Any dogs ok to be left at home all day?
Discussion
Apologies if this has been done before. I'd really like to get a dog but I leave at 7:30 am for work and don't get home until 6ish. Would it be cruel to have a dog left in the house all that time? Really don't want to get one if it is. Just after any advice if other people leave theirs at home.
Other option is to get a local dog walking firm to come in and take it out but haven't looked at costs yet. Thanks in advance for any replies.
Other option is to get a local dog walking firm to come in and take it out but haven't looked at costs yet. Thanks in advance for any replies.
We leave our dogs that long occasionally, but they are 10 and 11 so sleep pretty much 23hrs of the day even when we are home.
A puppy wouldn't handle it but an older rescue probably would, and as we found out two is better than one as they keep each other company
If you only want a puppy then definitely get a dog walker or someone to come in a couple of times a day or you will probably have a wrecked house and stressed doggy.
A puppy wouldn't handle it but an older rescue probably would, and as we found out two is better than one as they keep each other company
If you only want a puppy then definitely get a dog walker or someone to come in a couple of times a day or you will probably have a wrecked house and stressed doggy.
Yes... Of course it is OK..
Dogs are not humans.
They are particularly resilient and intelligent creatures. ( unlike most of their owners)
They can and will find solace in their own company.
The majority of their time will be taken up with sleep.
We leave a radio on for ours, so that there is some background noise.
However, this isn't something that has happened for the past few hundred thousand years !!
It is your dog.
If you and your dog are happy... Ignore all above advice..
Dogs are not humans.
They are particularly resilient and intelligent creatures. ( unlike most of their owners)
They can and will find solace in their own company.
The majority of their time will be taken up with sleep.
We leave a radio on for ours, so that there is some background noise.
However, this isn't something that has happened for the past few hundred thousand years !!
It is your dog.
If you and your dog are happy... Ignore all above advice..
digger the goat said:
Dogs are not humans.
Which is exactly why lots of people don't consider it OK, dogs are pack animals and are often unable to cope with not having a pack around. OP, my personal view is that it's not acceptable to leave a dog alone for that length of time and if there's no alternative then dog ownership is probably best left to when you spend much less time out of the house. That's just my view though and I'm sure you can find plenty of people who disagree such as 'digger the goat'.
Watch this and then decide, it seems some handle it better than others, the ones who don't really don't....
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dogs-their-secr...
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dogs-their-secr...
digger the goat said:
Leglessalex..
I appreciate your point of view, it would be rather dull if we all agreed!
I ask one question, what did we do before the internet, flexi hours and being able to work at home?
Honestly, I don't know! I appreciate your point of view, it would be rather dull if we all agreed!
I ask one question, what did we do before the internet, flexi hours and being able to work at home?
I imagine that people with dogs and worked all the time simply left them at home, but in my view just because it used to happen doesn't make it OK.
Also as has been said, there are plenty of ways to avoid leaving them alone such as dog walkers or even having two dogs! I just think that given all the options available it wouldn't be right to leave a dog alone for that length of time.
Still, as you say it would be boring if everyone always agreed and while I don't agree with leaving a dog home alone myself, I would still much rather see a dog in that kind of house than one in an environment of abuse and neglect!
leglessAlex said:
Honestly, I don't know!
I imagine that people with dogs and worked all the time simply left them at home, but in my view just because it used to happen doesn't make it OK.
Also as has been said, there are plenty of ways to avoid leaving them alone such as dog walkers or even having two dogs! I just think that given all the options available it wouldn't be right to leave a dog alone for that length of time.
Still, as you say it would be boring if everyone always agreed and while I don't agree with leaving a dog home alone myself, I would still much rather see a dog in that kind of house than one in an environment of abuse and neglect!
I agree 100%. I imagine that people with dogs and worked all the time simply left them at home, but in my view just because it used to happen doesn't make it OK.
Also as has been said, there are plenty of ways to avoid leaving them alone such as dog walkers or even having two dogs! I just think that given all the options available it wouldn't be right to leave a dog alone for that length of time.
Still, as you say it would be boring if everyone always agreed and while I don't agree with leaving a dog home alone myself, I would still much rather see a dog in that kind of house than one in an environment of abuse and neglect!
I have 3 so they do keep each other company. If I could take them all to work with me, I would.
I think most of the dog walkers around my way charge £8-15 a day so that soon builds up to quite a lot.
10.5 hours by itself is quite a long time. Also factor in that if you don't have a walker come during the day then you are going to have to be walking at 7am and again at 6pm so when you take out sleep only leaves you about 3 - 4 hours a day to do everything else.
10.5 hours by itself is quite a long time. Also factor in that if you don't have a walker come during the day then you are going to have to be walking at 7am and again at 6pm so when you take out sleep only leaves you about 3 - 4 hours a day to do everything else.
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