I'm potentially going to be in a pickle leaving my dog

[BirthdayRainbow]

I know it's a how long is a piece of string situation but I need guidance a want to limit her upset or confusion.

My dog is rarely on her own and if I go out it's 1-2 hours. A handful of times it has been four hours and nothing untoward has happened. She's been normal and happy when I've got home and I've give her a biscuit and let her out.

I am currently waiting on a call back and may be sent to out of hours doctors. That's okay but I am worried if I'm there multiple hours but especially if I have to be admitted.

A friend has said her dog had to just get used to being left all day as her circumstances changed. She left hers in a car all day in a locked car park next to her office and also overnight once. She said she slept and would have just been asleep at home anyway. I can't believe it is okay to leave a dog alone overnight but this is why I am here. To ask people with more experience what is okay.

I may be able to have a friend take her but just in case, any advice please.

If relevant, she is seven and a golden retriever. Thank you.

I wouldn't leave a dog overnight. They are social animals, and for a whole host of reasons do not do well when left longer than four or five hours.

That said, if you have no choice, you have no choice. Do you have a chew toy / kong or anything that you can leave as a distraction?

I also think having your friend as a backup would be really useful, especially if you need to stay in. If nothing else, it will give you peace of mind while you are dealing with your stuff (which is hopefully not too bad).

I think I would go with the friend on balance.

My dogs are left for 4 hours a few times a week. I make sure they have a walk before I go out. They are fine. I have not left them alone overnight.
I'd get the friend lined up ready to collect your dog in the event you’re admitted.
Hope you’re ok OP.

I wouldn't leave a dog overnight, although having said that our 2 dogs sleep on the sofa and are alone downstairs when we are in bed so it isn't that different.

We are a family of 4 adults working different shifts and sometimes working from home, so it is very rare ours are left on their own during the day, occasionally we are all out together for a couple of hours, the most they have been on their own is 4 hours.

I'm sure if you do have to stay for a few hours they will be fine, is there anyone you could ask to pop in if you do end up being admitted, maybe give them a spare key just in case.

Thank you for all being so helpful and kind. I was worried I'd be told I shouldn't have a dog if I didn't know this stuff.

My friend has a key. If I did have to leave her overnight obviously I'd be giving her a special treat and then going out to buy all the toys to say sorry once I'm better 😀but what is the worst that could happen? I'm thinking she might wee on the floor which wouldn't matter but I'd hate her to be distressed about it or hold it in and be poorly. I'd be leaving my cats too but they are easier to leave!

We all do the best we can in life, and sometimes shit happens.

Put down a second bowl of water just in case. Do you have any neighbours or friends with dogs who you could leave a spare key for? I think most people would at least be willing to pop in, let the dog out for a wee and feed it.

The dog will be much happier at home than in the car - and not at risk of heatstroke or theft.

Do not leave a new chew toy or kong if you may be away overnight
Toys like that should never be used unsupervised

If you are able give her a good walk now so she has had a chance to toilet or a play in the garden if you can't be away from a landline

Do you have any dog focused local Facebook pages? You may be able to get someone local to take her in for the night or check on /walk her if you explain your situation
I have taken in a neighbours dog for a week and didn't know them too well before

I have three water bowls for the dog at all times, one is upstairs and two for the cats though they use the dogs sometimes!

I'd never leave mine in a car. Only ever have when running in to pay petrol but now I've learnt to get on board with pay at pump and rarely fill up with her in the car now. A neighbour left her dog in the car to go in a shop and it got hit by another car.

im going to do all I can to resist going to hospital but it is better for me if I have a plan.

Thanks again.

If you can afford to, I think a regular dog walker could help for unexpected situations. Someone who has a key and the dog knows and is excited to see. There are people who do dog walking and dog sitting. Some people who are gone all day have someone come to take the dog for a walk twice a day. Make it part of the dogs routine (whether you are there or not) and that will be comforting for you both if you have to be away. If the walker is willing to dog sit they could be an additional backup along with your friend.

