Just wondering really.

I have 3 dogs, to go into the kennel when I go out. The other stays in the house.  I work for 6 hours a day, but shifts depend, either early morning or late evening, then I am out for a hour seeing to my horses, due to time my dogs get 1 long walk/run a day, but I have a huge garden too. 

So it varies from between 4 and 7 hours left alone.  On a normal day, obviously can vary more depending of other things I have to do.

Mine are only left when we pop out shopping, hospital appointments etc...I don't work so they are not left for any length of time...If I do have to leave them for 2 to 3 hours I feel very guilty! Silly really...but they are used to company all the time I suppose! If we are going out for the day to fish or visit family etc they come with us. :D

It is good that they have a good long walk a day. But personally, I would not leave my dogs alone for the lengtht of 4- 7 hours

i feel guilty if mine dont get 2 long walks a day (rarely) and they are only left on occasions up to 2 hours

Mine are left for nearly 8 hours Monday to Friday, they are happy well adjusted dogs, who when I'm not at work I spend my time just with them!!  I do agility, obedience, ringcraft, gundog training, water training etc. as and when I can.  My whole weekends are with them and I'm sure people who've met them don't think that they are badly done by.  But and it's a big but I would never leave a single dog alone for this long, due to me having a fair number of dogs they do seem to keep themselves happy during the day although I'm sure that they actually sleep during most of it.

> left for nearly 8 hours Monday to Friday,

Sorry - can you clarify, is indoors or with access to somewhere to pee etc :) :) :)

Daisy

Yes indoors and they are really great and don't mess everywhere.  In an ideal world I'd be rich, have a family with two point four children, wouldn't work etc. etc. but I live in the real world.  They have access to food,water and I'm sure exercise both physically and mentally more than some dogs who have someone at home 24/7!

Usually only for a couple of hours a day, but v. occasionally are left for up to four hours max.

Sarah.

Mine are left for no longer than 3 hours and that's only when neccessary (maybe once a week).  Other than that they're only left while I go shopping, etc.  They get walked every day, either in the fields near the house or up on the hills.  My husband and I both have to work but I took a job working three 12 hour nights a week so they didn't have to be left for long periods during the day.  I don't sleep before I go to work or the day after (unless I'm doing two nights in a row, then I go to bed for three hours) because otherwise it upsets my sleep pattern for the rest of the week so it suits the dogs really well. 

Working full time and keeping dogs can be done without them being left all day :) 

Debs

Both myself and OH work full time but he works from home and is on call.  There are rare times that he will be out all day in which case I go home at lunchtime to give them a good run.  The most they are left is 4 hours at any one time.  They have three walks a day, one in the morning, one at lunchtime and then one in the evening as well as doing agility.

In an ideal world I would not work as many hours, but trying to keep afloat on todays property ladder is very difficult, I am lucky I work part time as my Fiance has a good job. 

I used to work 2 night shifts a week, I have to admit this was much better for me too. I hope to get another nightshift job in the future.

On days were I am going to be out a while, my MIL pops in for an hour or so, or my fiance will come home for his dinner.

Now, they aren't left at all apart from the normal shopping, evening out etc, as OH is home all the time. For a year or two when neither children were home, they were left from 8.15am until 4.45pm, four days a week. I had 1 1/2 hour lunch break (I work 5 minutes from home) so they got a long walk then and of course, were walked before and after work as well.

Daisy

Working full time and keeping dogs can be done without them being left all day

If you live on your own with a mortgage can you tell me how this is possible?

Erm, I do it - but i either go home at lunchtime so they get to go out or on the days I really can't get home at lunch, I pay a dog walker to come in and spend at least 30 minutes with them every day.

K

If you live on your own with a mortgage can you tell me how this is possible?

Well, one could get a dog sitter in for one thing :) 

All I was trying to say was that there's a way around most things.  Personally I disagree with dogs being left for long periods while their owners are at work but there are ways to avoid that situation.  I'm not about to start a debate on the rights or wrongs of it as it's all been said before but, again - personally, if someone was working full time and away from the house leaving the dogs alone for longer than 3 (or 4 at a push) hours a day, they wouldn't get one of my puppies :)

A situation has just cropped up for us just this week actually.  I am judging on Sunday in East Anglia (I'm in Somerset) so I'm going to be away from the house for a fair few hours as you can imagine!  My husband does not normally work weekends but they've had to change his hours at work due to being short staffed and he now has to work on Sunday, 1pm til 8.30pm.  Panic ensued! LOL  We have arranged for a friend to come in for the afternoon/evening to stay with the dogs.  We bribed him with a home cooked meal left for him, DVDs and chocolate :d  We know the way to his heart LOL

Debs

MIne are left for around 7-8 hours monday - friday.  they are outside in a large run and evenings and weekends they're with us.  We dont have the option of popping home at lunchtime to let the dogs outs (it would take around 2.5 hours!!) but our dogs have adjusted to this fine and love being outside.

