Is it wrong to leave your dog home alone if you work fulltime?

[Niamh.]

Just stole this discussion from DS tbh.......Discuss

[Crimson Dynamo]

There are certain breeds where this is less of a problem and it depends on do they get a good walk first and how long are you away

The TL researched a lot about her dogs for this very purpose

[Crimson Dynamo]

for say a border collie its abuse, full stop

[Vicky.]

I would say this was very wrong tbh. Dogs need company and excercise.

My mum and dad used to both work fulltime but their shifts worked out pretty well. I would say if noone will be in with it for like 8+ hours most days then its really wrong.

[Crimson Dynamo]

i have never ever left my dog in the house, she comes everywhere with me and has a fit everytime I go to the door :joker:

But I rescued her as she was being left all day by her owners

[Niamh.]

There are certain breeds where this is less of a problem and it depends on do they get a good walk first and how long are you away

The TL researched a lot about her dogs for this very purpose

Our dog is a westie/Pom cross, when we got her Gav was around the house alot during the day because he was on call but when he got a new job there's no one at home from 8:30 to when the kids get home from school at around 4pm. I prefer to leave her inside the house with the cat rather than outside. It's not ideal but our only other option is to give her away which I think would be more traumatic. She seems fine with it though, she doesn't cry or anything when we go

[Niamh.]

i have never ever left my dog in the house, she comes everywhere with me and has a fit everytime I go to the door :joker:

But I rescued her as she was being left all day by her owners

Most people can't take their dogs to work though tbf :laugh:

[caprimint]

Nah not really, they don't need constant attention

[RileyH]

depends how long you're away for tbh

[jaxie]

We used to leave our dog at home while we went out to work before we had kids. We didn't have much choice as we needed to work and the dog came with me when I got married because my dad was disabled and couldn't walk him. When I look back I think it must have been lonely for him all day and it was a big ask to expect him not to soil the house even though he was walked before we left and as soon as we got home. He never did mess the house. I would not leave a pet alone that long now, but I have the luxury of choice. He was a wonderful dog, he died soon after my son was born, I still miss him. I think a dog is best in a good home where it is happy, even if you have to be out during the day, than an abusive home where the owner is there most of the time.

[Cherie]

Our dog is a westie/Pom cross, when we got her Gav was around the house alot during the day because he was on call but when he got a new job there's no one at home from 8:30 to when the kids get home from school at around 4pm. I prefer to leave her inside the house with the cat rather than outside. It's not ideal but our only other option is to give her away which I think would be more traumatic. She seems fine with it though, she doesn't cry or anything when we go

If you come home and everything is fine i don't think it is an issue, if he starts eating the furniture then it is a bit of a problem, leaving the radio on can be company for him

[Denver]

We cant help it thats why we are looking at getting him another dog to be Friends with

[Niamh.]

If you come home and everything is fine i don't think it is an issue, if he starts eating the furniture then it is a bit of a problem, leaving the radio on can be company for him

No she seems to be fine, she's only little and likes being inside pretty much all the time anyway and the cat is there with her too. Gav leaves her out in the garden when he gets up in the morning and I leave the house about 45mins after he does and when I come out the door she's always waiting there to run back inside before we go, she really doesn't seem bothered, I mean once she gets inside the house she doesn't even hang around to wait while I lock the door she's straight into the kitchen for a sniff around :laugh:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Did you know that dogs use the degradation of your smell as a clock so as to know when you will be returning home

[Niamh.]

Did you know that dogs use the degradation of your smell as a clock so as to know when you will be returning home

That's pretty cool

[Ashley.]

It's not wrong at all. Like Stacey said, they don't need constant attention especially when they're older - just make sure you're giving them enough attention when you're at home.

[joeysteele]

Yes it is definitely in my opinion.

[mizzy25]

i have 8 dogs but only work part time. 5 of them live in kennels in the garden 3 are indoors. would I leave them all day? Never theyd have a fit.

[DemolitionRed]

When we lived in France our dog came everywhere with us because dogs are welcome pretty much everywhere. This caused a problem however when we moved back to the UK. He developed anxiety disorder and got hysterical every time we went out without him. We recorded what he did when he was home alone and all he did was curl up by the door and not move till we got back.

We got him a thunder vest, put him on a raw diet, used calming aromas around the home and eventually resorted to doggie therapy, which was worth every penny.

