Going out and leaving dog in the evening

[TheBodyPiercer]

Please help me ease my guilt. Longest the dog has been left alone is 4 hours due to work emergency.

I'm supposed to be out tomorrow evening. My plan would be leave work early and pick him up from daycare at 4 and take him to park for an hour (he also gets walked twice at daycare).

I would then need to put him in his crate at 7.30, I'll be back around 12.30.

Hes fine holding his bladder and usually sleeps through the night (10 months old). He doesn't usually go in his crate until 10 for the night.

Will he care? Am I evil? 😭😂 or am I allowed one evening out.

[TheBodyPiercer]

Also not sure how he can be upstairs with us if we're out.

[CandyLeBonBon]

Op. You know your dog. If you leave him to roam, it will be potentially to his detriment. If crating him makes you feel uncomfortable, look at a set of pens/gates that you can use as a to surround ye crate so he's not roaming the entire house, but doesn't need the crate door shut. Or put a shout out for a dog sitter for a few hours whilst you're out. If he's not a jumper, I'd go for the first option. Guilt doesn't serve anyone but I remember the feeling when I had to go out for extended times. It will be fine but have a look at options to see if that might work as an alternative. Honestly, he will be fine. Certainly much better than at the vet with your sofa cushions in his belly.

[rookiemere]

Aw he's gorgeous. Go out enjoy your evening, he will be absolutely fine.

[TheBodyPiercer]

Thank you everyone for your opinions (both sides).

He's just put himself in his crate again (and is waiting for his bedtime biscuit). Evil as I am.

I will crate him tomorrow and check the camera every 20minutes or so like i usually do.

The following evening I won't crate him, I'll update on how long it takes me to run downstairs because he's trying to eat the stair gate 😂

We will be progressing towards not closing the crate door but only when its safe to do so. I'd rather a dog who is asleep than a dead one.

[CandyLeBonBon]

OP give him a big unmumsnetty hug from me. I have no doubt he'll be absolutely fine but please let us know how you get on.

[YellowandGreenToBeSeen]

Ignore the GF’ers OP...

My girl is crated (CAGED!) overnight. She too heads off in there at bedtime. Own accord and whines if the door isn’t shut.

We don’t crate if she’s being left home alone (generally, no more than 4 but it’s been around 6hrs maybe 5 times in her 10 years) but we’ve been able to build up to that. For tomorrow, I’d leave his crate open if it’s in a room you can secure - he can put himself in if he’s feeling the need but still got space if he’d rather that.

If you can’t have his crate open in a secure room, your boy may be a little distressed but he will recover. Lots of toys, a big fuss when you’re home and he will be ok.

[YellowandGreenToBeSeen]

[quote Medievalist]@CandyLeBonBon - and in English? [/quote]
Don’t be unkind / rude. The message of this post is perfectly clear.

[TheBodyPiercer]

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

Ignore the GF’ers OP...

My girl is crated (CAGED!) overnight. She too heads off in there at bedtime. Own accord and whines if the door isn’t shut.

We don’t crate if she’s being left home alone (generally, no more than 4 but it’s been around 6hrs maybe 5 times in her 10 years) but we’ve been able to build up to that. For tomorrow, I’d leave his crate open if it’s in a room you can secure - he can put himself in if he’s feeling the need but still got space if he’d rather that.

If you can’t have his crate open in a secure room, your boy may be a little distressed but he will recover. Lots of toys, a big fuss when you’re home and he will be ok.

I think tomorrow may be too risky however...

His crate is in a cubby under the stairs so the plan initially is to let him roam the hallway.

However there are still plugs etc and I do think he could jump the stair gate! We will be trying this when we can sit in the car for instance and observe him via the camera and come back in should there be an issue.

He has of course been left in rooms alone for example when I'm bringing shopping in or running upstairs but he doesn't settle where as if I put him in his crate and do the same things hes perfectly content to chew his toys.

This is something we'll work on but I don't want to throw him in the deep end tomorrow.

[YellowandGreenToBeSeen]

You’re right to make sure he’s not cast adrift tomorrow. I would do as you say and start to settle him in the house (as opposed to crate) during the day when you’re home/nearby. Over time, it’ll mean you’re able to leave him ‘roaming’ whilst you go out.

Our girl isn’t allowed upstairs. She has beds in the kitchen, front room and the hall. She sleeps in those, her crate (where she puts herself in at night) and on a rug in the conservatory . Your boy will begin to feel more relaxed and secure over time. 10 months is also peak adolescence - adult teeth & puppy chewing impulses!

[TheBodyPiercer]

@YellowandGreenToBeSeen

You’re right to make sure he’s not cast adrift tomorrow. I would do as you say and start to settle him in the house (as opposed to crate) during the day when you’re home/nearby. Over time, it’ll mean you’re able to leave him ‘roaming’ whilst you go out.

Our girl isn’t allowed upstairs. She has beds in the kitchen, front room and the hall. She sleeps in those, her crate (where she puts herself in at night) and on a rug in the conservatory . Your boy will begin to feel more relaxed and secure over time. 10 months is also peak adolescence - adult teeth & puppy chewing impulses!

He has had several beds in the living room and destroyed every single one immediately except the ones in his crate 😂 the last one didn't even survive 5 minutes but put the same bed in his crate and he doesn't bother with it.