This topic has been discussed to death many times. Yes, we'll all agree that the ideal life for a dog is with an owner who is there for them 24 hours a day, spending the whole time training, grooming, cuddling and walking them. However, this is the real world and dogs are very adaptable - and as a rule are happy with their lot. How often do we see pics of some poor, starved, beaten dog wagging it's tail while tied up outside in all weathers... not that I'm advocating this of course :D

I've always worked full time but up till 5 years ago there has always been someone home with the dogs. First my parents, then I shared a house with my brother, then my partner. When we broke up I was in a quandary over what to do with the dogs. Tchi would never allow a dog walker in the house, and at 34" at the shoulder there's not many people who would be brave enough to go past him when he's snarling at them :rolleyes: I was faced with the choice of giving up work, then wouldn't be able to pay the mortgage etc. Rehoming the dogs, and I couldn't give Tchi and Toto to anyone they would have to be pts :( or carrying on working and making the best of it. The last option was the only one I could do so I changed my shifts to nightshift. I'm out the house for about 8 1/2 hours a night but the dogs sleep then anyway. I walk them when I come home and before work and they cope very well with this arrangement. I never do overtime before/after my shift, and never go out without them if I'm working that night, not even to the shops. So they are with me 15 1/2 hours a day. They have the run of the whole house (minus the gerbils room) and are perfectly happy with this arrangement. I'll always have multiple dogs and really don't see a problem with this arrangement as long as the owner is prepared to commit to spending all their free time with the dogs :)

Good one Jane!

When I was working f/t my dogs were left for long periods but they also enjoyed 4 walks a day too, which is probably a lot more than a lot of dogs who's owners don't work.  I certainly haven't seen mine suffer for it.

Meet my dogs and tell me that they are badly treated  I do more than many 24/7 in house owners do with my dogs.  My dogs adore me and I adore them.  My money is spent on my dogs and myhouse.  I cannot afford dog walkers/sitters.  I have on occassions gone without to ensure that my dogs get what's needed for them.  They are fed well, mentally stimulated and enjoy life.  My eldest is 14 in a weeks time and if she's that badly done by why is she still with me?

Luckily my parents live close by and do pop in now and again and I'm lucky that if I'm ever away they are there for my dogs.

On and by the way the only time that they are ever caged is in the car!

My main worry would be not having a chance to pee for such a long time on a regular basis.  I know I can't last that long.  When you have multiple dogs then they have the company most natural to them so in fact are probably as happy or happier than being with a human all day.

There's really no need to get angry....

As I clearly stated, these are my personal opinions to which I am fully entitled - as you are to yours.  Why take things so personally?  Where have I said that I think people who leave their dogs are badly treating them?  I have my ideas and you have yours and if people can't have differing views on things without the other getting angry then there's something wrong somewhere!  There really is no need to be defensive - the OP asked a question which I answered - simple really :)

Debs

> Well, one could get a dog sitter in for one thing  

If you can afford one!

At the mo my lot are left a little voer 4 hours, but hopefully I'll find another part time job soon - or a full time one - in which case if I can't get home at lunchtime, they'll be left for 8 hours at least.  Although obviously I'll be trying my damndest to get home!

But, as and when I do get the extra job, I know very well that there is no way I could afford to pay someone to come in for my dogs (not that they'd let anyone in anyway :rolleyes:) - unless my some sheer stroke of luck I get a very well paid job.  And given my lack of experience in pretty much all things non-animal, that is very unlikely to happen.  I'll be lucky to get something that covers the basic expenses, and I'm relying on my friend to move in and rent to do that properly and allow me more than about 50p a week to myself!

Sadly things in life just aren't as simple or as ideal as we'd like them to be!

I have two dogs and my longest shift at work is 4.5hrs, I work within a five minute walk from my house.  My son works nights so my house is never empty in effect, however, he sleeps till 1pm / 2pm.  They go outside until he gets up, with shelter if required.  Whenever someone is in the house they come in, however, they are always at the door trying to get out!  They are out at the moment by choice.  If it's extremely cold, I leave them indoors but they have to be in their crates or they (well Dicksy mainly) hates it and can't settle, he likes his security does Dicksy.  Therefore, I would say I leave them for maximum of 4-5hours alone but in reality they are never left that long as my house is occupied 24/7.

mine are on their own from about 7.30am to 2pm. They get out for about 40 mins before i go to work, and nine times out of ten my neighbour comes over for them and they go to her house with the run of both our gardens for anything from 45 mins to me getting in from work, so they're lucky really. I don't think they'd be that fussed if she didn't come and get them to be honest-they've been used to being on their own for the morning anyway, and i'm sure they just snooze. Once i'm home they're with us all the time-even when i go pick hubby up they come for the ride.

