I've been having a discussion with some friends of mine about leaving a dog at home alone overnight and none of them think it is right.

BUT

If you went on holiday and you put your dog in a kennel it would most probably be left alone in it's kennel and run area (where they can wee and poo) for 22 hours....i know coz i used to work at one.  The only time the dogs were let out for a run around with the other dogs was 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour early evening.  The staff didn't have the time to play or interact with the dogs at any other time except a cuddle when they gave them their food.  Yet many people think nothing of going away for 2 weeks in the sun and leaving their dogs in kennels.


So.....bearing that in mind why is it so wrong to leave a dog on it's own in the comfort of it's own home, with access to a garden, for just one night, a total of 10 hours?  Many people go to work all day and leave their dog/s alone so where is the difference if it is during the night.

Any input greatly appreciated.  This is a genuine post and not intended to incite any arguments.  Thank you so much

Firstly there is absolutely no way I would put my dog in a kennels where they were alone 22 hours a day! I've worked in a few different kennels too, all the way through high school and college. It was an eye opener with the usual hoiliday rush, over booking and restricting of water but the dogs were never alone in any of them apart from overnight. There are always staff around, even if in the next kennel, and always walking past yours and would spot if there was a problem.

I wouldn't leave my dogs overnight with access to the garden either, I'm sure your neighbours wouldn't want a dog barking at 3am. I also would never leave my dogs for 10 hours, not ever for any reason.

All that said I do leave mine alone at night as I work nightshift. They're on their own for 8 1/2 hours - which really is just the same as when people go to bed. They're used to this routine though and it suits us all very well. I never leave them for any reason other than that when I'm working. Any socialising, shopping etc has to be done when I'm off that night so they don't get left any longer than absolutely neccesary.

I don't think any dog would like to be left overnight if not used to it, my choice would always be to put them in the kennels where at least you know they're secure :)

A dog in a kennel has staff around it, and vets on call -should he have an accident or get ill whilst home alone, what would happen? In the kennels the dog would be FAR safer.

Back in 1990 I brought my Swedish dog over to England and he had to spend 6 months in quarantine. In Sweden, he was alone during the days as my mother worked. He was VERY depressed in Sweden (I had left him behind when I moved as I felt quarantine would be unfair -I was SO wrong!), lost weight, even got physically ill. Once in kennels, even though he  had NO walks at all (due to it being quarantine!) he REALLY cheered up. Just having dogs around him and people walking past etc made a HUGE difference and he became like a new dog. He was no longer alone.

Susan

I can see your point - my dogs are kennelled overnight and guess what we sometimes sleep longer than 10 hours :)

I think if they were kenelled then no real issue although if the dogs did cause a nuisance you may get questioned!

I know what you are saying about the kennels unfortunately there are too many of that sort of establishments around

Thanks for your input.  I'm still in a quandry about what to do.  I would be leaving the house (after being with my dog ALL DAY) at about 8pm and returning at 6am the following morning.  My dog is not a barker but has never been left alone at night before.  She is not left at home alone during the day but when I have left her she has been fine, no problems at all.

This would be a once a fortnight thing and I want to do the right thing.  I just keep thinking that if I take her to kennels she is most probably going to be on her own for longer because you can't drop them off there any later than 6pm and can't pick them up again any earlier than 8.30am

Do you not have someone you trust that can come in for a couple of hours during the night to keep the dog company ? Even better some one that can stay over.

I think it is personnel choice, However I have to be honest I could not leave mine as I would not rest or settle at the thought.

However I know a friend who has done it and it has never been a problem but only once in a while. People work all day and leave their dogs without a second thought at least you would be with yours during the day.

I go to bed at 10.00 and get up at 7.00 and to be honest do not hear a peep out of Kez for the whole night apart from when he is dreaming. I think it is not so much about the length of time you leave it but the safety aspect ie in case the dog is took ill in the night etc etc, the only other thing I would say is not to allow the access to the garden the amount of dog thefts around I would not trust a soul.

I agree that there is a safety issue here but the same thing applies during the day as it does during the night.  Like you say many people go to work for 8-10 hours a day and leave their dogs and don't actually know if their dogs have took ill in their absence so why should it be any different at night.

My neighbourhood is very safe and quiet and dog theft is not something that particularly bothers me although of course it is still another concern that we all have.  But I actually think that if someone is going to steal a dog they are more likely to do it during the day just like most house burglaries happen during the day.

Is there anyone who could either stay at your house overnight or even pop in late evening to make sure your dog is alright, give it a cuddle and let it out for a quick wee before putting it to bed for the night?  I think I would rather do that than put my dog in kennels.

I do this for a neighbvour if they need to be away overnight.  I pop in last thing and let her out first thing.  This is an adult dog and I don't think she notices they were not home overnight.

