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The doghouse

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Original poster

Leaving dog alone overnight

72 replies

fjalladis · 18/09/2014 22:42

Hi I have a 10 month old lab and she is my world.
Unfortunately I am having to look at taking on a new job which will involve working 2-3 nights per week. I am now single so she is left alone in a crate & puppy pen complex (several puppy pens do a quite large space). With me popping home in my breaks to walk her and let her out for a wee. She has never been left for more than 4 hrs.

If I start nights I would be gone for about 12hrs but it would be time when she would normally be settled in her crate anyhow (as this is where she is overnight).
The other option would potentially be to take her with me and leave her in my car boot for couple of months if she doesn't settle (only when temps allow) I would be able to keep checking on her during the night and she would be in a locked secure car park so risk to her would be minimal.
What are people's thoughts?

OP posts:
Original poster
fjalladis · 18/09/2014 23:30

I have done nights before (pre puppy) so know how I cope with them. I never do more than one in a row so wouldn't sleep until the night anyhow maybe with a nap in the afternoon. So in many respects she would have more time with me than she does now when I go to work during the day.

OP posts:
RomeoDone · 18/09/2014 23:32

Also you can get baby monitors which link to your phone so you can watch from anywhere, talk to them and play music. Not that expensive really so that's an option (I'm sure they do pet ones but I have the baby one...for the baby Wink)

Volley2014 · 18/09/2014 23:32

OP can you get a camera to keep an eye on her on your phone while you're at work?

Original poster
fjalladis · 18/09/2014 23:37

I have a baby monitor thingy ATM with camera and sound monitor which I had off a friend after she stopped needing it for her kids. Which would work in the car but not from home to work. Live really remote and broadband probably isn't good enough to stream much out (never tried it but skype doesn't work or bbc I player ect)

OP posts:
JadeJ123 · 18/09/2014 23:41

'Leave her in my car boot' how is that not cruel?

DorisIsALittleBitPartial · 18/09/2014 23:49

Circumstances change and you have a tough decision. Personally, I don't see that there is any difference between leaving your dog alone at night as opposed to day, and if he is used to being along for that length of time and is generally asleep then that is a far better choice than leaving him in your car. He can move around and even if you leave a window open the car would be too hot/cold at extreme times of year. He does probably sleep well safe in the knowledge that you are there though, how is he when you go out in the evening and he is left alone? Does he settle?

Original poster
fjalladis · 19/09/2014 00:00

She settles fine when I go out. I take her with me most places as a)I don't go out much (except to work) and b) the place I most likely go to is the pub which is dog friendly

OP posts:
mrslaughan · 19/09/2014 07:50

Do you have a friend or family she could go and stay with while you are doing night shift?

I know my dog, who sleeps through wouldn't settle, but then he is very rarely left alone...... I am not wild about either option, but I am sure many dogs do this happily?

EasyToEatTiger · 19/09/2014 07:58

I wouldn't be happy to leave our dogs in the car overnight unless I was there with them. We have had times when we've been away and a neighbour has been in to let them out and feed them in the evening and first thing in the morning and then as the day progresses.

ThatBloodyWoman · 19/09/2014 08:42

Why does the dog need to be in a cage?

I don't get the reason for the deluxe prison set up.

Original poster
fjalladis · 19/09/2014 11:17

Deluxe prison set?

Do u not ever restrict your dog to one room/area?
What about when they are wet/muddy?
The floor space my dog enjoys is twice the size of the average box rooms and far larger than most utility rooms. If she was unrestricted then she would have a small amount more space. I am in rented accommodation and the condition on which I can have dogs is that they are confined to the kitchen- dinner whilst I'm gone. Partly cos that's got an easy wash down floor bit mainly because the neighbours kids play room sides on to the rest of the annex and she doesn't settle as well when listening to their son have a melt down.

OP posts:
Original poster
fjalladis · 19/09/2014 11:18

Ps she has a restricted bit on the room so she doesn't get into the boxes of my business stuff.

OP posts:
elastamum · 19/09/2014 11:26

We sometimes leave our dogs (x3) alone at night if we are away. I choose to do this rather than keep moving our old and arthritic girl around. We have a house sitter, but she doesn't like to stay over every night.

But there are 3 of them and they have the run of a very large room with water and beds. They are fed and walked at tea time, let out again last thing at night and let out and walked early in the morning. Next door also have dogs and are on hand and are happy to go in and check them if they are barking (which they never do).