I have to say that this is one of those subjects that you feel strongly either way!:rolleyes:

I personally have seen animals in shelter that would love a home and i'm sure they wouldn't worry if an owner was out at work during the day. If people are working to pay for a mortgage and they have no friends to babysit their dogs its pointless spending money to get someone to sit with your dogs (these services aren't cheap!)

That said it depends what your dog is used to some dogs get very frustrated with lack of human company and others just get on with it!

That doesn't mean i would feel the same about a puppy, i personally don't think puppies should be left for long periods of time on their own.

Our puppy is only left when i pop to the shops etc.

My three doggies are not left apart from the usual shopping trip or school run, If I am going round to a friends for coffee during the day then I either take them with me (much to some of my friends discust or I time myself only to leave them for max 2 hours) hence not many friends invite me for coffee with three huge giants in tow!! :D :D :D
My youngest child has now started full time school so me and the dogs are enjoying extra 1 to 3 time with each other!! :D :D
Today we have had walkies, been groomed played our barking game and chilled out!!! Without having to rush around all the time!

I'm now working part time but for more than 20 years I worked full time. I own an active easily bored breed with high excercise needs and have always left them for 7-8 hours per day whilst at work. I have 7 at present and they are completely fine with their routine. I have a heated dog room with access to a large paved dog yard and a run of  3 insulated and heated kennels as well as a large double kennel for any in season bitches . I  usually put the boys in the kennels and the girls have the dog room. The kennels/dog yard in turn leads onto a 1 acre paddock and the dogs have a good run first thing in the morning and again in the evening as well as individual training. Everyone comes into the house in the evening and at weekends. During my long holidays ( I teach) they all have access to the ground floor rooms apart from the lounge during the day but tend to want to stay in 'their' areas. Everyone sleeps indoors at night.

Now that I am working part time they still stick to their routines and sleep after their morning run - when I go shopping or to shows they are quite happy to go into their allotted places. Personally I would never leave a single dog on it's own all day as I think they need company but my lot seem fine just mooching around until I get home.
I've never had any complaints about noise etc ( but then I have  no close neighbours ;) !)

Yvonne

Mine are left alone approx 2.5 hours per day.  I have arranged my work hours around them so my daughter comes in about 2.5 hours after I leave for work.  If they are ever going to be alone for more than 4 hours I have a lovely lady come in and play with them for an hour.
I am a single mum who strugglers to pay the bills and cannot afford a proffesional dog sitter so I advertised for someone in the local shop, got lots of replies and chose this lady.  She will come at the drop of a hat and play with them and wear them out in the garden and sit and fuss them for a minimum of an hour usually longer as she loves them to bits and I just pay her £5.
If on the rare occasion my daughter and I want a day out she will come up to mine a few times during that day or just stay here with them and will take no more than £10 for a whole day.
I hate leaving them and always feel terribly guilty.

We are at work for about 5 hours Mon to Fri, but most days my mum comes in and walks the dog half way through that (usually a 2 hour walk!).  If she can't make it a friend will pop in to let the dog out for a pee about midday.

Mine are left 8 hours most days .... loose downstairs in the house, 3 of them spend the day watching BBC1 and the other sits on the windowsill and spies at all our neighbours.
Sometimes I bring a couple to work, but they are quite content at home .... as Perrodeagua (sp?) mine are very busy dogs - up at the crack of dawn for walks and play then entertained in the evening - obedience, agility, ringcraft, running in harness, swimming , slobbing watching TV etc etc ...

They happily accept that until either they all find themselves well paid jobs or we have a lotto win this is the way life is :)

Not left other then shopping ect if i am going to be out all day [RARE] i get a dog walker.

Sheila

Would any of you say it was dependant on your dog too.  I know that Dicksy would be fine so long as he was in his crate due to his insecurities but Biscuit is a real big wuss and has to have company most of the time, he loves to sit with his head on you whereas Dicksy is not a loving dog at all, likes to lay at your feet but not touching you.  My dogs when out don't P and always take a poo bag but never used one!  but when we go to the coast, it is hours upon hours of walking until they will go, it can be frustrating for me!  On an hours walk I'm not bothered but if we're out all day I do like them to go towards the end of the day before the journey home as I feel they would be uncomfortable.

