Leaving 4 year old dog for 4.5 hours ?

Harping · 2025-01-04T18:30:46+00:00

Does anyone leave dog for this long? Looking at going back to work and this would be three times a week. Between 9.15 and 1.45. I would obviously give her a good walk before . Do you think she could get used to this? At the moment I leave her for max 4 hours and it’s only once a week. But I am not sure if I worry too much and actually she could get used to longer. its obviously an option to get a dog Walker to pop in and let her out for a play but I am just considering if this is needed or not

Original poster

Harping · 04/01/2025 18:31

I should say also that after 1.45 I am home for the rest of the day so she would get good walk after too

OP posts:

LandSharksAnonymous · 04/01/2025 18:59

Honestly, not the end of the world a few times a week - particularly if she's already proven she can be left alone.

But, what I would say is you need to make sure that other things don't change as well - less attention, less exercise, less socialisation, less games, less play time etc. Too often people don't realise just how much their dog suffers because of even the smallest changes in routine - it's not the being left for a few hours here or there, it's the knock on effect of 'I need to do this now, as I didn't do it earlier as I had work, which now means I can't do X for the dog.'

EdithStourton · 04/01/2025 18:59

If she is okay being left, that should be fine.
Once my two were both adults, I'd leave for work at 8.15 and get home at 2.15. They had each other, and access to a kennel yard, and had always been walked min 35-40 minutes before I left.

Original poster

Harping · 04/01/2025 19:30

LandSharksAnonymous · 04/01/2025 18:59

Honestly, not the end of the world a few times a week - particularly if she's already proven she can be left alone.

But, what I would say is you need to make sure that other things don't change as well - less attention, less exercise, less socialisation, less games, less play time etc. Too often people don't realise just how much their dog suffers because of even the smallest changes in routine - it's not the being left for a few hours here or there, it's the knock on effect of 'I need to do this now, as I didn't do it earlier as I had work, which now means I can't do X for the dog.'

Yes I can see this happening I would need to just neglect house work etc I think and prioritise time with dog

OP posts:

Newpeep · 05/01/2025 09:42

If she’s ok up to 4 hours now she should be fine. I would try out the three times a week first but as long as she still got her exercise and attention she should be fine.

Wibblywobblybobbly · 05/01/2025 10:22

The major dog welfare charities say to leave them alone no more than 4 hours in a 24 hour period. But, as someone who's normally really picky about these things, I think going half an hour over that three times a week sounds fine given it seems dog otherwise has a great setup and will be getting lots of attention and stimulation outside of that.

Presumably she's okay when you do leave her? You could always get a cheap wifi cam to watch her at home a few times to give you peace of mind.

Onlyvisiting · 05/01/2025 10:27

If she is used to it an comfortable it's fine. If she's going to be stressing out and barking then it's an issue.
I work at home, my dogs are with me or in easy sight of me nearly 24/7. But a few times a month they have been left from around 7am to 4pm and they haven't even left their beds enough to disturb the cosy blankets they are tucked in!
I wouldn't do it on a regular thing as if it was weekly or multiple times a week they would be alone too much.
and they don't even have that now as they go stay with another family member. (But all they do there is nap anyway)

Stumpy54321 · 07/01/2025 17:41

I’m in the same predicament. Old job was 4 hour shifts but worked opposite shifts to dh but occasionally they overlapped so dog could be on his own for an hour or so. When we go out I’m wary of the time he’s on his own only really feel comfortable with 4 hours and even then I feel bad. Now I have been offered another job working just 2 day’s a week but 8 hour shifts so there would’ve days when he could be on his own 6 hours before dh gets home. To add he’s now almost 15 and hasn’t really ever been on his own regularly just when we have been out then we had dc at home but they have now moved out

Wibblywobblybobbly · 08/01/2025 08:25

Stumpy54321 · 07/01/2025 17:41

I’m in the same predicament. Old job was 4 hour shifts but worked opposite shifts to dh but occasionally they overlapped so dog could be on his own for an hour or so. When we go out I’m wary of the time he’s on his own only really feel comfortable with 4 hours and even then I feel bad. Now I have been offered another job working just 2 day’s a week but 8 hour shifts so there would’ve days when he could be on his own 6 hours before dh gets home. To add he’s now almost 15 and hasn’t really ever been on his own regularly just when we have been out then we had dc at home but they have now moved out

That's a really tricky situation. I'd not be comfortable with that for an older dog who's not used to it personally, although perhaps you could trisl it and watch him via a camera to see how he feels about it? Could you get a dog walker in to check on him and stretch his legs etc if needed?

Stumpy54321 · 08/01/2025 09:01

Wibblywobblybobbly · 08/01/2025 08:25

That's a really tricky situation. I'd not be comfortable with that for an older dog who's not used to it personally, although perhaps you could trisl it and watch him via a camera to see how he feels about it? Could you get a dog walker in to check on him and stretch his legs etc if needed?

