Hi.

I was just wondering actually how many people own a dog and work full time? I have a 15 month old GSD who is left home alone all day while me and my partner go out to work. Luckily he has never chewed or toileted anywhere. He seems to sleep all day or play with the cats.

I work all day, but have someone come in and check on my girls and give them some lunch etc..

I also live above a shop, so the people that run it also keep a listen out for them.

Not an ideal situation, but they are happy, and it seems to be working...

Natasha

Maybe I'm soft but I never leave Thistle for more than 3/4 hours unless it is really essential. I usually take her to a dog minder when I am working. I am having major traumas at the moment because she is in season so I can't take her to the dog minders. I am having to organize extra visitors etc, maybe I'm being over protective.
Jane

I actually own two labradors and work full time. They seem fine with it, spend a lot of time sleeping and the other part playing. They give me the loveliest greeting when I walk through the door, so they can't resent me going to work too much!

I work whenever I'm needed...sometimes for the entire week,two weeks, or just a couple of days out of the month. I leave the rouladin up about 8 inches & the girls can relieve or sun themselves on the patio. They're happy to see me, but no problem on their own....sleep most of the day, anyway now :D When they were younger, I had a neighbor look in on them during the day, but they had their own door then too. They're just easy dogs that way. I'm lucky with them :D

hI .I work all day but would not have got a dog if I had to leave it all day and the puppie that I did get would not tolerate being left all day,But I dont think it's a bad thing it's just up to the individual person to leave the dog or not all day.

hello !
i work full time and so does my partner. we try to take our dog with us to work but some days it isn't possible - so we leave her all day and pop back to let her out mid-morning and mid afternoon, she is fine with that and we have done that since she was a pup, i am hoping to have a play mate for her from her litter, she just sleeps or is sat waiting by the front door for us when we are due home. which is great, she then knows that it is play time ! i think people stress too much about leaving dogs, as my mum always says in the olden days dogs were left to sleep in the coal shed and ate all the family scraps ! my uncle's sheep dogs are kept all day shut in a pen and are never spoken too and they are ok ! (not sure i agree with that extreme though) dogs are what we make them !!!(through training) and they need their space and a break from us humans ! :p

I think some of you are trying to convince yourself that leaving your dog all day is ok. I think it is totally selfish, do you forget that dogs are social and pack animals, they enjoy the company of other dogs and people. You say they sleep all day, what else can they do, if they are well trained(they wont chew, toilet etc.) this is all they can do. I think it's ok to leave them all day if you have another dog for company, allow access to a garden, hire a dog walker/minder or have someone check on them. What kind of life is it siting/sleeping waiting for the people you depend on to come home, be too tired to give you any attention when they do and then be left again when they go to bed. Also in the old days they used to beat the dogs into submission to train them should we do that as well, i think we have progressed since then.

I think you have to remember that sometimes peoples circumstances change. You may have been at home all day for years when you get the puppy, and then maybe for some reason, usually financial, you have to go out to work. What are you supposed to do then, just give your dog away? That would be awful for the dog and owner. Leaving it alone is not ideal, but sometimes there's no choice.

Having said that though, I think it's totally selfish to go and get a puppy when you know you will be leaving it on it's own. I don't understand why people do that.

I agree !, i wouldn't have actively gone out and bought a puppy if i was working full time, when i got chloe i was working part time and when i did work she stayed at my parents with their 3 dogs(on some occasions i left her at home). But now I have to work full time and my parents have suddenly had to move to wales (family issues) so now what do i do ??? i would never ever rehome her as she is part of my family. Within the next year i expect things to change as we will be trying for children and i will be home all day every day - Things do change sometimes when you least expect them and i do not think it is wrong if you have to leave a dog at home while you work after all work pays the mortgage/vets bills etc etc etc - i think people sometimes forget that dogs are dogs and not replacement children !

Katdog,
Please remember a simple fact before you chew someone out for not having the ideal situation ...... Adult Dogs can require up to 19-22 hours of sleep a day. It does depend on the breed & personality what they need. Granted, it's not solid sleep like ours is. They doze, enjoy lying in the sun, change spots... but many adult dogs don't need or even want the constant companionship of humans. Doganalities also differ on solitude & companionship needs. My dogs picked me & we seemed to mesh on what we all are able to provide for one another living in the same household.

For instance, I just returned home from grocery shopping. With other errands, I was gone about 5 hours. My girls were joyous when I came in. They watched me unload, bring groceries in, danced around while I talked at them while putting the groceries away, escorted me upstairs to the computer, and now, they're back lying on the bed watching out the window in another room completely ignoring me.

