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?

[F, Calla & Luca]

When Rex the poodle had a bone biopsy, he could hardly move after I brought him home. The yard was covered in snow. I tried to get him to pee on my front brick porch, where he'd have no steps. He would not. I slept on the couch with him on the floor next to me. At 2 AM that poor dog dragged himself out to pee after who knows how long. I think he would have burst rather than go in the house.

[Jennifer and Jack]

No matter what, no matter how much I didn't drink or eat when I was in the ER..I could not hold it 12 hours.....I wish Jack would hold it longer ...but we have made huge progress... He was on bladder spasm medications to help him not go all night long...I happily take my six hours I get...btw I sleep about 12 hours a night..jack can not hold it.


I think if your dogs are used to holding it they can....you are a great mom Sue ( with an Impressive bladder) younknowmyour babies best.

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

That's probably the most important thing Jennifer, is what are they used to. Certainly not 12 hours during the day. Hum... Can we do bladder training like we do patients in the hospital??? Kidding. And yes, I do have a nurses bladder, but it's taken years to develop! Lol

[Jennifer and Jack]

Bladder training. Is exactly what I did with Jack no joke!!!! At least I can still use my nursing license for something...it worked well....we went from a spastic bladder that released every hour or less to six hours in a few months.....

I never developed nurses bladder.....too much prednisone...I could be so so busy and still very much be aware I had to go.....out of desperation....I usually use the hallway bathrooms open to the public ...

I do believe you can bladder train your dogs up to a certain point....you are such a good mom...you will figure it out

Co

[Adina P]

They might be just fine, but I would be worried too.  When we are away for vacation, our friends stop by 4 times a day to let them out for potty and play.  I know that Rosco would for sure pee in the house if he were left that long (Unless they got no food and no water, which of course, wouldn't be the case either).  Boca would probably hold it, poor thing.  I wouldn't be worried about their mental health or loneliness as much as their physical discomfort--I would agree it's asking a lot of them, even though I think some dogs would survive it fine and forget about it the moment you came home.

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

That's just it, I think I would be mentally uncomfortable worrying about their possible physical discomfort. No real black and white on this, just what we feel it "should " or "might" be like for them.

[Adina P]

Is one more or less likely to potty in the house if pushed? I know people who, when gone away, have someone let their dogs out in the morning and at night.  That's it.  And they do fine...at least it's not obvious they were traumatized.  But yeah I'd be all anxious coming home.  I STILL am anxious coming home when I'm gone for more than 4 hours...mostly because of Rosco, though.  His bladder is as big as a grape when it's holding pee...but as tiny as a watermelon when it lets it flow.

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

I really don't think either one would have an accident. Murphy would hold it just because he would hate to do something so wrong, and Bella has a bladder like a horse, so she would be the more comfortable of the two. My pet sitter has several clients that only want dogs let out in the am and pm. That seems harsh, only twice in 24 hours.

[BG and Gavin]

The most I like to leave Gavin for is 7 hours and I only will leave him that long after a really good walk and exercise session.  He can hold it forever if he has to.  He stayed overnight at my parents and the fool did not pee for 22 hours (despite their best efforts).  12 hours to me seems like too long.  Gavin has free run of the house, but I think he enters a period of stasis when we leave.  I could leave treats all over the house, toys, a tennis ball, everything within reach and he touches nothing.  When I get home he would immediately get the treats, go grab a drink of water and bring his ball to me.  I also am not convinced that he sleeps when I am gone, but goes into a low level alert.  The reason I say that is because not long after I get home he will settle in for a good long nap.  If a dog is crated, I would say 4 hours maximum during the day.  I would feel bad that they could not move around all that time :(

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

I remember your post about his holding it so long at your parents. Crazy Gavin. What was he thinking? My daughters doodle will not poop for days on end if not at his own house. They do seem to go into a pretty low level activity mode here as well since there really is no evidence of toys being moved around or water gone. Some signs of a little wrestling now and then. But that's all. My two go outside and have Zoomies and play time galore when I get home, so I'm betting they have a lot of stored up energy to spend.

[BG and Gavin]

With two together I would feel a bit better because they have each other for company.  Humanizing them I guess :P

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

Yes, I'm wondering if we are humanizing them by thinking because we can't hold it 12 hours neither should they.