I think you should give it a shot, it is clear you have give it a lot of thought and care an awful lot to do so, like we said people don't think any different when they go to work 8 hours per day 5 days a week, same risks just you are only doing it once in while. Like one of other post advised if you worked nights you would have to leave your dog and you give a 100% during the day at home. Good luck with your choice I don't think there is any right or wrong here

Once, when I was young and immature (year before last ) I went out to a wedding reception at about 8pm, then went on into town and got soooo drunk I was too ill to get a taxi home (at one point I couldnt walk :rolleyes: ) so I had to stay at a friends house who lives near town and got a lift home at 7am the next morning (after being very ill !) so my boys were left for 11 hours on their own and Alf was only 11 months old and they hadnt peed in the house the only naughty thing they did was to pull apart the duvet out of the spare room .

And yes I did feel very guilty and I havent done it since !!

LOL ClaireyS boys will be boys and what fun they must have had pulling the duvet apart

They were pleased that I didnt come home - much longer to have fun !

I did once leave my dogs all night when I was out for the evening and my car broke down.  I had no choice but to stay with my car until the RAC arrived and didn't get home until about 4am but I had 2 dogs then and didn't worry because they are company for each other.  Now I only have the one dog so it's slightly different.  The more I think about it the more I just don't want to do it but my logic tells me that she will be safe and come to no harm and probably just sleep all night just like she does if I leave her during the day.

i havnt left my dog overnight but i have gone out at teatime and left him with the back door open and the garden secured(6 ft fence, padlocked) until very late at night due to work, about once a month. But the neighbours are always in and have a key and know that i have gone out so would be able to pop in if needed, in time  this is no different to leaving overnight, i know mine just settles down sleeping till i return. i guess it depends on your dog and your neighbours.

We go out every Sat night at about 8.00pm and often do not get home before 1am sometimes 2am and the girls are fine, they are used to it and all they want to do when we come home is get their bedtime bickies and go to bed ... so I would have thought it would be OK
I think it would be best to lock them in though as it may be safer for them and just accept the fact that you may have the odd accident to cope with. That way you shouldn't have a problem with theft or complaints. My girls have my company all day, unless I am working and then I go at 1pm and Ron is home just after 5pm. If I work a night of course Ron is home with them but the next day I sleep for 4/5 hours in the morning. Most dogs are happier in thoer own homes than in a kennel environment. JMO I'm sure others would dissagree and would not do it but I think occasionally it's not a problem.

I agree that many people may go to bed at approx 10pm....ish (I know not many on here :-D) and then get up at 7am, so give or take a few hours your dog would probably be sleeping most of that time anyway and is not alone for much longer than it usually would be. That part of it is fine, but........

The problem is a dog knows when it is alone, you can't really leave the tv or radio on due to the lateness (and possibly fire risks) and because a dog is on it's own in a house, it is much more likely to be on the defensive and bark at any noises or voices outside that it hears which will greatly carry on a night-time when everyone is sleeping and the world is very quiet.

Although the garden idea is good for allowing toilet access, that would worry me greatly that a burglar could get in or your dog could be stolen.

Would a neighbour be able to pop in between 10-11pm to let your dog out to the toilet and then lock up again?  That would be one problem solved, it would also break the monotony and be a check that all is well. Or do you have a neice or nephew or if too young for that :-D a close friend, who would stay the night once a fortnight.  Even a neighbours teenager whom you could trust, might do it for £20 a time, it would be worth it for them to have a place to themselves and they may jump at it.

There are plenty of night workers who do leave their dogs, given a preference I would prefer someone to sleep in my home, it is a quandary for you, I'm a natural born worrier and would be fretting that all was well at home:rolleyes: but the final decision is yours.

If i had a choice of leaving a dog in the day or night,i would choose night everytime! My dogs are used to being awake and busy during the day,and we go out for one last walk before bed so they are tired out and they sleep through the night,i doubt they would even notice i was gone through the night.I certainly wouldnt put them through the stress of a kennel for an only once a fortnight thing.

>you can't really leave the tv or radio on due to the lateness

Why not? You dont have to have it on full blast,just loud enough to comfort the dog,and it shouldnt matter how late it is,if it is in your own home you should be able to leave the radio or tv on if you so choose :)

Burglars usually burgle during the day,so i would feel safer leaving them at night. And as others have mentioned,people think nothing of leaving their dogs alone everyday for 8 hours plus while they go to work,i dont see the difference in leaving them at night,other than they are used to sleeping through the night so is better IMHO,especially if only once every 2 weeks.

We have had on occasion to leave our older 2 (before the dreaded puppy came ) you'd think with the stillness of the night ect they'd be looking out the window pining for us and barking and crying at any twig/branch that moved.......

well i thought so :D not our 2 they slept all night my neighbour went in at 7am and had to shout them out of bed! :D its your personal choice if you think your dog is going to be ok then i dont see why not...

Thanks for all your thoughts on this.

I have decided that I shall break her in gently so to speak.  I went to see my friend last night leaving the house at 8pm and coming home at 1am instead of staying out all night.  It was obvious that she had been fast asleep when I got home because she was all warm and snuggly with creases in her face lol.

I have to wake my one up in the mornings, you would think he is bursting for a wee wee but oh no just like his dad a problem to get out of bed, I am sure it will all work out for you in the end