Many times I've sat at the computer doing work from 6am on & they're off doing their own doggy thing -- usually SLEEPING under the bedcovers until 1pm. When I go to the kitchen, they'll appear in hopes that they'll get something, but they vanish when I sit down to eat (on purpose -- I hate being stared at). If I'm reading, watching tv, or on computer around 5pm, Samma will appear & start making sounds reminding me it's dinnertime. After being fed, we'll go back to doing whatever suits us. If they want company, they'll let me know....same backwards too. That's why my dogs & I get along well as a good match. We can play together for a while.... or not. Oh, and everyday just depends on our moods & the weather. If it wasn't for the fact they never talk, I suppose I wouldn't miss my husband at all :D :D

We're getting reading to go on vacation when my husband returns next month (wonderful to say that). All of us will be in close contact for at least 2 1/2 weeks probably more hiking, biking, visiting sites, & just living together in small confinement. I know from experience when we return, the girls will vanish somewhere in this house for at least 4 days to only show up at mealtimes. It's as if we all realize we need space from one another :D :D
toodles

And I think if a dog is happy, content - not stressed out then that is the test. If people are gone all day and the dog is still happy and part of the family the rest of the day how can that be selfish or bad ownership. If the dog is stressed or attention seeking then yes - it is neglected.

I think each person has to make the decision for themselves what is right for them and for THEIR dog and to judge them is NOT what we visit the board to do. Right now I work 4 hours a day so am gone roughly 5. Our dogs are happy - if I need to go shopping after work I do. On the days I don't work or often in the afternoon the dogs go with us out shopping in town or off for walks - but not every day.

They are content, peaceful dogs. I was raised with parents who had to work full time, yet dogs were part of the family - that is just the way it was - it was unthinkable for us not to have dogs. So we did - and you know what - they survived JUST FINE in a full time working family environment.

Of COURSE it would be ideal if someone were home all day - but someone has to go out to earn the paycheque that pays for all the stuff that goes along with dog owning!

Rather than criticising GOOD dog owners, why don't we focus on getting at the ones who's dogs are TRULY neglected and abused.

Geesh

Well said Wendy :D

Mine have outside kennels and runs for when left home alone and this can be 4 hours or so a day. Husband self employed so his hours vary and some days he may be here all day and others out part of the day. Worst case scenario has probably been about 7 hours but rare. If he is here all day (or if I am as is the case at the minute) they may well be put out in the runs for a few hours in the day and they just sleep - this is also to get the pup used to it in preparation of me going back to work fulltime.

What about when people who are supposedly home all the time go out on an evening - leave dogs for 4 or 5 hours at a time then without a backward glance I'd guess.

I know some families with dogs who leave them shut up in a room on their own all the time - on paper might seem the perfect owners as don't work yet their dogs get less love and attention than many whose owners work.

Sara

I am sure some of my postings on leaving puppies all day have been read. I have 2 dogs and they are left all day ... they were both adult rescues when I took them on, although my small terrier chewed then and still does. I live with that ... its my choice and when I am here they are well walked and fed. However, I do think it is wrong to take on a puppy and leave it all day long. I say this from experience in rescue where we are always taking in young dogs bought as cute puppies, which then become destructive or difficult to house train because left. Some pups I accept will cope, some owners will just live with the difficulties, but I do not think it is right to leave a young and very energetic dog locked in a house alone all day. If there are other dogs, or animals maybe that isn't so bad, and an outside run might be an answer, but I still feel socialisation is essential for a very young dog. In particular working breeds (and I accept someone earlier leaves their labs) .. but Mattie and many other working breed rescuers will tell you it is a major problem for rescue to take on these intelligent energetic animals from people who can no longer cope. :( OK moan over.

Caitlin can you ring me there are 17 spaniels in the kennels from a house in preston to rehome im helpng too

My husband works full time, and I have odd hours so sometimes there is no-one in our house for
up to 9 hours. I don't think that this is neccessarily cruel to our dog. When he was a puppy we
lived in a shared flat so there was someone around most times, but now I think he is ok.
When peopel are in the house all day as someone else said he just sleeps most of the time anyway.
He probably prefers being alone as it means he gets the big sofa all to himself as he usually can't
get on it and ends up curled up in the armchair.

I have three Labs and they are left at home all day during the week. They have a lovely large Conservatory with lots of beds and a sofa to snore on. They also have a dog flap where they have access to go outside and do their doings ! They are all very happy and contented and either sleep all day or when you get home and all the toys and bones etc have been moved, and the cushions are off the sofa you know that they have been having a playing session. My neighbours have always said they hardly ever hear a murmer from them ! When you get home it is so good to see three girls so excited to see you. Lovely to come home to if you have had a really bad day !

