Is this fair on a dog?

[Areyoubeingservedhen]

I work five days a week but only ten minutes down the road. The possible future dog would be on its own from 8.30- 3.30 four days a week and we would be home three days. We have a 3 year old and a 4 year old. We also have two old cats. I would only consider a rescue dog.

I think most people here would say yabu

But imo if it's this or in a kennel somewhere, any dog would be happier with you.

I'd guess it's unlikely any dog will be happy that length of time in one block though
And potentially not able to go that long without going to the bathroom

I'd suggest a day or two a week popping in on your lunch break
A day a day care
And a day with a walker coming in

• probably as a minimum really

It doesn't sound ideal tbh. Maybe if the dog was a very placid, low energy sort.

Well, perhaps you should approach a reputable rescue and see what they think?

Some dogs will cope with that, others really really won't. It's a massively individual thing - the rule of thumb is 4 hours, but some can go all day and some can't go 30 minutes.

With a puppy or a younger dog I definitely wouldn't.

With an older dog who was used to being alone for long stretches it's different. Are you planning to come back for a walk at lunchtime if you're working so close by?

You are going to leave a new dog home alone with two elderly cats?

It's going to depend on the dog as others have said.

My three year old is left around 3 hours and whilst he wouldn't be destructive if left longer (some dogs would be) he wouldn't be happy and quite frankly neither would I so I pay for him to go and have a fun time at daycare.

I think with an older dog who is used to being left that would be okay but only if someone could come in and walk the dog at lunchtime.

So maybe someone could take the dog out between say 11-1 and then the dog is only really alone for 5 hours a day?

I don't think it's fair to leave a dog alone for 7 hours a day without some kind of break - even if it's just so they can have a sniff around and go to the toilet!

And older dog, with a walk at lunchtime, would be fine with that. My old boy has had me around all the time for the past 2 years, and he literally sleeps about 20 hours out of the 24. He was actually quite affronted when I first started WFH and he realised I wasn't going out.

I'd worry about the elderly cats, a new dog will be incredibly stressful for them and could lead to issues such as urinary problems or inappropriate soiling, as well as not knowing if the dog is going to be okay with them.

No absolutely not. There is a reason rescues say not to leave a dog alone for more than 4 hours and preferably not regularly. They're not just being awkward.

Absolutely not ok to me. As others have said, an older dog, settled dog with a lunchtime walk would manage that, but it would be really unfair on a younger dog or a breed with higher exercise needs, even with a lunch walk.

No decent rescue would rehome to you with those working hours.

Nope, you need doggy daycare.

I work from home but sometimes have to go out for more than 3 hours so madmutt either goes to her aunties for the day, her dog walkers or she gets extra walks. Even work at home days her walker comes in for a half hour walk in the middle of the day.

However, if I am having an at home day, madmutt complains (follows me around chuntering) about me being there because she wants to go to be, in my bed under the covers.

Even if the dog would be ok with this, you're not going to get a rescue dog with those working hours and very young children. It just won't happen unless it's a rescue that don't do proper checks.

We do leave ours for that long (with a lunchtime pop in) because we know they're ok, and they play with each other and sleep.

When we had a single dog, they wouldn't have liked that at all so it's not ideal at all and does depend on the dog.

Thanks for your feedback. I will research more about local dog walking and daycare. As I only work five hours I don't get a lunchbreak unfortunately.

Some dogs may tolerate it but that does not mean it is right for any dog.

No it is too long to leave any dog

No, not a good enough set up between working hours, young children and elderly cats. Disaster written all over it

Good luck getting a rescue dog when you’ve got small children, cats and work those hours. None of the rescues I’ve had dealings with would even consider you.

Of course that is not ok, or fair. Possibly ok if a dog walker called but it is still a large chunk of time to be left. 4 hours as a guide is the maximum. I hated leaving mine for more than 2 hours, feeling very guilty all the time.

What about your cats though? I really hope you don't end up putting your old cats in rescue because they are stressed with a new dog, I see it all the time and it's so upsetting.

There’s no way you’d get a rescue dog working those hours and with a young child.

I work from home very part time with older children and was still refused.

You can’t leave a dog alone in the house for 7 hours so you would need to find care for it.