How long can a dog be left alone in the house for?

Question

I may be adopting a small dog, but I'm need to know how much time I'm going to have to be at home and how long I'm going to be able to leave her. I don't work full-time but will have to leave her in the house 4 or 5 hours a few times a week. There may be a couple of occasions that I need to leave her longer, maybe 7 or 8 hours, but only rarely. Is this fair? Some people I've spoken to say it's cruel to leave a dog alone for so long, others say it's fine as long as she's got space and toys and somewhere to 'go', and I take her for lots of walks and look after her when I am there. What do you think? Don't want to take her on if I'm going to be doing something that isn't good for her! Advice from more experienced dog owners would be much appreciated.

Answer 1

What age is the dog? Puppies need more work and more time but will get used to being left easier than an older dog that hasnt before. I currently have two dogs, both rescues so both have slight hate of abondonment. My husband and I now both work full time so my eldest dog (5yrs) has been used to being left alone for a few years now - he wasnt in the beginning. Obviously it can be very easy for a dog to become bored but it can also depend on the breed and character of the dog how long this will take. Some dogs take it very personally and can destroy a house within 20mins of being left others wont touch a thing all day. We have recently started leaving the eldest dog outside when its sunny as we have a huge secure garden and he has shelter, (some would say this was also cruel) but he loves it and it stops him from causing damage (hes always had a taste for wood since being a puppy). We have recently acquired a new rescue female 4 month old puppy who my husband comes home from work for to feed her and let her out at lunchtimes due to her size and age she is currently in the house but is left in a huge pen with loads of toys etc when we are out.
As far as we are concerned its better for a dog to have love, care and attention and lots of toys to play with and lovely walks than not to have a home at all.
Dogs give you loads of love and joy in return for what you give to them.
Not many if any dog owners dont work or go out at sometime without them it would be impossible to live that way.
I hope my perspective helps - its really a personal thing between you and the dog and hopefully the companionship will be for many years.

Answer 2

You sound like a sensible person who'd make a really good dog owner.

Some dogs are very highly strung and would need someone around most of the time, others can cope with being left for longer - it varies from dog to dog. Where are you getting the dog from?

When we first got our dog he was left for 4 hours at a time and was fine with that. Later, our circumstances changed and we do have to leave him for longer, up to 8-9 hours sometimes. In this case we walk him VERY LAST THING before going out and VERY FIRST THING when we get back.

This would not be suitable for all dogs. Ours is a particularly laid-back greyhound.

Ideally your dog should be let out during the day when being left for a long time. As she gets used to your home she'll feel more settled and more able to cope.

Another thing to note is that rescue centres tend to err on the side of caution. As our circumstances are at the moment we'd have difficulty in adopting a dog, yet ours is happy here.

Dogs aren't great at judging timespan. A dog doesn't know when you leave it whether you've been gone for 2 hours or 5 hours. Chances are the dog will just sleep whilst you are out.

Bear in mind, the dog won't be able to go out for the 8 hours you are asleep. They CAN hold on. If she has space, toys and somewhere to go she'll be fine. You'll take her out for walks when you are there so the dog will be a happy one.

To summarise, by the sounds of it, the dog will be lucky to have you as an owner. Good luck.

Answer 3

Ive had my yorky since he was 9 weeks old and from 2 days after we got him he has been left for 4 hours a day and weekends apart from doing the shopping he has our upmost attention.There has been a few times in 4 years when Ive worked late (an hour or so)and he has been fine ,He has loads of toys and chews etc to play with and fresh water.If I have time I take him out before I go to work if not when I get home.He,s a very happy chap and knows we will be back.He actually loves his space and never makes a sound while we are out.Never shewed furniture so we have been lucky.I think its a good idea to leave her for a short time when you first get her ,Jus t pop to the shop etc ,just to let her know you will be back soon.Good luck and enjoy her company when you walk in from work and see a tail wagging pleased to see you home.