Lucy

Lucy is your conservatory secure from the house? We are moving & think this is prehaps the best solution for leaving Jabba. She is not left all day as my husband is always home at lunch time, but it might be nice to let her in and out of the house but she is too big for a dog flap. I am just a little worried about security.
It is a difficult decision to leave your dog all day, or even at all. It is easy for people to judge and complain it is cruel, and accusations to those who leave their dogs 'justifying it' makes the guilt increase. I know some dogs who have 'company' all day and that just means their owners are in the house, not that the dog is stimulated or interested.
We are lucky that Jabba loves it when we are there & I know she loves it when we are not. She gets so tired when we are in she needs the time alone to rest properly. There are a lot of problems which can develop when dogs are left alone, such as bored destructive dogs or dogs which promote themselves in the pack due to their guarding, or howling in loneliness. But at the end of the day is it not better to have a happy dog? If the dog hates it don't leave it, if the dogs doesn't care, don't feel bad about it. It is an individual decision & nobody should judge.

The big thing to watch with conservatories is the heat - it's akin to leaving your dog in a car - just not one with wheels and usually bigger too:D

Seriously they can get dangerously hot for dogs with no escape from the heat and the sun. Just a thought.

Pam n co

Ah..but in the wintertime, the glimmer of the weak sun could be just what those old bones need. ;)

A very valid point. We are lucky that the conservatory only has the sun in the morning and so will not get that hot. We have a electronic thermometer that we keep a very close eye on as well. All the windows are left open. The area where they go through the dog flap is totally in the shade and so if it does get too hot they can go out there to cool down. Also plenty of fresh water is left for them !

Lucy

Yes we have patio doors into the dining room which are fitted with proper security locks. It is a must that this is done otherwise you insurance will be invalidated. It is not a thing alot of people realise.

What sort of hound is Jabba ?

Staywell who we got the dog flap form do all sizes of flaps. The one we got was a large which is just the right size for Labs. They also do extra large.

Your comment about not judging I fully support. At the end of the day nobodies situation is the same and so it is upto the individual but as you say just so long as the dog is happy.

Lucy

Jabba is a GSDxLab. She stands about 28" tall. I guess a lab flap would fit her. She is an old girl, but despite the old adage she likes learning new tricks, so fingers crossed we find a new house with a conservatory.

Pam good point about the car like qualities of a conservatory! I guess Jab would love a conservatory though as it is hard to keep her out of the car!! She jumps in even we are just unpacking the shopping.

Dogs keep you smiling don't they!!

Most breeders seem to be unwilling to place a puppy with anyone who will be leaving it longer than 4 hours a day. Makes you wonder how people who work full time get a pup. No criticism intended of anyone here - we sometimes had to leave our dog alone all day when she was older. Points to remember seem to be: some dogs temperaments are better suited to being left to happily snooze the day away and that an older dog will usually cope better with longer periods alone than a pup. Heard of someone locally who is leaving a young lab alone for very long days and is mystified as to why it is systematically eating its way through their house.
Jackie

there was an interesting letter in Dog World this week from Peter Lewis, who is a practical dog person helping people with problems. He is worried about the new bill of rights for pets.

In his experience many dogs develop problems with too much human companionship bringing out seperation anxiety in the type of dog that is insecure.

I do try to tell new puppy owners to try not to smother the puppy with attention, as the4n it finds it cope alone when it needs to be left.

Puppies require a lot of human attention just with feeding and housetraining, and some become adicted and unable to cope alonme. More independant types don't need or want this level of closeness!

My first dog a BSD Groenendael was the sirt to follow you from room to room, even the bathroom! My Elkhounds on the other hand are more relaxed, and don't come looking for me unless I have been gone a while, and I might find someone checking up on me.

My current breed seem less dependant than the Belgian, but maybe it is that I am more relaxed and off hand with them, and they react accordingly??

A couple of years ago, I was offered a 12 month old BC bitch that the owners wanted to rehome because she was being destructive and hard to train. Her owner had 'looked on the internet' for remedies for her behaviour and training tips. Then I was told that she was left alone for 12 hours a day!! No wonder this poor dog was climbing the walls!!
Remedy for her behaviour?? Start by spending some time with her!!
Anyway, after a think about it, I made further inquiries only to be told she'd gone, apparently to a farm
I'm lucky with my dogs, because although I work, it's part time and my husband works shifts, so they are alone for the longest time only one day every other week and then it's 5 hours.
sas