If I'm going to be out of the house for more than five hours my husband takes him to work with him but otherwise, we are now happy to leave him. Since we followed the therapist suggestions he's been fine. He now plays with his toys, chews his kong and goes into our bedroom and sprawls out on our bed.

I think the most important thing for dogs is walks and plenty of them regardless of wind rain or shine... a tired dog is a happy dog

[user104658]

It depends on the dog but for the mostpart... as pack animals they will be pretty miserable and anxious on their own. It's much less of a problem if you have more than one dog though, they're generally fine to use each other for company.

[Wizard.]

Our dog is a westie/Pom cross, when we got her Gav was around the house alot during the day because he was on call but when he got a new job there's no one at home from 8:30 to when the kids get home from school at around 4pm. I prefer to leave her inside the house with the cat rather than outside. It's not ideal but our only other option is to give her away which I think would be more traumatic. She seems fine with it though, she doesn't cry or anything when we go

Hire a dog walker? I walk dogs for people who work full time they give me the keys to their house I just let myself in and I charge £6 for half an hour or £10 for an hour but go through something like DogBuddy because if someone steals something from your house then they have the persons address and details plus your insured if anything happens to the dog.

[Jordan.]

Our dog is a westie/Pom cross, when we got her Gav was around the house alot during the day because he was on call but when he got a new job there's no one at home from 8:30 to when the kids get home from school at around 4pm. I prefer to leave her inside the house with the cat rather than outside. It's not ideal but our only other option is to give her away which I think would be more traumatic. She seems fine with it though, she doesn't cry or anything when we go

That amount of time doesn't seem that bad really, I'm sure she just sleeps most of it. Plus she has the cat for company so isn't completely alone.

[Smithy]

If it doesn't need a massive amount of exercise then no, if it does, then yes it's unfair, so like someone else said, depends on the dog

[DemolitionRed]

It depends on the dog but for the mostpart... as pack animals they will be pretty miserable and anxious on their own. It's much less of a problem if you have more than one dog though, they're generally fine to use each other for company.

We considered getting another dog when he went through his anxiety problems and were told that wouldn't make a difference to our anxious dog and that the second dog would likely develop the same disorder from the already anxious one.

I think if you have a well-adjusted dog, a second dog makes for a good companion.

[Niamh.]

If it doesn't need a massive amount of exercise then no, if it does, then yes it's unfair, so like someone else said, depends on the dogShe doesn't, she's really small. She really doesn't seem bothered at all tbh

[MTVN]

How many people can afford to have someone with their dog 24/7? Seems crazy. I thought pretty much everyone leaves their dog alone during the day

[Wizard.]

How many people can afford to have someone with their dog 24/7? Seems crazy. I thought pretty much everyone leaves their dog alone during the day

I don't leave mine for more than 4 hours, and that's the recommendation. If you don't have enough time for your dog then don't get one? If you're happy with your dog pooing and peeing all over your house and getting overweight because they're not being taken out.

[Niamh.]

I don't leave mine for more than 4 hours, and that's the recommendation. If you don't have enough time for your dog then don't get one? If you're happy with your dog pooing and peeing all over your house and getting overweight because they're not being taken out.When we got our dog there was someone home most of the time, also she never goes to the toilet in the house and she isn't over weight lol she's only little she only needs one walk a day

[Jake.]

It's not wrong at all. Like Stacey said, they don't need constant attention especially when they're older - just make sure you're giving them enough attention when you're at home.

Tbh

Ours is alone from about half 7 till just gone 5 but he's always walked and never left alone when we're back from work

[Jake.]

I don't leave mine for more than 4 hours, and that's the recommendation. If you don't have enough time for your dog then don't get one? If you're happy with your dog pooing and peeing all over your house and getting overweight because they're not being taken out.

Mine isn't overweight? He's a small dog mind but I don't see why he would be.

[Ashley.]

I don't leave mine for more than 4 hours, and that's the recommendation. If you don't have enough time for your dog then don't get one? If you're happy with your dog pooing and peeing all over your house and getting overweight because they're not being taken out.

My old dog (he lives with my parents now) is left on his own from 8 till 5 with the radio on and they've never had a problem with him, so I'm not concerned. They take him out morning, evening and night (three times a day - the recommended amount is twice) and he's well trained and only pees when he's taken out. He's also one of the happiest dogs I know. He isn't overweight because he isn't overfed.

It's no different to leaving your dog on their own whilst you're sleeping.

[Marsh.]