Answer 4

It really depends on the dog. Some like to have some quiet time to rest while you're gone and others get stressed by being alone for a half an hour.

I have two German Shepherd Dogs and my male loves to have the whole house to himself (sleeps the day away), but my female hates it when we leave the house for more than a couple of hours and would get into trouble if we didn't crate her... she actually likes being in her safe and cozy little crate.

We have found that it works best to leave the two dogs together in a relatively dog-proof section of the house if we need to be out of the house for an extended period of time ( like if we go on a day trip where dogs aren't allowed or something). That way, she doesn't get lonely and he doesn't feel cooped up all day.

I think if the dogs were used to being alone more often, they might react differently to our being absent, but since I am a stay-at-home-mom and I am around the house 99% of the time, they aren't quite so used to being left alone together for very long and see it as either a special time (like my male) or an uneasy time (like my female).

Answer 5

Different dogs react differently to being left - and it isn't always the owners fault. Its just that some dogs can't stand being alone for long.
They can learn, but you can't leave them while at the same time you are training them to be left alone!
Most dogs are ok for 4 hours, some manage 8. You can crate them, exersize before you go and after you return, and leave a radio playing quietly. Leave chews and a worn t-shirt or used pillowcase with your scent on.
But at first for the 8 hour stint I'd get someone to come in for an hour to walk the dog.

Answer 6

You sound sensible to me but you dont say how old the dog is..We have a rescue dog and it took 2 years of training (he was 6 months when we got him)and a huge crate in my kitchen(hes a big dog) until we could leave him knowing he wasn't going to harm himself or something else.This Jan we got a little pup to keep him company as hes really settled down and the pup never minded being left and its part of his routine.Like you I work about 4 hours a day but occasionally the dogs are left a little longer..if your going to be out for 8 hours you should really try and get someone to let them out half way through the day for you ...they need to go!Dogs are very tieing so your doing the right thing thinking about it first Good luck!

Answer 7

I think you would be OK to adopt her- give her a Kong toy stuffed with kibble and stuff to chew on. Puppy proof your home. Maybe confine her to one area of your home when you are gone- preferably not a carpeted area. Realize that at least initially she may have an accident or 2. It's not her fault. I hear some small dogs can be trained to use litter boxes like cats. They sell them at Petsmart.

You say "dog" not "puppy" and in your situation a grown dog would probably be easier.

If you could arrange to be home more often the first couple weeks you have her that would help.

And yeah- lots of walks and attention when you are home would be great.

Many dogs have it a lot worse than the situation you describe.

Answer 8

We leave ours for about 4 to 5 hours, his OK just as long as you walk it before and after when you get home.
I wouldn't leave it longer, more than a couple of times because if its anything like our dog it will be sociable and like your company, they can also get bored and start destroying things so make sure you leave it some toys (you can get the ones you fill with treats there great) and don't forget water and food.
If i were you i would definitely get a dog there great!

Answer 9

My next door neighbour left their dog two weeks alone with just someone popping in to feed at 5pm. Judging by the constant yapping it was not happy. In general the dog is left for at least 8 hours a day and doesn't yap a lot.
I think as long as you are taking dog for nice long walks every day it's okay to be left even for 8 hours.

Answer 10

Get a dog door-flap leading into your garden so that the dog can get out to play and have a wee etc. I have two extremely large dogs and the dog door flaps come from tiny to absolutely huge. When you want to keep the dogs in there is a sliding part that stops the flap opening.

It is preferable to have two dogs (one of either sex but ensure one of them is spayed) as I have. I do not go out for long periods but they can amuse themselves either indoors or in the garden if I am away a few hours.

Leaving one dog alone in the house for long periods will distress the dog as he/she will see you as her companion and will miss you when you are away from home.

If you cannot see yourself with two dogs (they could be small ones) then it is better not to have a dog at all. Much kinder to the dog.