How long is "TOO LONG" for doodles to be home alone?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Up to this point we have managed most of our dogs days to be spent with one or the other of us being at home, or the 1-2 days a week that we both work the same day, to have a dog sitter come in about 1/2 way through the day for potty break and playtime. Since she has our Murphy's brother, she has brought him over to play or even brought my two to her house to spend the afternoon.
DH and I are gone from 6:30 -7:00 am to 6:30 pm on the days we both work. The sitter would come between 1:00 to 4:00 pm. So some days they were alone and unable to potty for 7-10 hours. They have always seemed to do fine with that schedule, and it most likely bothered me more than them to have them wait so long,or at least that is what my family says.

So next week my sitter is working full-time, and I can certainly find a new sitter, or even do day care occasionally, or have the kids come by to help let them out, but DH insists that they would be fine all day home alone and waiting 12 hours without going potty, that there is no need to be making all these arrangements.
I am just not comfortable with this but I don't really have a reason to give him other than it just doesn't sound like it would be good for them to wait that long.
Besides the fact that it sounds like its just "TOO LONG", are there any known risks or detriment to having them alone so long? Other than the obvious that they may get bored and into trouble, and I certainly can expect and plan for that, my concern is their health, or having to hold their bladders that long. Anyone have any information to share?

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I know how you feel. I take my 2 to daycare on Mondays and have a dog walker come on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I am typically gone from 6:30am till 5:30pm.  On Tuesdays I try to leave the house later (around 7:15) and get home by 4:45pm.  I feel bad leaving them that long but they seem to do ok.  My brother thinks I'm a nut for worrying about leaving them for so long, but I figure that if I can't hold it for a whole day, then I shouldn't expect them too either. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I will be of no help because I get worried if I am gone for four hours. If it were me, I would have someone come in and let them out once. I think 12 hours is a long time to go without going to the bathroom.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I am with Laurie, I a of no help...I usually get a dog sitter, bring him to a neighbors or at the least have someone let him out to potty. I am fine with four hours,......though I don't like to, I will do longer and once did six. I think it depends on what your dog is used to.

jI get up with Jack to potty at night as he needs so he isn't used to holding it....

[Ginny Nightingale]

Dogs usually sleep when you are gone and seem to be fine--my future son-in-law is a vet and has left his dog for 14 hours! While that sounds terrible to me, he says the dog is fine--now I would NEVER make it that long myself, but I guess dogs are different! When I wasn't retired, our dogs were alone every day for 8-9 hours without a problem--I think 12 is a bit much personally --especially since this is unusual for them--and I agree that you should try to find someone to let them out. 

In our neighborhood, we all have dogs and it is great that we help each other out at times like this--I can always call someone to let my guys out/feed them dinner if we will be gone for a longer time than usual and they know they can count on me to do the same--hope you can find an arrangement like that...

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think 12 hours is a long time and I have never left my two that long. I don't know that it's harmful but surely it could be uncomfortable to wait that long to go out. Luca easily go longer than that overnight though.

[Christine & Camus]

The longest I ever left any of my dogs alone was 9 hours.  The longest I have left Camus alone is 4 hours and I began to worry after 3 hours.  You could try one day having someone let them out half way through the day and then the next day leave them for the entire day.  Do this for the first couple of weeks and then see if you notice any difference if they are left alone the entire time vs having someone let them out.  Then talk it over with DH.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm not really sure what it is I would look for other than possibly accidents? Or claw marks on the door from them trying to get outside? My sons dog did that once when he had bouts of diarrhea, poor guy. I just don't know and I wish there was some concrete evidence based research stating one way or the other how long is too long. Also, these guys are big dogs, and I am assuming the bigger they are the bigger their bladders and longer to be comfortable. Again, human reasoning for a dog.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sue, All I know is I am home all day with my dogs and they always have to go out sometime during the day to do their business. Vern is almost 100 pounds and he is worse than Fudge (46 pounds).

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

True, mine go out off and on all day too when we are home. Always wondered if they go stand by the door when we aren't home though. But then who would they give that "look" to and stare down?

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

DH always says that Cubbie has the bladder of an infant because he always wants to go out and pee when we are home. I got home today and let him out about 2 hours after the dog walker left and he peed like crazy.  Then 2 hours later he was back at the door whining.  Then 1.5 hours after that.  He never used to be like that when he had access to the doggie door during the day.  I wonder if making him hold it for longer periods during the day causes him to want to go out more frequently when we are home to let him out.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Reading the replys here make feel a little better about leaving Libby.  We usually do not leave her for more then 4-5 hours. I did not realize they can go longer then that during the day.  This is good to know because we always make our plans around Libby's time in her crate.  That is is a question I have.  Do most of you leave your Doodles uncrated when you leave?  So far we have not because we worry about her getting hurt or getting into something.  Although I have dog proofed this house like you do for a toddler, but we still worry about her running free in the house.  Her crate is very large and she has water and a blanket, but I still feel bad when we put her in it.   She will be two in March and maybe it is time to try to see how she does.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Cubbie hasn't been crated since he was about 10 months to a year old. We adopted Ollie when he was almost 2 and we only crated him for about a week.  Both dogs are able to move around the house during the day while we are away.  They don't usually get into anything (I try not to leave anything out) but Cubbie has destroyed a roll of wrapping paper before.