> Would any of you say it was dependant on your dog too.

Absolutely!  Neither Opi nor River would be happy to be left at all if they were alone, but with doggy company they are fine.  Remy is too lazy to care either way really, and Soli spent the first 5 years of her life being left 8 hours a day at least bvy herself anyway so she's not bothered.

8 hours a day Mon-Friday ..Maddy is in the keenl (plus a run) Delta and Hudson have the garden, living room and kitchen. As soon as the first person comes home, Maddy gets let out , then they are walked or run on the rig ......

:)

We are both working in schools so the dogs DO get the benefit of having us at home most of the day for about 12 weeks a year though ;)

Edited to add, we have only ever got a new puppy when we have a long holiday ..never in term time :)

My shifts are nominally three hours, though the evening ones can overrun a bit if we're busy, and I only have a five-minute walk each way. So they're never left for more than 3½ to 4 hours at a time. I wouldn't want to leave them longer than that because of Piglet's medical condition which means he shouldn't go more than 3 or 4 hours without weeing.

Demi is left for about 4 hours once a week, when we do the shop and go out for lunch!  When I had more than one dog, I felt happier leaving them for that amount of time, now, with just one, I tend to panic about her being on her own, even though I know she's perfectly safe, so I just can't wait to get home!  I've turned into a big wimp where my girl is concerned!

I feel just as guilty leaving my multiple dogs on their own as i did when i had one dog.I thought i would feel better about leaving them when i got company for the single one,but it made no difference :rolleyes: :D

Mine are only left for short periods of time when i go to the shops etc. But it wont be this way forever,as eventually very soon i'm going to have to get a job,and i'm dreading leaving them for hours at a time :(

Lol Ktee, I know what you mean, I felt guilty leaving mine when I had more than one.

But, I'm much worse now with just one!  It's getting so bad that I dread going out....and I only go into town once a week as it is :rolleyes:  She stays in her kennel, which she's perfecty used to, she's used it for about 5 years, she's never had a problem with being left on her own either.....it's just me!  (Mind you, I wake up in the early hours to check on her too....she's only 6, and perfectly healthy......paranoid....me??  Never!! )

Mine are left Mon-Wed from 7:30am untill Daughter comes home from school about 3:30pm.  They are fantastic well adjusted dogs (with the exception of Mara-moo but that's another story) and don't seem to mind.  A family down the road from me- neither work, they have 3 dogs and all 3 are left outside in the kennel 24/7 and never walked!  Someone once said to me that she would rather spend a good quality few hours with her dogs where they have her full attention rather than all day every day only half hearted attention.  I really do believe it depends on the individual person and how much they are prepared to put in :-)  As also said before- in an ideal world I'd be a lottery winner or wed a very rich man in which case I would have to work! 

Stacey x 

My 2 are left for the normal shopping, odd night out trips but would never leave them for more than 2-3 hours max.
Our lives revolve around our dogs they are part of our family, if the dog's can't go then neither do we.
They are really good and are fine when left, my husband works continental shifts and I work casual so I just fit my work in around my husband so there is always one of us at home.
My mum and dad offered to pay for us to go to Lanzarote with them for Xmas but I would never put my dogs in kennels so the answer was no thanks we will stay at home with our dogs.
We don't go on holiday without them(we have a touring caravan).
This is a very personal and argumentative topic cos not everyone has the same principles of looking after a dog but my personal opinion is if you are working full time then don't get a dog, I personally wouldn't have let one of my puppies go to someone out all day.
I did give backword to one prospective owner who lied about work commitments and when I found out I did say sorry but you haven't the time for a puppy so I returned her deposit.

I am out for 4 hours at work in the mornings, and sometimes have to go back out later in the afternoon for another 1-2 hours (to take daughter to swimming lesson etc).   

However my breed isn't active and Ludo spends most of her time sleeping in the hall - whether I am there or not!  She always gets a walk at lunchtime - currently restricted to 40 minutes as she is still growing.  I also leave her a collection of hide chews and stuffed kongs and I change her toys every day so she doesn't get bored. 

If she is antsy in the evenings I take her out for a stroll around the block to wear her out - this only happens about once a month!

As a result of conversations on this board I do not leave her crated when I am out, she has the run of the house bar the lounge (following some chewing incidents :D )

I can also take her into work if necessary, but due to her size I try not to do this too often ;)

Sadie, where do you find owners for your puppies who do not have to work full time but can afford to keep a dog? Or would you prefer  an owner to be on benefits? :rolleyes:

Most people I know who have dogs have to go to work, my dogs are very much part of my family but I still have to work to pay for everything.