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yeah I don’t feel comfortable with it. He has access to the garden via a dog flap that he knows how to use so he can do his business. He does sleep most of the time and when he’s been on his own he will be at the top of the stairs when we get home sometimes fast asleep. I did get a camera some years ago but never renewed the subscription after the free trial as he hasn’t really been on his own much but the issue for me would be I get no signal in my phone at work at all so would be hard to use it.

Newpeep · 08/01/2025 11:30

You would need to build up time slowly and carefully but it can be done. Personally I’d not leave a dog for more than four hours without a substantial break but our last dog was left for 4 hours in the morning and 1-2 in the afternoon weekdays term time with a 90 minute break (me!) in the middle and was fine. Outside work our time was hers and we did lots of walking and training so the alone time was her rest time. .

Stumpy54321 · 08/01/2025 11:59

Newpeep · 08/01/2025 11:30

You would need to build up time slowly and carefully but it can be done. Personally I’d not leave a dog for more than four hours without a substantial break but our last dog was left for 4 hours in the morning and 1-2 in the afternoon weekdays term time with a 90 minute break (me!) in the middle and was fine. Outside work our time was hers and we did lots of walking and training so the alone time was her rest time. .

Thank you. I just really hate Leaving him. If we are out I’m always wary of the time and have actually left somewhere earlier so I could get home. I know I would be worrying all day. He has always come on holidays with us and only one time I had to put in a a kennel overnight as we had a family wedding as there was no one to look after him and I felt so bad for that and he had a sore throat for a few days after.

Newpeep · 08/01/2025 12:36

Stumpy54321 · 08/01/2025 11:59

Thank you. I just really hate Leaving him. If we are out I’m always wary of the time and have actually left somewhere earlier so I could get home. I know I would be worrying all day. He has always come on holidays with us and only one time I had to put in a a kennel overnight as we had a family wedding as there was no one to look after him and I felt so bad for that and he had a sore throat for a few days after.

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Have a look at Julie Naismith Be Right Back. It's the best method to teach dogs to be ok alone. We're currently building time with our youngster in case we have to leave her for a bit. It does work and really dogs need to learn to be ok alone in case of emergencies if nothing else.

Indianajet · 08/01/2025 13:00

As I am retired I am at home a lot, but do leave my two for five hours or so twice a week- they are happy and settled. In an ideal world I am sure dogs would like to be with us 24/7, in the real world it just isn't possible.

Stumpy54321 · 08/01/2025 14:37

Newpeep · 08/01/2025 12:36

Have a look at Julie Naismith Be Right Back. It's the best method to teach dogs to be ok alone. We're currently building time with our youngster in case we have to leave her for a bit. It does work and really dogs need to learn to be ok alone in case of emergencies if nothing else.

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Thank you. I’m sure he would be ok as he does sleep most of the day but it’s more me I think feeling bad for leaving him alone for so long. At most it would be 4 days a month as dh works alternative weeks so every other week he’d be at home it’s just the 2 weeks we would both be at work same time

Springisintheairohyeah · 09/01/2025 15:54

I'm a dog trainer, and as long as your dog is happy being left (i.e. doesn't have separation anxiety) I think that would be absolutely fine. I always encourage people to look at the day as whole, rather than focus on very set guidelines. A dog that gets decent food with something nice to chew every so often, a good walk in the morning and later when you're back, plenty of human attention/training etc. is going to be fine being left for that amount of time. My dogs could easily be left for that amount of time and I wouldn't consider getting a dog walker in, because the rest of their day happily balances it out

RedHelenB · 09/01/2025 16:46

Mine is left for 7 - 8 hours and is fine.

Stumpy54321 · 09/01/2025 18:37

Springisintheairohyeah · 09/01/2025 15:54

I'm a dog trainer, and as long as your dog is happy being left (i.e. doesn't have separation anxiety) I think that would be absolutely fine. I always encourage people to look at the day as whole, rather than focus on very set guidelines. A dog that gets decent food with something nice to chew every so often, a good walk in the morning and later when you're back, plenty of human attention/training etc. is going to be fine being left for that amount of time. My dogs could easily be left for that amount of time and I wouldn't consider getting a dog walker in, because the rest of their day happily balances it out

Thank you for your reply. I wouldn’t be able to walk him before leaving for work as Id be starting at 5.30 am. He’s nearly 15 so he now has just one 20 minute walk a day. Also he’s a slow riser and usually doesn’t wake up until 8 ish and I’d hate for him to wake up and here be no one at home until 2 ish

ExceededUsefulEconomicLife · 09/01/2025 18:51

Mumsnet can be so over the top about this but it really depends on the dog. My dog is happy to be left all day (was obviously pissed off when we were at home all day during lockdown) but my mums dogs can't be left for a second. I'm not sure if it's their breed (shitadoodles) or that they have been treated like babies and mollycoddled.

4.5 hours will be fine and they will get used to it if not ok straight away. What happens when you go to bed?!

Springisintheairohyeah · 09/01/2025 22:20

I was just replying to the OP which said owner would leave at 9.15 and dog would get a walk before