He'll lie on the sofa or rug and always has access to his crate so he's comfy enough.

Definitely in peak teenage years! We're going to try a raised cot type bed next in the hope he can't destroy that as easily.

Thankfully he generally only eats his own furniture 😂 he's adorable though so I'll keep buying them!

[CandyLeBonBon]

It funnyvop. My girl hadn't chewed anything since puppyhood (mainly my shoes!) but if there is any kind of ball in the garden, she'll shred it. Doesn't damage anything in the house. If it's in the garden she views it as fair game. Totally bizarre!

[1WildTeaParty]

It is not a crate, it is his safe place - his den :)

Yes - he will be fine sleeping in his safe den while you are out.

It sounds as if you are doing a great job and he is starting to show the traits of a well-balanced domesticated wolf (i.e. sleeping when the hunters are out and nothing important is going on).

[Scattyhattie]

Handsome cheeky chappy! If he's usually comfortable with being left for a few hours I'm sure he'll be content with retreating to his bed for post dinner snooze after a busy day.

My adult dog still has his crate, its the equivalent of the man cave. I had to take it down for a while and he got very confused & didn't like it, though he's left with free access to sofas nowadays (thankfully long past stage of eating them). Its handy when are settled crated for when they stay in at vets for day or to travel safely in car/Dogwalker van & it was very amusing when my large dog decided to squeeze in a friends small dog crate to go eat her bone.

[snappyoldfart]

The drama!! Not you OP the others.. your choice to crate, your choice to own a dog. You sound lovely and very considerate of his needs.

Honestly he will be 100% fine and safe, he'll be tired and will no doubt sleep.

I wouldn't even worry about the after pick up walk, just get home pop him in say bye and have a lovely evening.

He'll be happy when you get back and pop him out for his wees, job done!!

[Floralnomad]

@1WildTeaParty

It is not a crate, it is his safe place - his den :)

Yes - he will be fine sleeping in his safe den while you are out.

It sounds as if you are doing a great job and he is starting to show the traits of a well-balanced domesticated wolf (i.e. sleeping when the hunters are out and nothing important is going on).

What a load of twaddle

[LST]

The dog will be fine op. Mine is 8 and not crated but he has been left for longer than 5 hours. He is left every day when we work. My MIL comes and let's him out. He is fine. Same for nights out he is fine being left. If you have a camera and can see he is stressed etc then you can always come home!

Leave him with plenty to do, Kong or lick mat. Enjoy yourself!

[Figgyroles]

OP you are allowed an evening out. I know the conversation has moved on from your first post but like you we have a much adored puppy; his needs are for 80% of the time put above all others in the household including our children which means when things crop up that mean he is left longer than we would like or he misses a lunchtime walk I know he will be fine. There’s a nice illustration somewhere about dogs and cups and emotions- good stuff fills up the cups , bad stuff takes it away but as long as you are doing more filling than taking away you are doing all you can to give them a happy life. I’m not explaining it very well but you sound like you have enough cups for a few evenings out! I hope you enjoy it.

[TheBodyPiercer]

Morning everyone.

Trust me he is adored! We have no children either & 99% of the time what he wants/needs is top priority!

He's never been left this long before, missed a walk etc. I'm a worrier but even I don't see how this one evening will emotionally damage him.

[RunningFromInsanity]

Guys. Everyone stop. @Medievalist has had THREE rescue dogs so she clearly knows EVERYTHING including that a strangers dog would be much safer outside of his safe space where he could/would invest something that might cause a blockages.

Some people are weird.

You’ll go out. Your dog will sleep because it evening, he’s tired and he’s in his safe sleeping space. You’ll come back, he may stretch his leg and go for a wee and then guess what? Because it’s nighttime, he’ll go back to sleep.
Might need years of therapy after that

[userxx]

@TheBodyPiercer He'll be fine, just keep checking on him on the camera. You can't be expected not to have a social life because of the dog, my dog will whinge for a bit then fall asleep on the sofa.

[TheBodyPiercer]

So just to update.....


He slept the entire time we were gone.
I'm currently sat in the living room with him whilst he munches his yak chew even though I'm dying to sleep! He's completely ignoring me btw.

[Florencex]

The length of time is fine. Putting in a crate is not, unless it is left open.

I don’t use crates any more as mine are adults but when I did, I would still never shut my dogs in a crate unless I am in the house and can let them out if required. When I went out they were confined to the kitchen and the adjoining little sitting room.

[BiteyShark]

Lovely update. Suspect you are all still snoozing.

[welshdaisy]

I'm late to the party. I hope you had a lovely time op? I never used a crate, however our dog trainer thinks that they're really good.. we didn't use one for the simple reason is that he didn't need one. He's never chewed or caused much havoc, he's always been really docile on the whole. He has his moments of course, but that usually consists of him stashing tennis balls behind the shed and stealing my slipper Suppose I got lucky. My mum uses one for her pup and she also uses the same dog trainer as me. It's all been very positive I think. At the end of the day, it's each to their own. I don't judge as no two dogs are the same.

[TheBodyPiercer]

Morning everyone. So we're up again, he's lying on my lap, again with his yak chew! So I think he's forgiven me for his extra long nap.

We would of course like to leave him out but he doesn't seem to mind going in his crate and as mentioned his inability to distinguish between food and literally anything else makes crating him the safest option for the time being.