I wouldn't leave a dog in a car. Much more stressful.

hellymelly · 19/09/2014 11:36

I agree with the pp who pointed out that you will be asleep much of the day, so your dog will get hardly any time with you at all. I understand that you want to keep your dog and take this job, and you seem to have been hoping that we woulod all say "oh that's fine", but I don't think you can have a dog under those circs. Decades ago when I was young and foolish I left my dog overnight for work reasons. I was single, and had no-one to leave him with. It was one night, but he was really distressed. I deeply regretted it and still feel upset about it now. He was used to being alone for the days I worked (half the week), and the one night just tipped him into absolute misery. I didn't know that dog sitters even existed at the time, or I would have used one. Ever since I have organised my life so that my dogs are not left alone for any significant length of time. Your dog is young and should be easy to re-home. I think your options at the moment are working nights or having a dog, but not both, unless you do a dog-share or leave your dog with a dog sitter. It might be nice for you, having your dog, but it will be a dismal life for your doggie. Not what you want to hear, clearly, but the truth.

murphys · 19/09/2014 11:41

I wouldn't leave her in the car, but I would leave her overnight. But, I am not a fan of crates personally so could you not let her be in the kitchen or a big of a larger area instead.

I think some of these posts are a bit harsh. Just because the OP situation has changed, some are implying that she is unfit to own a dog.

OP would you be able to pop home during breaks in this new job?

In fact I am leaving my dogs overnight alone on Saturday night. It isn't the first time, nor the last. They will be fine, they are much happier to be at home than in a boarding kennel for the night.

ThatBloodyWoman · 19/09/2014 11:43

No I never restrict my dog inva cage for hours on end.

At night he has the house to roam, and can use the cat flap to go out for a pee.

I just simply do not think dogs should be caged animals -its quite different to temporarily restricting their movements for their own safety etc.

TinyDancingHoofer · 19/09/2014 11:52

I think as a one off your idea is okay if it were an emergency but for two nights a week every week it is too much especially for a young dog.

24 hours a week minimum locked in a cage is not cool.

Owllady · 19/09/2014 12:04

Can you not ask anyone for help? Friends, family?

I haven't ever left my dogs overnight, I think it's neglectful. Sorry :( you obviously love your dog though, so I hope you find a solution

As for the cage comments They are just dog bedrooms really and really it depends on your housing and family situation as to whether they will work for you or not

Original poster
fjalladis · 19/09/2014 13:21

Ffs thebloodywoman she is not in a cage. She has a puppy pen which divides off 3/4 of the room for her so that in the other 1/4 I can store my business things. She has a crate which is left open with a big bed in and is covered to make it den like. It is not a cage!!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
fjalladis · 19/09/2014 13:25

Ffs thebloodywoman she is not in a cage. She has a puppy pen which divides off 3/4 of the room for her so that in the other 1/4 I can store my business things. She has a crate which is left open with a big bed in and is covered to make it den like. It is not a cage!!!!

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springlamb · 19/09/2014 13:29

MIL had the same situation when FIL died
She found someone who, for a small fee, would go in at about 10/11pm, let the dog out and have a play etc, then put the dog to bed as it normally would be.
Any nice sixth formers or students in your near vicinity? It's an easy way to earn a few quid a week, go next door, have a coffee and a cuddle with a furry creature, go home.

Floralnomad · 19/09/2014 13:31

I don't know why you even bothered to post this as you obviously are happy with your decisions and don't want to hear other people's opinions . The fact that you say your dog is litter box trained is a red flag to me - IMO no dog should be being confined in any space for a period that is longer than they can hold on to a wee or poo . TBH I would imagine if you wrote down a weekly diary of how long your dog is alone for now it would seem too long for most people who frequent this forum ,let alone how long she will be alone if you take the new job .

SlicedAndDiced · 19/09/2014 13:37

Why would you need to litter box train a dog?

I've never heard of that before.

Original poster
fjalladis · 19/09/2014 18:21

Pup is litter box trained cos I was sharing house with a friend who had two kittens at same time as I had the dog. She was training kittens and pup at same time. It was simply something to do when bored and stuck indoors last winter!

OP posts:
BellaVita · 19/09/2014 20:03

I wouldn't leave mine over night in the house alone or in the car.

What if fireworks fo off and if frightens her? You don't need bonfire night for that to happen.

Am sorry but I don't like either of your options.

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