I'm going on vacation for a week starting tomorrow, my dog (a golden retriever, 3 months old) will be home alone. I left enough food out for it, it can drink water from the toilet bowl, and it is housetrained to go on newspaper. Do you think it would be ok?
I asked my next door neighbor about this being ok, and he was quite worried and offered to stop in and take care of it. However, I don't want to give anyone the keys to MY HOUSE, especially if they are acting so desperate, so I declined.
2007-03-25 15:36:10 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
No its not ok to leave a 3 month old puppy home alone for a week.
The food will proabably all be gone in one day. The newspaper will also be soiled after one day.
And its also a 3 month old puppy. You will probably come home to a completely trashed house. And your dog may get into dangerous things out of boredom.
I would let your neighbor or a friend come check in on your dog.
2007-03-25 15:40:50 · answer #1 · answered by Shell 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely NOT!
A dog can not be left alone on its own for a whole week, let alone a 3 month old puppy. Puppies that are this young need constant supervision for the same reason a 2 year old child would. You must understand that your puppy is very young and has not had much time on this earth to learn what is safe and what is not (like falling down a set of stairs hurts, touching something hot burns, etc.). Dogs are social animals which require constant compainonship for both their mental and physical well being, this is the equivalent of us needing friends and family. To suddenly leave a puppy would be like placing us in solitary confinement for an unditermined period of time...possibly forever...how would we know it was only a week?
Your puppy needs a constant supply of fresh water and food. Many dogs can not regulate themselves the way cats can by eating only a little at a time, they must have pre-measured meals fed on a regular basis.
Although your puppy can relieve itself on a newspaper, it will be walking through it's own feces and urine for a week, not only can this cause serious health problems such as urine scald, but there may be parasites present that you are unaware of that can reinfect the puppy or infect you when you return home. (90% of puppies are born with internal parasites!)
PLEASE, for reasons of your puppy's health and happiness, (and issues leagaly boardering animal cruelty), allow your neighbor to dog-sit, or host the puppy in her house, find a pet sitter, or board your puppy with a vet.
When we take an animal into our lives, especially an "infant" we MUST accept the responcibility that goes along with properly raising and caring for them. You have a baby on your hands, and must make proper arrangements for all of its needs to be met before focusing on your own.
-RVT
2007-03-25 16:05:44 · answer #2 · answered by vet tech 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lot of good answers here. What I am wondering is how a 3 month old puppy can drink water out of a toilet bowl unless he's a huge puppy?
Your neighbor will probably report you to the animal control people for neglecting an animal. I think it's against the law to leave a pet alone in your home while you are out of town.
If your going to have a pet it is your responsibility to care for it or see that it is taken care of when you are out of town, otherwise don't have a pet.
2007-03-25 16:02:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your dog will NOT be okay and you can be charged for leaving an animal alone that long. Your dog will pee and crap all over your house, your furniture will be chewed up & you have no idea whether it knows enough to drink out of the toilet. What happens if he/she knocks the lid down and can't get at any water - he/she'll be dead by the time you get home. I can't believe you would even consider doing this. A 3 month old puppy is still a baby and will get in to sooo much mischief even leaving it for 24 hours. You will have major issues of separation anxiety when you get home that you will never be able to fix. Your dog will feel abandoned & will be a major problem for the rest of his/her days.
Let your neighbour come over and take your dog out & hopefully for several walks throughout the day. Why did you even bother getting a dog if you were going to leave it like this. I wouldn't even leave my dog for a weekend without someone coming over to walk her at least twice a day & she's 4 years old.
I can't believe you'd even consider this - it makes me feel sick.
2007-03-25 15:47:35 · answer #4 · answered by Lucy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Under no circumstances should you ever leave your pet home alone for a week. There are many things that can happen when no one is around, especially to a puppy. They are just like children. Have someone pet sit for him or take him to your vet office, they board dogs for so many $ per night. They will care, feed and take your pet out for exercise.. Ask your neighbor if your dog can stay at his house because you are not comfortable giving out your house key.
2007-03-25 15:46:57 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Leaving a three month old puppy alone isnt a good idea. For one dogs will do anything if not suprevised. Even if they have the best training. I would have some friends come over and check on it, or let one of your friends have it while your gone.
And the news paper you put out will get really really gross and stink up your house.
2007-03-25 15:40:00 · answer #6 · answered by tdude09 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
NO NO NO! DO not leave a 3 month old puppy home alone. I hope for the sake of your puppy you re-think this...if not don't be surprised to have animal control break in while you are gone to rescue the poor thing.
2007-03-25 15:48:54 · answer #7 · answered by Shalvia 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is a criminal act of cruelty to animals. You need to contact your dog's breeder and let them know that you are not qualified to own a dog. Please be kind and return the puppy immediately.
Would you leave a baby alone for a week? Why is a puppy any different?
2007-03-25 15:49:08 · answer #8 · answered by Hound Dawg 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
ok for one thing your neighbor was just offering to take care of it i mean come on and you cant just leave food and water sitting it will eat until it cant anymore and its 3 months old so i wouldnt leave it alone if it was my pet crude but the truth i had a 3 month old dash hound we kept hime fed and watered but we had to leave him in a crate in our building of the night he was left alone and froze to death :((( this has nothing to do with your dog but atleast have someone who u trust look after it
2007-03-25 15:55:10 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your neighbor has the right idea. Your puppy needs socialization. Either trust your neighbor, or ask if he's willing to watch the dog, at his house, instead of yours.
2007-03-25 15:43:32 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