now out about 3 nights a week too. Was unsure about this but vet said the first 5 initial minutes are crucial. He went utterly utterly mental, racing round the paddock like a loony then rolled 4 times in mud. Heart in mouth moment! Vet says if he's survived this then he will be absolutely fine and to leave him out. Hopefully, we can start to bring him into work in about 6 weeks. Then, we sell. We bought him to train him for games, which he can't do this season, then DD will be too big the following year.

Sorry for the total thread diversion,

Ps. The selling will break my heart, but he's too good to have him as a field ornament, and too young, I know nothing about loans.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wireless-Security-Wifi-IP-Camera-Network-IR-CCTV-NIGHT-VISION-Webcam-Pan-Tilt-UK-/200994829881?pt=UK_CCTV&hash=item2ecc39b639

You can move the camera angle by touching and dragging on your phone's screen.
It also has night vision so you can see in the dark.
The app that you download on to your phone
allows 4 cameras to be added.

you're not leaving him for excessively long periods. My wiem x lurcher girl is so clingy! I also work from home and walk her every day, but i also make a point of leaving her for a few hours a week to show her that being alone for short lengths of time is ok. She's much calmer lately and doesn't whine or howl when i leave...i guess she's got used to idea that i'll be coming home soon and she'll get all the hugs and attention we both love when i'm back :) do what suits you and it sounds as tho you know what you're doing, a little reassurance helps. all the best xx

Wow, thanks for all the replies :)

I think I did just want a bit a reassurance really. Funnily enough, it's since watching the documentary mentioned in this thread (dogs: secret lives) that I've been worried about leaving him.

He does get left for say, an afternoon a week, and an hour here and there, on very much an ad hoc basis, depending on what I have going on. And I also thought he was ok with it (no signs of destruction and certainly no toileting), but since watching that programme I worry he gets anxious at being left. I often leave him a chew or kong when I go out, but he doesn't touch them (will have them as soon as I get back after greeting) and the programme seemed to suggest this was a sign of anxiety.

I think ill go with the suggestions of getting a camera, to alleviate my fears. And, if there is an anxiety problem, I'll no doubt be back for advice.

Thanks for all the helpful posts.

That camera looks awfully complicated to set up - do you need a wireless router to go with it?