If she’s ok for 2 hours she’ll be fine for 4. But you’ll need back up if you are admitted. Dogs do cope with some amazingly difficult circumstances but if it’s avoidable then that’s better.

Thanks all. Sadly she's going to have more changes than she had in the last nine months (DS2 has gone to uni and STBEH has moved out) as she and I are moving house but we'll be okay together. I'm a bit of a worrier. But she had her lunch half an hour late three times in one week, unheard of, and she was fine 😳

No I would never leave overnight and never should they be left in a car I'm surprised no one called the police or rspca to be honest. I can leave mine for six hours I wouldn't leave longer as it's just not fair and I always give him a good run before I go so he is very tired

Try not to worry @BirthdayRainbow. I have to leave mine for a few hours sometimes - they have warmth, shelter and a full belly, they're fine. It's just life. Your dog will be fine too.

Thank you @ontheflighttosingapore and @thevache . Somehow leaving her overnight feels different from the day time even though mostly she sleeps right through. Usually on my bed with me but she can go down to her bed if she wants at any point. I had to leave her 9.30pm to 1.15am last week as had no choice as had to pick up DS but I still felt guilty. My son is more sensible and said she'll be fine, she will sleep. She was fine and was happy to see us.

I would leave your dog alone over leaving your dog with your friend. She left her dog locked in a car all day!? That's even worse than leaving them locked in a crate tbh (and you should have called the RSPCA).

Dog will be fine overnight alone. Just make sure they have lots of water but nothing to chew etc.

The friend who left her dog in the car and over night is not the same one who will help me today.

I really, really wouldn't want to leave DDog alone overnight. I rarely leave her for more than 3 hours.

But sometimes Stuff happens, which means leaving a dog for longer is inevitable, and unexpected medical need of the owner is one of them. Do your best with friends helping out. The dog won't like it, but there are far worse things than a one-off sleeping home alone.

Depending on what is up with you, you may need to have other contingency plans against further admittances (or just long days with multiple hospital appointments). Dog sitter (who can do overnights) might be the way to go. But it helps if you begin with a few shorter visits, so you know they're happy there before a more extended one)

The two hours have passed when I was due the call back so I expect I'll get it at 3am when I did once before ! I'll do all I can not to go in.

Hope all goes well @BirthdayRainbow.

A regular and well adjusted adult dog (as yours sounds like) will be okay on their own for a few hours. I tend to cap it at no more than 4 hours but my two could be okay for 5 or 6, it's just not ideal. Hope you're okay and good to have a friend as back up to check in and let them out / feed / exercise if you're in hospital. Take care!

I'm very much of the 'you don't leave them for longer than a couple of hours, they need company' mindset. But I once left a 3 month old puppy home alone for 6 hours because a friend needed taking to A+E in an emergency. She was fine. Your dog will be fine. Is it ideal? No. But it's one night in the context of a loving home. Don't beat yourself up.

Thank you everyone.

Another question, how will I know if she wasn't okay? I know it will be too late and I'll do all I can to make her feel settled and but all the treats but if I know the signs and she dies t do them, that will help.

I left her 9am one day until 12.15 the next day but she was with my son and his girlfriend but I still felt while happy I was back, ds had had to leave her for the last hour before I got back, she still let me know she knew I'd been missing. We are very close.

The good news is I didn't have to leave my dog. The bad news is I have tonsillitis and glandular fever again. Argh.

V glad the dog's OK

And hope it's not too grim for you

Thank you. I'm on two types of meds so I'm hoping it will be over a lot quicker than last time I had it.

Christ alive, I'd never want to be this close to any other living thing, human or animal where my everyday existence was dictated to by the needs (or more likely your perception of the needs) of another unless it was an infant human. That I was breastfeeding! Frankly, even if she 'wasn't ok', that is hardly the end of the world is it? I like my dog and take good care of him but this level of codependency is not good for man or beast.