How long do you leave your dog home alone?

[sarah8484]

Just that really. What's the longest you leave your dog home alone? I work 9 hour shifts, and usually have someone to watch my dog (7 month old jackchi) but theres no one to watch him for the two days im at work next week. Would/have you left you pet alone for 9/10 hours? I feel its way to long. I have friends who do but their dogs are bigger breeds.

[Muminabun]

Couple of older lapdogs. Day to day no more than a couple of hours after they have been walked and fed. Very rarely 3-4 hours.

[Tellingitlikeitisnt]

I have an older calm dog and wouldn’t leave him for lover than four hours.
On our work days he has a dog walker come in twice for an hour each time.

Please don’t leave your dog that long. Surely there’s a local walker who can pop in?

[puppymouse]

4 hours as a rule max. He's been left 5 I think once unavoidably.

[TheFaerieQueene]

Never more than 4 hours and that is only once a week. The rest of the time she is by my side.

[MistyIsland]

Older dog never longer than 6 hours. And only on occasion.

Puppy around 3 hours max - bladder is too small.

I’d look into doggy day care or a dog walker at least twice in that time, as the puppy is still very young and 9 hours is too much.

[adaline]

The maximum for us is 2.5 hours or so. Any longer and my in-laws have him for us.

I'm a dog-walker though so mostly he comes to work with me.

[Hovverry]

Op’s dog is only a puppy and a very active mix of breeds. He shouldn’t be left for more than a few hours, he’ll be bored, distressed and will get up to mischief. I sincerely hope nobody is ever leaving their dog all day shut in a cage.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

Posted too soon...
Should add, they get walked the instant I get home if they've been alone that long.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

On the days I work, depending on the shifts of other people in the house, they can be alone for 7 hours. They have each other and access to a kennel yard, warm comfy beds and water.

[pigsDOfly]

A 7 month old puppy shouldn't be left for that long.

My dog is nearly nine years old and has the bladder of a camel. On occasion, when it's been absolutely unavoidable she has been left for 7/8 hours, but that's very rare, and it's never planned.

Generally though, she's left for no more than 1-2 hours, maxium 4 hours.

I'm retired so don't go out every day without her. However, over the last month or so there have been periods when I've had to be out of the house on several consecutive days - emergency help for my DD - and although I haven't left her for more than 4 or 5 hours I notice a change in her behaviour when I'm home. She becomes a bit clingy and keeps checking on me and where I am, and this from a pretty independent dog.

Dogs that are regularly left alone for long periods might learn to cope, but then again they might not. Agree with pps doggy day care is the way to go.

[palacegirl77]

I wouldnt have a dog if it was going to be left for long periods (4 hours plus) regularly. They may not seem anxious but its about their mental well being. Dogs are pack animals and love social interaction. I have a 4 year old labrador. He is absolutely fine being left, but he is only left twice a day for 30 minutes whilst I do the school run and the odd hour if I do the food shop / doctors etc. If I need to go out for the whole day he goes to his Grandpas! Just because they can cope, doesn't mean they should have to in my opinion.

[steppemum]

we often leave ours for 4 hours. (although we both usually work from home)
Occasionally we have left him for 6, but then we get a friend to come in an let him out for a wee.

twice he has been left for 8 hours, first time by accident (friend forgot to come over) he was fine. I know that, because when he isn't fine being left he finds things to chew, and takes items of ours to his bed.

BUT, he has had a 1.5 hour run before we leave him for 6 hours, and then is left with a Kong with peanut butter in, which he spends all day licking.

I think that your dog is too young.
If he can't get out for a wee, he will not be able to hold it for that long, and will be upset about weeing in the house.
He will be distressed, as it is not usual.

Surely someone could come round, let him out, spend half an hour with him and leave? Many of the dog walkers round here would do that if you don't wnat him to be walked?

[Glassio]

4 hrs max (in total a day, I'd never just pop back then leave him for even longer again) they're already alone 9ish hrs through the night.

[Toria70]

3 hours absolute limit.

We run our own business, and they have 4 days at home between DH and I, and 3 days at work where they are spoiled rotten and fussed over.

It's really cruel to leave a young dog IMO.

[goodwinter]

4 hours max in any given day. He's a sensitive rescue, so we don't chance it. Often there's someone home all day with him as we work our shifts around it.

[Spidey66]

Usually about 3 hours or so-on one occasion only 8 hours as we were out for the day. She does not appear anxious about being left on her own. I'm working, but my husband retires, so the 3 hours is for him to go shopping or in the evening for us to go out together.

[Friendsofmine]

Ps. It is possible to get a dog walker who will just take your dog alone as I did this with a previous dog. So that is an option if yours is not socialised etc.

[RedRed9]

Doggy day care is your answer here!

Honestly, mine has the best time there. I feel bad for not needing to take him more often! It’s £20 a day.

[LochJessMonster]

8 hours (9 if traffic is really bad) but he is a large breed (therefore large bladder) and 6 years old. Very independent and no separation anxiety.

Can you put him in a doggy day care for those 2 days?

[ImGoingSlightlyBrad]

9 hours?

I'd have to be incapacitated in some way and unable to contact any family or friends or professional dog care.

4 hours has always been my tops - even for older dogs that seem fine being left.

[RIBlue]

Mine’s 12 and antisocial so daycare or walkers not an option. She has a 40 minute walk in the morning, left 8:30-1pm, 20 minute walk and a 20 minute cuddle on the sofa at lunch time then left 2-5ish, then another 40 mins walk. It’s not ideal and I feel guilty most of the time but she just follows the sun around the house sleeping on sofas and beds between times and appears happy enough. It certainly wasn’t the plan but I acquired her sort of as a rescue and it’s the best we can do. Someone has to go to work and keep in her in bonios!

[BiteyShark]

I do think you can't really tell how they are unless you watch them.

I know when mine was younger and we were getting him used to being left he could be quiet when you left and came back but was up and down off the sofa all the time inbetween waiting for us to come back.

I still watch mine live from my phone and he typically snoozes on the sofa so I know he is ok. However, longer than 3 hours and he becomes restless.

[Booboostwo]

Maximum 4 hours with the company of other dogs and access to both house and garden, no more than twice a week.

[Friendsofmine]

I had a husband who worked from home with dog then when things changed put the dog in day care full time until a year later when I started working from home a bit more.

My dog is now 10 and because he doesn't have access to the garden when home alone I only leave him 3 or 4 hours then a dog walker comes for him and takes him out for 2 hours (inc driving the dogs to the woods etc) then brings him home. I do this on the days he would otherwise be home alone for more than 6 hours. Pay for a dog walker or day care.

[DogInATent]

With a much older and bigger dog I aim for 4 hours max, occasionally it's been 5 when I've been caught in traffic. Perhaps once a fortnight it's 7-8hrs but always on those days there's someone in at least once during the day to give her a run in the garden and lunch.