Tips for leaving dog alone for most of the day?

[SamG93]

My Labrador (9 months) will need to be left alone for most of the day on Friday next week as I go for a scheduled c-section. Luckily we are able to arrange his 'training trek' he usually has to that day which usually lasts 2 hours so that'll break up the day a bit. We are leaving at about 6:30am, the trek will last around 2 hours and starts sometime between 10am and 12pm then he'll be alone until DH comes home from the hospital, we don't know what time that'll be but should be before his dinner time at 6pm, if not we'll have to get someone to come and feed him. He's house trained and NEVER goes in the house anymore but of course we're usually there to let him out in the garden during the day so hopefully DH doesn't come home to any accidents!

Anyway I'm wondering if anyone has any tips to keep him occupied while we're gone? He's generally not an anxious dog and copes well being left alone when we go out shopping for a couple hours but this will be the longest amount of time he's been left so I'm not sure how he'll feel about it! He'll also be confined to our kitchen, lounge and conservatory as we don't yet trust him alone with our indoor cat I was thinking I could get him one of those antlers which seem to last a while. Probably worrying too much to be honest

@cocoloco987 exactly what I was thinking! Hence why I was asking for advice on things to keep him occupied for those few hours that he'll be alone; not whether I should leave him or not. Now I feel guilty for even thinking it!

@Suchatiredpigeon that's a good idea, he absolutely loves his kong especially when it has peanut butter or cheese in it! It's the best distraction when we have guests over
yeah I kind of use that 5 minute rule as a general guide to not give him TOO much but most of the time I just use common sense!!

It’s not ideal to leave a dog alone, but it’s a one off, not an every day thing.

That’s not the issue really, it’s that the chances are really quite high that it won’t run to schedule, that it’s going to be stressful and a bit overwhelming... and that on top of that you’re probably going to have to sort something out for the dog anyway.

If you can get him booked in somewhere, that’s it, the dog is sorted and you can both just concentrate on having the baby.

@Melitza thank you, that's nice of you to say 😊 I was starting to feel guilty about even thinking of leaving my dog on his own for just a one off.

Fucking hell. This thread is batshit. You must never ever ever under any circumstance leave your dog op, not even to have a baby.

Stay home, see if the hospital will perform the c section in your lounge room, and let the dog be on the table with you.

Good luck.

@tabulahrasa that's what I'm thinking.. I just feel bad as I'm not sure it's 100% necessary and I don't know how he'll react to being without us for 2-3 days rather than just a few hours.. we've never put him in kennels before.

I really don't know what to do now!

@jaysus6000 hahaha LOVE that solution, literally solves all my worries

He's pretty young. I'd get a sitter to come in and keep him out of trouble company and walk him.

I’m sure he’ll be absolutely fine and even if he doesn’t love it it’s literally one day in his otherwise perfect life we all have bad days sometimes! I wouldn’t leave him an antler though just in case he chokes.
As for putting him in kennels, surely he’ll be on his own for even longer this way (I don’t think most kennels give 2 hours exercise/interaction to each dog) yet he will be in a strange noisy environment instead of in his home. Even if your husband is delayed getting back, realistic worst case is probably the dog having an accident in the house which wouldn’t be the end of the world as a one off. No need to feel guilty and good luck with the c section!

I would suggest seeing if someone can stop by, he's a young dog and a breed that isn't left well.

I would be fine leaving my older dog because he likes his own company and not that of other dogs, (he was a bit grumpy that there's people around too much during lockdown!). Ultimately you know your own pet and breeds vary in ability to be left

I wouldn't have put my dog into kennel's in your shoes. Not if he's never been and it's definitely not suitable for all dogs. I have a lovely dog walker though who walks my dogs a couple of times a week and has them in her home if we go away. It's good to have someone like that, because at some point you will need it. Maybe just try a dog walker for as a one off on this day who can take your dog out for 30-60 minutes around 4pm or something. That way you know for sure you are good until 8-9pm should things not go to plan. Dinner can be served late if needed. Especially if he has kong's with treats in them throughout the day.

