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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Leaving the dog on Christmas Day

69 replies

puginamug · 20/11/2021 13:06

Our puppy will be 9 months old at Christmas.

We have been invited to relatives on Christmas Day. We'll be at home in the day, then leaving around 4 and will probably back about midnight.

Will the dog be OK in his crate? Relatives have toddlers and it will all be too exciting to take him.

We haven't left him for more than a couple of hours up think now. Once for 4 hours.

I'm thinking if we have a long walk in the day, this will effectively just be giving him a (very) early night. Or am I being unrealistic?

OP posts:
BobbieT1999 · 20/11/2021 13:07

I think that's too long to be left alone I'm afraid

GodspeedJune · 20/11/2021 13:09

Sorry, I also think that’s too long. Especially if you’re leaving him in a crate.

Beachbabe1 · 20/11/2021 13:10

That's far too long. He will need a wee in that length of time. Leave him for 2 hours while you eat. Come back and get him (if near enough) for a couple hours then drop him home again for the rest of the evening?

Stellaris22 · 20/11/2021 13:10

Unfortunately that seems a bit long. Could you arrange a dog walker or someone to come along? Especially if they are just going to be in a crate for eight hours.

LolaSmiles · 20/11/2021 13:12

I think that's too long to be left alone at that age.
Giving a dog a longer than typical walk doesn't offset the fact they're being left for a long period of time, plus when ours were puppies we were advised against the weekend warrior style of walking where puppies were given huge walks on weekends.

If it was an older dog who was used to being occasionally left then it's probably OK to push to 6 hours, but leaving any dog 8 hours is quite unfair on them in my opinion.

MaryAndGerryLivingInDerry · 20/11/2021 13:12

Oh that’s far too long! 8 hours in a crate! He’ll need to pee, eat, stretch his legs, have someone interact with him. You need to bring him (possibly with the crate so you can give him some downtime) or have someone come in and spend some time with him.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 20/11/2021 13:13

That's too long for a dog of any age, in a crate. This is one of those compromises you have to make when you sign up to dog ownership - either make it a much shorter visit, or make alternative arrangements.

FVFrog · 20/11/2021 13:13

Way too long for a 9 month old puppy

ilost · 20/11/2021 13:15

Way too long. I couldn't leave my dog that long ever, especially in Xmas day :(

Cant you take him with you in the crate in a quiet room?

At least that way you can take him in the garden every hour to stretch legs and pee?

LolaSmiles · 20/11/2021 13:15

I just realised you were going to keep the dog in a crate for 8 hours!

What I'd said about older dogs was based on leaving a week trained, comfortable dog who is used to being alone for periods of time in a house where they are able to be comfortable, walk around, have access to water etc.

LolaSmiles · 20/11/2021 13:16

**Well trained.

goodwinter · 20/11/2021 13:19

No, not a good idea for your pup at all. I wouldn't leave my adult dog for that long. If you can't find someone to look after him (personally I think even a walk in the middle wouldn't be enough for a 9mo old who's only been left for a couple of hours at a time) then I would decline the invite and stay at home.

Oftenithinkaboutit · 20/11/2021 13:21

There will be people alone over Christmas who will be happy to pop in and walk him and get him out

Post on community Facebook page.

Meet them a few times before, get them familiar with the dog, get references.

NotMyCat · 20/11/2021 13:22

Definitely try and find someone. I'm home alone Christmas Day, used to dogs and would happily spend a few hours walking/cuddling/playing with a dog!

puppygalore · 20/11/2021 13:25

At 9 months mine would actually have been fine with that as she's always been good with toileting and likes to sleep! I do think it depends on your dog and breed, she is a larger breed so probably has a larger bladder able to cope. At the moment and since she was very young she likes to go to bed at 5, then has a wee at 9,30/10, but isn't ever desperate and sometimes I have to make her go outside, and after that she always wants to go right back to sleep. How is your puppy at lasting without a toilet break and at sleeping for longer periods? If not great then it wouldn't be fair. Could you reduce the time gone slightly? So leaving at 5 and back by 11?

Starcaller · 20/11/2021 13:27

Too long IMO. DDog is great at home and not a puppy anymore by a long stretch, but we don't leave her longer than five hours.

lastqueenofscotland · 20/11/2021 13:28

4 till midnight is ridiculous let alone considering the pup is 9 months old.
Would someone be able to walk/check on him a few times in the day?

YellowandGreenToBeSeen · 20/11/2021 13:28

I wouldn’t leave a dog in a crate ever except overnight / if they take themselves off to it during the day / if the house is chaotic due to visitors etc.

And certainly not for 8 hours. And certainly not at 9 months. We don’t leave our ten year old dog longer than 4 hours maximum.

AntiCornLawLeague · 20/11/2021 13:29

Doesn't need to be said, as others already have, but no, you can't leave a pup in a crate for 8 hours. I think you need another plan. Either bring him with you, pop back and forth to take him out for walls etc or arrange care for him

pigsDOfly · 20/11/2021 13:30

Is there any way you could take his crate with you and set up it in a quiet room away from all the exciting activity?

At least that way you can let him out to wee when necessary and stretch his legs for a couple of short walks during the day. And give him some human contact; he's still very young remember.

You say you'll be going out at 4 and back by 12, so he'll be in his crate for 8 hours but it's not going to be 8 hours is it?

When you get home what are you planning to do with him? Let him out for a wee and put him back in his crate for another long period till morning, I imagine

Just don't be surprised if he then goes on to howl and cry all night, as he will probably do for most of the day if you leave him locked in a crate for that length of time.

You can't confine any dog for 8 hours and expect him to be okay with it and certainly not a puppy of that age.

Inthewainscoting · 20/11/2021 13:31

Ideas:
Get him used to being in his crate (or, slightly bigger, a doggy playpen-type enclosure) in different rooms / in the car, on his own for a couple of hours. Kongs/chews/lick mats can help, and a long walk beforehand.

Then take him but put him in the crate or pen somewhere 100% out of the way of the kids and take him for little walks every few hours until he's conked out completely.

Failing that, kennels or dogsitters.

I mean, I have a senior dog with low energy levels who can snooze and "hold it" for hours, but what you describe would be a bit of an ask even for him.

imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere · 20/11/2021 13:54

No that's far too long to leave your puppy alone! Stay home with him, or get a dog sitter, or take him with you.

luckylavender · 20/11/2021 14:03

@imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere - the OP has already said she can't take the dog with them. Not everyone wants dogs in their houses.

luckylavender · 20/11/2021 14:04

@Inthewainscoting - and not everyone wants a crate in their house either. We have friends who do this, it's a real pain.

Wombat46 · 20/11/2021 14:07

Far, far too long. Forces him to toilet in his safe place or suffer. Alone for far too long.

Cruel.