I don't leave mine for more than 4 hours, and that's the recommendation. If you don't have enough time for your dog then don't get one? If you're happy with your dog pooing and peeing all over your house and getting overweight because they're not being taken out.

Being left alone during the day doesn't mean they're not walked and exercised the rest of the time the owner is home?

[LaLaLand]

For a couple of hours no, but 9-5? Absolutely wrong and unfair.

Don't get a dog if you're not home all day, get a cat. Or a hamster or something.

[Cal.]

I don't leave mine for more than 4 hours, and that's the recommendation. If you don't have enough time for your dog then don't get one? If you're happy with your dog pooing and peeing all over your house and getting overweight because they're not being taken out.

Mine are left for 7 hours on a Friday so this doesn't really apply to me but they aren't overweight and if they were still pooing and weeing in the house at 3 and 4 years old I'd be a very bad owner indeed!

[thesheriff443]

Dog food and vets are not cheap, so people have to go to work
Peoples situations change, so before people jump on the bad dog owners, think about that.

[DemolitionRed]

Dog food and vets are not cheap, so people have to go to work
Peoples situations change, so before people jump on the bad dog owners, think about that.

Dogs live on average for 12 years. None of us know how their circumstances may change in that time. Dogs adapt and providing we consider the dogs best interest then alls good.

[Niamh.]

Dog food and vets are not cheap, so people have to go to work
Peoples situations change, so before people jump on the bad dog owners, think about that.

Dogs live on average for 12 years. None of us know how their circumstances may change in that time. Dogs adapt and providing we consider the dogs best interest then alls good.

Exactly. I paid €192 at the Vets the last time I was there a couple of weeks back just for their shots and flea/wormers(for the cat and dog).......we have to work :laugh:

My dog honestly isn't stressed out by us going out anyway and the cat is company for her while we're not there, the dog loves the cat, when we go on holiday the cat goes to a cattery and the dog stays with my father in law and she gets so excited to see the cat when we get home

[user104658]

Exactly. I paid €192 at the Vets the last time I was there a couple of weeks back just for their shots and flea/wormers(for the cat and dog).......we have to work :laugh:

My dog honestly isn't stressed out by us going out anyway and the cat is company for her while we're not there, the dog loves the cat, when we go on holiday the cat goes to a cattery and the dog stays with my father in law and she gets so excited to see the cat when we get home

Hahaha my in-laws have two dogs and used to have a cat, the younger dog was genuinely in love with that cat. The genuine heart-fluttering excitement on her face when the cat entered a room. And she would sit and lick the cats ears and look so happy. Poor thing must have been gutted when the cat died, but I think it was like 21! Cat hated the dog, of course.

My own dog when I was a teenager pissed on our cat. Like walked up to him when he was sleeping, squatted over him, and pissed all over. Inexplicable...

[Niamh.]

Hahaha my in-laws have two dogs and used to have a cat, the younger dog was genuinely in love with that cat. The genuine heart-fluttering excitement on her face when the cat entered a room. And she would sit and lick the cats ears and look so happy. Poor thing must have been gutted when the cat died, but I think it was like 21! Cat hated the dog, of course.

My own dog when I was a teenager pissed on our cat. Like walked up to him when he was sleeping, squatted over him, and pissed all over. Inexplicable...

:laugh2: Gross though

Yeah the cat isn't too bothered about the dog either, they occasionally attempt to play with eachother but it never works out, the dog usually ends up terrified and runs away :laugh:

[user104658]

:laugh2: Gross though


Yes. Plus I had to bath him and he scratched the **** out of me :fist:.

[Niamh.]

Yes. Plus I had to bath him and he scratched the **** out of me :fist:.

My cat is actually better in the bath than the dog. He's literally thee most laid back cat in the world, nothing phases him

[waterhog]

Just stole this discussion from DS tbh.......Discuss




just asking - is this a derogatory question ? :shrug:

[Niamh.]

just asking - is this a derogatory question ? :shrug:

What do you mean?

[Kizzy]

Not really no, as long as you ensure the dog is exercised adequately I wouldn't have thought so and you are there in the evenings so :/
They aren't children, they're pack animals so when the leader isn't there they guard the home.

[Cal.]

Just been walking my boys as it goes!

[Niamh.]

Not really no, as long as you ensure the dog is exercised adequately I wouldn't have thought so and you are there in the evenings so :/
They aren't children, they're pack animals so when the leader isn't there they guard the home.Also they sleep 12-14 hours of the day