[q9h9pPne]

How long is too long to leave dogs alone? Aside from feeding, water, etc...

I work 7-4 every day, occassional week nights. My boyfriend works from home, so he's typically home with the dogs most of the day. We've argued about the dogs being home alone for too long at a time. For example, if he's travelling on a Friday and I am working until 4, is it wrong to come home, feed and walk the dogs, and then go out an hour or so later?

I've heard people say "you can't leave dogs alone that long," "oh those poor dogs," and the opposite , "they're just dogs, they're fine."

What are all of your thoughts?

[pE71J5Sw]

I'd say 8 hours max. My Doberman could hold it longer but I don't want her to. Yes, they're just dogs and they'll be fine. However if someone can come over and let them out, I don't see a problem with that.

[jaydicassdhy]

While I don't always like it, our dogs are alone anywhere from 8-10 hours during the day. Any longer than that and my husband will come home during his lunch hour to let them out or we will have our friend come and take them out.

Since Jet has to stay in his crate when we're gone (Molli has run of the house) if we've been out all day one of us will usually stay home and play/work with the dogs and the other will go out if wanted or needed.

[shinesw]

I usually run the rule that they get a complete two hours a day from me...usually one of playing and one of cuddling hanging out watching TV. When it was just Avi that suited her perfectly and since she can hold it like a champ as long as I was with her for at least two hours a day, then I would just make sure I wasn't gone for longer than eight hours. With Charlie thats harder. Hes crated, and I refuse to have him crated for longer than 8 hours a day. Sometimes when someone keeps me at work it can creep to 9 but that is RARE. He is also a very LOW energy dog. I would never think of doing that to Avi. So, in short, if hes crated, I would only leave him IN the crate for 8 hours...total. If he has free roam and is trusted. I would only leave him at home for no longer than 8-9 hrs at a stretch, make sure he gets the two hours, and then your good to go out.

I.e. on Fridays - I come home spend 3-4 hrs with the dogs, then Charlie can be trusted for about 4-5 hrs, so I can go out from about 9-2 to the bar or whatever, but I know that I can't leave him out longer than that. So...its pretty much up to your dog.

[q9h9pPne]

Bathroom wise, yeah, I agree that there's a certain amount of time that dogs can hold it. And in that aspect, yes, they do need out every so often. I'm talking people-wise. I've heard people say that just because the dog isn't getting your attention, it's "unhappy." aka, "poor dogs."

In my opinion, Working 7-4 and then an evening out is no harm. It's just been a debate I've had with people (including my mother, who is anti-leave-the-dogs-alone-too-much). I was just curious to the thoughts of other dog owners.

[pE71J5Sw]

I'd tell the complainers that unless they're going to come over and take the dogs outside that they can shut it. I get tired of hearing it too. Only its when I chain my pit bull. He eats through metal crates and shits and pisses everywhere...unless someone wants to come clean up after him they can shut their mouths.

[q9h9pPne]

I'd tell the complainers that unless they're going to come over and take the dogs outside that they can shut it. I get tired of hearing it too. Only its when I chain my pit bull. He eats through metal crates and shits and pisses everywhere...unless someone wants to come clean up after him they can shut their mouths.

I'm starting to get tough skin and be able to tell them to shut it (mainly my mom, oops!). I don't chain mine when I'm gone. When I leave, the puppy goes in the spare bedroom and the older dog has free reign of the house. They have yet to tear anything apart. Usually when I come home, I have to pry them out of bed to wake them up.

The only difference is my mom WILL take the dogs whenever I go places. She loves them. But then I have to go get them from her after being out and about.. which usually ends up in "were you out at the bar again?!" Not fun. I'd rather leave the dogs at home, hehe.

[attackDoold]

I generally don't like to leave them for more than 5 hours. Liberty I'm not so worried about, she can hold it forever and has the run of the house. But for Lily, 6 or more hours is stretching it, and I feel bad since she's in her crate.
Basically, I run my life in 4-5hr block segments. If I make plans for the day, I always make sure I'm home within that time frame. It makes some things pretty difficult.
I have a super awesome mom though, and she understands the importance of tethering dogs when they're outside since we've done it with Liberty her whole life. Once I graduate and move out of this townhouse, she's going to help me look for a house with a good enough sized yard that I can set up chain spots, with houses, surrounded by kennels so that I don't have to worry so much about being home exactly on time and they can get exercise on their chain spots if I have a long day.
I want them to be house dogs, but I think chain spots would be so good for them for when I'm gone.

[JesikaFclq]

I'd tell the complainers that unless they're going to come over and take the dogs outside that they can shut it. I get tired of hearing it too.

Same here.

My room mates let Damas and Ethel out sometimes when I'm at work. Lucy usually spends the 8 hours that I'm gone passed out in my bed.

As long as they get enough exercise, I don't worry too much. There are nights when I don't get home from whatever 12 hours after I've left. Basically, if I'm planning on being gone for more than 8 hours, I exhaust the dogs, give them their food, and they're still asleep when I get home.

[shinesw]

Bathroom wise, yeah, I agree that there's a certain amount of time that dogs can hold it. And in that aspect, yes, they do need out every so often. I'm talking people-wise. I've heard people say that just because the dog isn't getting your attention, it's "unhappy." aka, "poor dogs."

In my opinion, Working 7-4 and then an evening out is no harm. It's just been a debate I've had with people (including my mother, who is anti-leave-the-dogs-alone-too-much). I was just curious to the thoughts of other dog owners.

yep - with two hours a day of strait attention they don't go bonkers.

[horaAppagob]

i work 6-4, and my dog is crated while im at work she is fine!

[shinesw]

i work 6-4, and my dog is crated while im at work she is fine!

Thats a little long - Do you think she might be ok in a room instead?

[VYholden]

I think it would be different if your friday routine was an everyday thing...then I would say that it's a little unfair to them.

but if every once in awhile they have to spend more time than usual in their crates, i see nothing wrong with it. as long as they're fed and have had the chances they need to go out, I don't see it as a big deal.

I HATE to do it and I avoid it as much as I can, but every couple months my dogs will have a long crate day. They survive it just fine. I try to compensate for it the next day with a little extra playtime.

[statistica]

Its very typical for a dog to be left alone or even kenneled for 8 or 9 hours 5 days a week while owners work. If your boyfriend is home most days and can offer more to your dog that's awesome and I wouldn't feel guilty about the other days just make sure that when you are home they get some good exercise and time with you.

[q9h9pPne]

Wow, thanks for the feedback everyone!!

I think I tend to feel guilty because of my mom's "aww those poor dogs" mentality. Glad to know that there's a lot of other people out there, with perfectly happy, healthy dogs, that don't get 24/7 human attention. I don't crate either of mine. As I mentioned, my older pup has free reign of the house and usually winds up curled up in a ball on the couch. My puppy has the spare bedroom all to herself (about 15'x11') and she, too, can be found curled up in pillows.

Glad to know I'm not a bad 'mom'

Oh, and yes, they do receive much attention when I am home. They typically get a lunch time walk and 1-2 after work. Plus running around the yard like maniacs.

[fashikn]

Amount of alone time differs with each dog.

Our two are home alone (crated) between the hours of 7:15 a.m. and 5:35 p.m. (when they don't come to work with me.) That's a total of a little over 10 hours, and they are both a-okay when we come home. They are both a little over 2 years of age now, and they get 1-1/2 hour + walks when we come home, plenty of run-around-like-idiots time out in the back 8 ft privacy fenced yard, and they get lengthy hikes on the weekend.