I too don't go on holiday because I hate being away from my dogs but as someone quite rightly said to me, maybe you depend on the dogs more than they do on you. 

Each to their own!

I would never dream of telling someone else how they should /shouldn't raise their dogs. As long as the dogs are happy and healthy then they are doing the right thing for their dog!

80% of my pups go to full time working homes, but their owners do everything they can with them.  The only one that I ever had to rehome was someone who was with the dogs 24/7!

Yep. I think so too. People must just get along and do what fits them and their dogs.

I'm home most of the time as I am a part time student and also work part time from home. But I still need to go out sometimes! lol! My dogs just have to chill and accept that being home alone is perfectly fine. If anything because I am home a lot of the time I had to go out deliberately  just to train them to be happy being left so that on the rare occassion when they need leaving for 7/8 hours they are content.

No way would I hire a dog walker for the one off times they need to be left all day because my dogs are not easy and I'd rather come home and find them safe and alive than take risks with giving them to strangers to look after.

When I have pups I ask what arrangements are in place for the pups care during the day. 

This may be one of a couple at home, parents who live with the owners or close enough for the dog to stay with them etc.  It is the same as arranging child care. 

If there are no ready answers (not vague oh we may do this or that, but solid thought out arrangements) for this aspect then they don't get a puppy.

Certainly those who already have a happy dog and suitable care arrangements are more likely to qualify.  I think the important things are the pup has company (from pups perspective a dogs company is as good or better) and it's physical needs taken care of.  I can't see how anyone can shut a dog up for 8 - 10 hours a day every day without an opportunity to relieve itself.  I know a dog can hold on that long, but to expect it every day is too much in my opinion.

Sadie, where do you find owners for your puppies who do not have to work full time but can afford to keep a dog? Or would you prefer  an owner to be on benefits

What a silly statement.

Many , many people dont work, full or even part time, and can afford to keep a dog,  (me included) I dont work , nor am  I on benefits.      And what is the problem with good owners being on benefits,  does being on benefits make you a bad owner?????

Surely , it is the love and care you put into your dog, that counts.

I would think most breeders look to the suitability of their new puppy owners being right for their pups, not whether they are on benefits or not....in an ideal world, everyone would be at home all day with their pets (not forgetting children)  but it is not that way, some folks have to work,   some dont.  its the quality of life the dog receives at the end of the day,   many adjust to being left for hrs a day.  its what they get when they are with the owners that count.

Personally , I would not have a dog , if I  was working full time,   but that is just my personal opinion,  I have no problem with those that do,   If the dog is well loved,/fed/ exersiced ,  thats all that counts.

I never leave mine for longer than, 3 hrs,  but thats just me,  I like for them to have potty breaks, (in saying that my girl can hold it for england)  but if I had to leave them for longer, and we had accidents,  so be it.  I would except it as part of life. (not their fault no one is there to let hem out).

We are all diffferent, we all have to put bread on the table,  ( I am lucky ,my hubby does it)   and I would much rather see a dog in a loving home,  alone for 4/5 hrs aday, that spend a life in shelters.

Thanks for all you replies, and views.  Some very interesting.  

I hope my dogs are happy, they appear to be.  I have to admit, its the little guy who is in the house my himself I worry about as he is alone, the other 2 have each other, I leave the radio on for him and give him some of my clothing to sleep on which he loves. 

When I am home I play with them and when they are tired I snuggle up with them.  My MIL, is great though she will pop in anytime I need her to for and hour or so. 

I have considered a dog sitter, but their are non in my area.  Not sure if I would trust anyone completely with my babies, as thats what they are. 

I don't think I would be happy with a dog sitter unless i really knew them well anyway, like a friend or relative.

if your dogs are happy, healthy, and not stressing out when you are not there, then you may be worrying more than you need to. if they were barking all the time, losing weight, the indoor dog ripping up furniture and messing everywhere, then I would say there is a problem. But, if all is well, quiet and not damaged, the dogs are not stressed and simply potter around or sleep when you are out, then I would think the walks and time you spend with them they have accepted as their normal routien and are happy with that. IMO :)

A silly statement in your opinion.

I didnt say people on benefits would be bad owners but I don't think there would be much spare money for dog food or vets fees. 

As for many people not working and being able to afford to keep a dog, yes there are plenty of retired folk but most people of working age do go out to work. I didn't think 'Kept' women still existed.