Ps I have left mine for 10+ hours just not that young and not a Labrador. My dog really hated kennels so being left at home was preferable

“I don't know how he'll react to being without us for 2-3 days rather than just a few hours.. we've never put him in kennels before.”

You should be able to sort out shorter visits running up to the Friday, a morning or afternoon or two.

And... if you’re both fine to take him back earlier than he’s booked in for, you can do that.

I would agree with kennels - perhaps for the weekend as well. You never know with these things and it’s one less worry. House cat would be ok, plenty of water, dry food and litter trays.
Good luck!

I'd really try to send him somewhere overnight. The last thing you want while you're giving birth is the stress of worrying about the dog, is the dog ok, what time does DH need to leave to get back for the dog...
The 2 of you want to concentrate on the birth and your baby.

When I am in the office my dog is left from 8.30 until 4.30 4 days a week with my mil coming to let him out for a wee and a play with his ball at 1ish. He has always been fine with this. But he was around 4 when our circumstances changed and he needed to be left so he wasn't a pup. If your dog is ok being left and you can arrange for someone to let him out then he should be fine

Is borrow my doggy still going? Someone might enjoy a companion on a Friday for free I'll have him if you're in Manchester!

@Wolfiefan

No dog should be left for most of the day. If you don’t want to use kennels then look at daycare or if someone could sit with him. Good luck with the CS OP.

My dog would 100% prefer to be at home than with strangers and other dogs all day. His stress levels would be on overdrive!

You sound like a very responsible and caring dog owner. Life sometimes throws up these situations and it sounds like you are planning for it as best you can. My dog would be OK with this as a one off but you know your dog better than anyone. Good luck with the baby x

I get why a lot of people are saying not to leave your dog that long. It sounds as though he isn’t used to it and the advice is to build these things up slowly with dogs as they don’t take well to a sudden change of routine.

I had a lab in the past and know 9 mo can be pretty destructive especially if bored or anxious, which your boy will be if he hasn’t been slowly trained to adapt to periods of time alone.

Additionally my lab wasn’t able to go for long periods alone without needing to go to the toilet during certain stages of puberty (this isn’t uncommon). At this age, I was leaving him maybe 4 hours and he did wee and poo a few times during puberty having previously been fine so just something to bear in mind.

Therefore in your shoes, I definitely would book him in a doggy boarding. This will give you the peace of mind that he hasn’t broken things or needed to go to the loo.

Worth checking with friends. I can't have a dog but I would LOVE to say call in, play, feed, short walk for dog etc and would happily do so

Hi OP,

At this time of year there are literally thousands of 16-18 year olds at a loose end! Could you arrange for a local teenager to come and keep the dog company for the day? My DS(13) has a couple of ad-hoc dog-sitting gigs going in our local village. He loves it.

I think that would be my preference, simply to avoid having any additional stress on the day. The last thing you want to to have something extra to worry about!

Crikey - what a thread - here's my two penneth worth! Leave the dog in one room ideally but no chews or antlers - these shouldn't be given to dogs without supervision.

Current dogs are 2 and 3 years and they're left home alone 4 days a week although I come home at lunchtimes. Currently at home for lunch and it's raining. Dog 1 won't go out for a pee (2 yr old), Dog 2 hasn't even come downstairs to see me never mind go out for a pee.

Not ideal as dogs only 9 months but it'll be fine. Wee energy burnoff for it before you leave, then light breakfast, then it'll sleep till trek, then it'll sleep again till tea time.

Good luck with the baby :)

I know Jaysus was only joking but I was actually born at home with my mum’s yellow lab on the bed beside her! Apparently the dog was far more useful than the midwife.
Could you stick with your current plan and have someone on standby to go and collect the dog for an overnight stay if necessary?
Good luck with your section

Is there s teenager living nearby who could pop in and let him out to see and play with him for an hour in after? Leave TV on as our dogs love to sit and watch it. They hear the voices and don't feel do alone.