Leaving dogs alone all day?

Question

Is there a particular dog breed that is more happy to be left alone than average?

I would love a dog, but as I would be away from home from 7am to 5pm at least, the dog would spend a lot of time alone.

Answer 1

It is fine. Go to the shelter and pick out a dog that is alone 24/7 in his cell. Being alone from 7 to 5 will be heavenly. I know mine are usually extremely happy to see me when I get home so be ready for an excited pooch. It will make anything that happened that day better.

Answer 2

If you're out that long every day I would think about getting more than one dog as it will get bored and could end up chewing furniture etc. also as you probably wont have time to train a puppy I would go for a couple of adult dogs - preferably ones that have lived together before so you know they get on.

In my experience larger dogs seem to be able to last longer as well. However they also generally need more exercise than smaller dogs (1-2 hours a day)

It might also be better to get dogs that have lived outside so you could keep them in the garden while you are at work. Don't do this if a dog hasnt been used to this in the past though.

I've got two 11 year old german shepherds and they sleep all day when I'm out and can be left up to 9 hours, but most days its only 5-6 hours they are left.

Getting a dog is great but if you work all day and also have a busy social life at night it would be unfair to leave it on its own again at night.

Remember that a dog is a big commitment and that it relies on you for food, exercise and company and can become unhappy and destructive without that!

Answer 3

Yes, it /can/ be done.

I live alone and I am away from home 8:30-5:30 each weekday. My border collie (the /laziest/ border collie alive!) manages just fine during the day. The little dear is a complete saint, pretty much snoozing in front of the TV (which I leave on for him) all day.

However, I wake up extra early each morning to take him for a vigorous walk before leaving. And then he gets two more fast paced walks in the evening when I return. AND we usually do something exciting every other day... whether it be the dog park, an intense training session, or visiting with other canine & human friends. And on the weekends? We go nonstop... trips to the barn, miles of hiking in the woods, etc. And he's one happy dog.

However, it all depends on the individual. A friend's chow/lab cross took to eating strips of carpet while he was at work. Two gastronomic surgeries later, he ended up having to keep her in the kitchen while he was away to prevent more issues.

I definitely would not ask a puppy to go that long, however. They are physically incapable of handling a stretch of time that long without a bathroom break. This was a strong factor in my decision to adopt an adult dog, rather than a pup.

Some breeds are definitely more 'couch-potato' than others. My lazy border collie, for example, is a freak--many examples of his breed don't do well at all when left alone for so long.

On the other hand, all the greyhounds I've known have been total couch-warmers.

Don't be discouraged, even those of us who work full time can have dogs too! =)

Answer 4

Leaving dogs alone for that long is acceptable and the breed is not so much the problem. I wouldn't get a puppy because no matter what the breed is, they can't be alone that much. Otherwise I would find a adult dog and a medium to large breed. They tend to stay a lot calmer when alone. But just remember to take them on long walks, this will decrease there energy level and allow them to relax more when you are gone. Adopt an adult dog from a shelter, they many not be puppies but they need homes to! good luck

Answer 5

As long as they have plenty of exercise before and when you get home there shouldn't be a problem. They may get lonely but i think it depends on the dog. I had a Lab that refused to live in the house he was happier outside, alone!
You could always leave the t.v on, i also had a staffie i left the t.v for him he would lay on the sofa watching t.v all day, sometimes he wouldn't budge, lazy bugger. One day he sat on the remote and turned the volume up full blast, come in and he was still asleep! But you learn to put the remote out of bums way.
He will probably have more love and care than what alot of other owners give their dogs, i wouldn't be amazed at how many people answering this question are actually lying about not leaving their dog alone!

Answer 6

NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!! Separation anxiety is common in dogs left alone all day. Dogs need attention, not to be left alone all of the time. Even if you got another dog to keep it company, you may end up with twice as many problems. I thought it was cute when my dog (left alone for only 4 hours at a time) would chew on my remote, my cell phone. I thought it was funny to come home to paper towels strung through the kitchen, living room and dining area. It wasn't funny when I came home to find that he'd chewed on an electrical chord and had a hole burned through his cheek and tongue, he could have died. I put him on doggie prozac after that and made sure he got plent of exercise in the evenings so he wasn't too bored at home alone. I think you're just asking for trouble leaving a dog alone that long, not to mention it's kind of cruel. A cat would be the better choice.

Answer 7

7 to 5 is a really long time to leave a dog alone. Dogs are very social creatures and like attention and play. A cat would be a better pet for someone that is away so much. They entertain themselves and will sleep more than a dog left alone.

Answer 8

Hmmm the dog would get lonely, especially if your considering getting a puppy, they need a lot of care and attention from the beginning, same goes with a tamed bird, they literally always have to be with you ( I have one). Have you thought of getting a cat or maybe some kind of rodent? A cat usually sleeps in the day and is more active at night so that would suit your schedule more and a rodent well their cute to look at and most are nocturnal too, keeping in mind they don’t need as much attention as a cat or dog.
Maybe you should get a rat, I’ve heard and know from my personal experience that their like small dogs ( yeah I know what your thinking “ yeah right as if a rat can be like a dog, but that’s what I thought before I got mine, they literally kiss you, run into your sweater, romp around they are so lovable), only rats require less attention in the day than a dog would and depending on your cat( their nocturnal) or a mouse , their not nearly as social as rats however their really cute to watch and hold, and their babies are so cute!

Answer 9

I don't know if there is a specific breed that does better when they're alone (dogs are pack animals after all), but of all the dogs I've ever raised the females were more independent and less needy than the males. That's just my experience - may not be someone else's.

Added: All the folks recommending you get two dogs, without knowing anything about you or your ability to raise and care for multiple pets are doing you a great disservice here. You might be able to do it; you might not, but that's not the question you asked.

Answer 10

I don't know of any breed that is happy to be left alone all day. I realize people have to work, so I suggest a doggy daycare or having someone come in and walk your dog at least a couple times a week.