Does anyone feel bad leaving their dog home alone during the day while they work during the week?

Question

I will have a month off of work (between college and 1st job) and am thinking about buying a puggle. I will be able to train/be with it all day for that month, but then start working 40/hrs a week and im wondering if many other people do this or not. I know I will walk and play with it before i leave and of course when I come home each day, but i still think that i might feel bad leaving it alone by itself for so long during the week! Also for those of you who do leave your dog alone, do you let it roam around the house? or keep it in one room, or a cage? A worker at a pet store told me I should leave it in a cage or crate or something like that (i will not buy from a pet store though, only from a breeder) Just trying to find some answers that I havent been able to in books! Thanks!

Answer 1

Here's hoping you're not buying a puppy or you're asking for trouble. Your best bet is to get an older dog. Maybe 1 1/2-2 years at the least. Then you only have to train them to your rules instead of housebreaking and all. I don't see how you think you will housebreak a puppy in just a month. Unless you use wee wee pads. Then maybe. Anyway if you feel bad about leaving him then try leaving the radio or the tv on for him. Also get him used to stuffed animals that you and he use together like while playing or something. Some people put an alarm clock in a sock so that the ticking is like the mom's heart beating. But that is for weaning pups away from their mom. You didn't give an age. But a dog that is around 1 or 2 will pretty much know most of the rules. And dont spend tons of time with it while you are home. Get it used to being home by itself. Maybe you could go out for a few hours a day. Like 1st week maybe go out for 2 hours, 2nd week 4 hours a day, 3rd week 6 hours a day and then by the end of the 4th week you will be up to 8 hours a day. This should work pretty much. Then gradually he will get used to you being gone. When the weekends come you can make it up to him. Good Luck.

Answer 2

I work in a vet's office and I have 2 dogs and 2 cats... so I know a bit about feeling bad... you should see the look on my Golden's face when I put my shoes on.

I think as long as you spend as much time as possible with the dog before work and after work... (this means no work then home for 5 min then out for another 5) it should be ok.

And yes crate training is a GREAT idea. Our dogs sleep in their crates by alone with out us closing the door.

We as people tend to feed into our dogs... they get over the fact that we left about 30 seconds after the door closes. The best thing you can do is make leaving in the morning very non eventful. Don't go into a huge talk about where your going for the day... just go. This makes the dog learn that what your doing is no big deal, and you will be home to let him out.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

I have a 8 week old Boston Terrier and yes I can't stand leaving her in the crate all day. But I don't work close enough to home to come and let her out and spend a few minutes playing with her. I went to leave this morning and had to come back inside to get something and she was just a crying and I felt really bad. But the thing is some of use have to work and the dog will get house broke soon (I hope) and she will have the whole house to her self.

Answer 4

THis is one of the few times when it's easy to say your dog would be just fine. SInce you will be out when your dog would normally be sleeping, she will just sleep through the night. If you find that you don't have the energy the days after your shifts to really take ehr out early enough and play throughout the day - since she is young- you should perhaps arrange for a pet sitter to take her just on those days, perhaps in the morning. That would take the pressure off you, and let her get some good socialization with other dogs and people. Ask your vet in the new place for the name of a reputable pet sitter - and not just one who sets them free in a dog park, but supervises them and walks them in small groups, to be safe. Start crating her alone now, so she gets used to being alone, before you hit her with the new surroundings.

Answer 5

I always feel pretty bad. I try to walk my dog as much as possible so he's not bored. I don't want him to bark all day. Sometimes I leave him inside when I know I can come home for lunch. Otherwise I leave him in the back but he can go into the garage for shelter. He has a few bones a a few toys.

Answer 6

He'll be fine if that whats your asking, dogs the love us but they do like alone time. people leave them out side for most of there lives(which is mean) but a few hours wont be too bad. just be sure to love them as soon as you get home, leave plenty of toys and leave a radio on the like the noise and will give them that "safer feeling" that someone is home. let the dog roam unless it starts to destroy stuff then it can be trained or left in a cage, but be careful a good friends of our had a dog he got out of everything so they gave him a run, him in the back to just see what he would do and sure enough the dog got the run door open but instead of going out of the yard he ramed his head in the locked doggie door till it poped off and let him in side then once inside the dog opened the pantry and got to the top shelf and chewed up the papertowles, smart doggie he now has been trained and he has more toys than he knows what to do with.(ohh and yes they had just moved into the house.

Answer 7

I have an outdoor dog right now so I only feel bad when its cold outside, in which case I've fixed up the garage for him and I know he wants to be outside running around but can't. Thats the only time I feel guilty. When I had an indoor dog I bought one of those dog gates (or child gates) and put him in one of the bedrooms with gate blocking him in but the door remained open so he wouldn't feel so caged in. It just like with out kids, we always feel a little guilty but its a part of life unless you're wealthy enough to stay home all the time. You get used to it and so does the dog so don't worry so much.

Answer 8

I was in the navy and I was gone constantly during the day form my little Pekingese. She is about 11 months now, but at the time she was just a baby. I always hated to leave her because I knew I was a mother figure to her. I felt as though I was letting her down. Plus, I missed her like crazy because it felt like she was my daughter. I would put her in her pet taxi with all sorts of toys and raw hides for her to play with, and then I felt better since I knew she at least had something to do. You will miss them and feel bad about it, and they will miss you too. Just make your time together count and give it plenty of things to do while you are gone so it doesn't get too depressed. Make sure the dog you want doesn't get depressed easily. Some breeds die f rom being too lonely. Good luck :)

Answer 9

My husband and I both work 40+ hours a week. We used to keep our dog in a crate while we were at work, but we lost pieces of the crate while we were moving. Now we close the dog off in the kitchen. Luckily, my husband can come home to let him out during lunch. Otherwise, our dog can't hold it for that long.

Answer 10

Many people have dogs, and work.
When I had my Dog I used to work nights.
I kept him in the kitchen area, his chained
leash hooked to a closet door. His bed, food,
and water were near by.The floor was linoleum.
He did good. When home, I walked him, and
let him out on a chain. In the beginning I tried
letting him have free roam of the house at night.
He tore a straw hat to pieces. It was all over
the living room. Live and learn.
You will do fine.
Oh, I saw some neat Food Puzzles on TV.
This made the dog have to work for his food,
or treat. Less time to tear things up, or get
into trouble