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The doghouse

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Original poster

Can a cocker spaniel puppy be left on its own for up to 5 hours?

53 replies

HopeNotFear · 07/01/2018 22:05

Hi, we would love a working cocker spaniel puppy but I would like some honest advice if it’s the right thing for us before we start looking for one.

We (myself, DP & 13 year old DD) have read up lots on this breed and spoken to a few owners and we are all really keen to get one, however I am worried about leaving the puppy on its own for long periods of time 2 or sometimes 3 days a week.

I work 3 days a week and am out of the house from 8.30am -- 5.30pm. DP is full time but does shift work over 7 days, so he will sometimes be off one or 2 of my working days. On his day shift he leaves home at 9.30am, can pop home about 1.30pm / 2.00pm for 45 mins, and DD will be home from school by 4.15pm. On back shift DP leaves home at 1pm and DD is home about 4.15pm. At a push, I could probably reduce my hours at work so I could also pop home for 30mins during the day while the puppy is settling in.

I would take a couple of weeks holiday to settle the puppy in, but after this, it’s likely it’ll need to be left on it’s own whilst we’re at work/School, and there’s no-one nearby who could pop in and puppy sit during this settling in period.

We have a big lounge and could have an area fenced off so puppy would have space to move around but would be safe, with it’s toys and radio left on so it hears voices. We would of course build up the time it’s left on its own, but I realise 15/16 days from getting the puppy till I go back to work isn’t very long to build the time up.

I know cocker spaniels like company and stimulation and don’t like being left on their own for too long or too often. Just wondering if anyone has been able to make it work in similar circumstances with either a spaniel or another breed of puppy.

Just read this back, sorry it’s so long!

OP posts:

Costacoffeeplease · 07/01/2018 22:09

No, too long for a puppy

Oops4 · 07/01/2018 22:11

I think it is too long when it is a young pup. They need to toilet more often than that and most would find that too long socially at that age too. 5 hrs is the absolute limit we leave our adult dog and that's very rarely. Our old dog was quite happy to be left much longer aslon leg as she had the rub of the house and a window to look out of so a lot also depends on the dog.

Could you investigate some day care options atleast until the puppy is older? We use one that is very flexible and it really has been a god send. Things always crop up that dogs can't go to an it's really handy to have somewhere they can go. Ours also does boarding so we know the dogs are more than happy to stay there when we are away.

Oops4 · 07/01/2018 22:11

As long as she had the run of the house (think my autocorrect was drunk!)

ColonelJackONeil · 07/01/2018 22:12

I think it's too long sorry. Puppies do best when someone is there pretty much the whole time. If it's left alone it will become destructive and hard to housetrain plus could develop behaviour problems.

MoKnickers · 07/01/2018 22:14

No. It’s far too long particularly for a worky breed.

BuzzKillington · 07/01/2018 22:14

No. Don't get a dog if you have to leave it alone for this long.

SummatFishyEre · 07/01/2018 22:14

Cocker spaniel are working dogs and need a job to do. Leaving them alone will probably result in a bored dog. Might not be the best breed for your family, and a puppy doesn't sound like a good idea

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 07/01/2018 22:18

I did, years ago when I didn’t know any better. He was fine as far as I know but I wouldn’t do it now, it’s not really fair. The only problem we found was that because we weren’t there to toilet train him he took months to stop peeing and pooing in the house.

Partyfops · 07/01/2018 22:21

He will chew everything. Dog walkers are a thing now, get one in to take it out for a while.
Get a crate but never leave it for more than 3 hours very max for first 6 months.

NoMudNoLotus · 07/01/2018 22:21

Anything longer than 3 hours is way too long

NoMudNoLotus · 07/01/2018 22:22

And definitely for 2-3 days a week .

Lilonetwo · 07/01/2018 22:24

No it's too long :-(

We wouldn't leave our 2 year old Labrador that long

RosiePosiePuddingPie · 07/01/2018 22:25

It would make a huge mess while you're out. It would probably develop bad habits because nobody is there to correct behaviour.

We have an older puppy (9 months) and today we left her for about 4 hours. We were out longer than I intended and I was quite anxious to get home and check on her. She was bursting to get outside and then needed a lot of attention from us! She loves her people.

BuzzKillington · 07/01/2018 22:26

We wouldn't dream of leaving our 6 year old dog for this long.

IAmcuriousyellow · 07/01/2018 22:32

Why do you want a working breed, you havent got a job for it.. you might find a relaxed snoozy older dog to suit but a puppy needs much more time than that or it will end up unhappy.

PinkBlueYellow · 07/01/2018 22:32

If you can find a decent dog walker/carer who can come to your house twice a day for an hour and you are committed to paying for that service until the dog reaches maturity and you can then work up to leaving it for longer periods, then yes you could get a dog.

If the answer is no to the above, please don't even consider it.

Dragongirl10 · 07/01/2018 22:35

We have a working Cocker who has just turned 6 months...please don't do this is my advice.

Any puppy will be unhappy at being left for more than an hour and a mature dog shouldn't be left for more than 3 / 4 hours...

Yes people do all sorts of things, but it is wrong and unkind to have a dog and then shut it up along for hours.

If you are determined to go ahead at least get a dog like a Greyhound, (not a puppy) and get a dog walker to come in and take the dog out in between.

mouseistrapped · 07/01/2018 22:36

No way!! That's just cruel. Please don't get a dog if you need to leave it alone for hours on end

Imknackeredzzz · 07/01/2018 22:38

Of course you are being unreasonable!!!!

Pinkponiesrock · 07/01/2018 22:39

I have a working dog, that works, and he’d be happily left for a 5 hours, he just switches off and goes to sleep.
A lot of working dogs are used to working flat out for a couple of hours then are happy to sleep for most of the rest of the day.

He was born into this set up and has grown up with it, watched other dogs in this routine and knows no different. As a pup he was walked 4 times a day for 10/15/20 mins and spent a lot of time learning commands to work.

Our dog is out with us all the time on the farm and if he’s working he’s cover about 15 miles in a morning.

When we got him at 5 months old he’d come from a working breeder, so he had lived outside in kennels as a pup. He has an outdoor kennel here too but spends most of his time in the house with us.

He wouldn’t cope in a non working home, he needs a job.

ClementineWardrobe · 07/01/2018 22:41

Absolutely not; definitely no no no no. Would you leave a small baby or toddler alone for 5 hours? That's what you are asking. Please don't get a dog.

Original poster

HopeNotFear · 07/01/2018 22:42

Thanks for the replies & you’ve all confirmed what I kinda already knew.

Do you think it would work if I reduce my hours at work, I.e., leave the puppy for 2 hrs 15 mins in the morning, I’d go home for 45 mins, leave the puppy again for 2 hours till DP comes home for another 45 mins and finally leaving the puppy again for another hour till DD came home. On DP back shift days we would leave the puppy for 1.15 in the afternoon, I’d pop home for 45 mins and leave it for another 1.30 till DD came home. Remember, this would mostly only be for 2 days in the week.

Could it be done or would it be too cruel?

Thanks again.

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 07/01/2018 22:42

Not a chance. A puppy will need constant attention to ensure toilet training and that it doesn't destroy the house/become destructive in the early weeks.
You may be able to leave an adult dog that long. Not sure this is the right breed for you though. How will it get the stimulation it needs?

ClementineWardrobe · 07/01/2018 22:42

Oh and mine are 4 and 6, and wouldn't ever ever leave then alone that long. Please buy a goldfish.

Wolfiefan · 07/01/2018 22:43

Sorry that was an x post to your first question.
Daycare?
Friend, neighbour or relation able to help?

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