how many hours a day is your dood alone?

[Jen W]

I feel so much guilt about leaving my 8 month (she doesn't like being alone) that I have curtailed a lot of my hobbies and social life. It's kind of starting to get to me, so in a way I guess I'm looking for some confirmation that it's okay if she's home alone for more than a few hours a day.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I think you will get a lot of different answers on here... When Jack was eight months old I was still working full time, for a nurse that is three days a week... I brought Jack to daycare.... He played with other puppies all day long, had rest periods and became well socialized to them.

It is most important to find something that works for you so that you don't regret having the puppy or see her like she is a burden.... Eight months is still young so you in my opinion still need to do a lot of exercise activities and have a lot for her to do so she doesn't get in trouble.

I don't think at eight months their is a stead fast limit to how long they can be alone within reason, When Jack was that age, he was still crated I think and the longest I left him was about three hours maybe four.. otherwise I had a dog walker come in and or brought him to my friends house across the street. I paid her to watch him so I could do what I needed to do and not feel guilty.

Do you have options of dog walkers, daycare or neighbors to have play dates with?    I think most people would tell you at that age as long as they got a good walk before you left and a good walk after you can for sure do a few hours.......

I tend to be on the side of being paranoid.. Jack just turned four and I can comfortably leave him six hours once in a while without feeling bad... One time it was six and a half hours but that is not my norm nor is it what Jack is used to.

I know some people leave their dog all day with a dog walker to come in and relieve them to go potty and that works for them.

how many hours are you talking? 

[Sarah Bennett]

unfortunately, way too long... 

Salvador is home alone all day, though, I am lucky enough that I live 1.5 miles from my home, so I do go home for lunch.  My neighbor kids are also around and will play with him throughout the day.  But, yes, he can go quite awhile alone :( 

And for me, it has changed my social life a lot!  I feel that same guilt and Salvador is 4.5 months old.  I don't mind bringing him places, but not everyone likes dogs, not every where allows dogs and frankly, Salvador's manners are a bit lacking.  He gets amped up around people and he's STRONG!  it's sometimes hard to get him under control. 

So, I guess I don't have any advice, but that I totally understand where you're coming from.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Sarah, Have you ever thought about obedience classes? 4.5 months is really ready for some good training so you can bring him more places with you... Jack is little so it is a bit different but he goes almost everywhere with me when I go out unless it is too hot or something like that..

I would say part of the reason he gets amped up is he is still so little and the world is so super exciting to him.. it is like every day is Christmas morning for him.. so much to see, so much to explore and in my opinion the more you expose him to the less likely he is to have strong reactions to when he is older because he will be used to it.

Going home for lunch is good..... is there a daycare or even any type of class where he can get out more and see the world and explore... This is the perfect age to teach him things too..... I get the strong part and I know that must be hard... Have you tried the E Z walker.. it is a great harness that helps with pulling when you are walking him.... 

He needs lots of exercise ..... dogs unfortunately do change our lives, in my opinion for the better... we do have to make changes based on the fact that we have a dog that solely relies on us for absolutely everything from food, to social skills, to exercise...  I remember when I was working sometimes after a really hard day, we would want to go out for a drink and dinner.. I couldn't go.. I had Jack or I had to find someone to get him from daycare or keep him longer... to me those things are so worth the benefit of having a faithful friend forever..

If your neighbor kids are playing with him does that mean he is outside while you are not home? I am only asking because he is so little and can get into so much trouble out there from.. eating stuff he shouldn't to digging holes and escaping.. plus you really can't see the interactions he is having with children.... 

We have someone in my neighborhood who leaves their dog out and the kids go to play with him but sometimes they are mean to him.. if catch them I yell at them and tell the owners.. but still... 

Can I help you find a daycare in your area or some training classes so you can start if you haven't already your precious baby on some manner classes?

[Sarah Bennett]

Jennifer,

Salvador is outside for a portion of the day.  I usually let him be outside during the morning (sometimes the afternoon, but it's usually hotter out then and I have him inside).  I have looked at classes for him, but the classes that I have seen in my area, all want the pups to be 6 months old.  The closest place (that I found) that allows for younger pups is about 40 minutes away from me and the time doesn't work with my work schedule for me to get home, pick up my puppers and get there without being 15-20 minutes late. 

I do take Salvador on walks almost daily (5-6 days a week) sometimes just down the road, sometimes down an old railroad trail, sometimes just around the park, and sometimes in the trails within the woods at the park.  He is probably in my car with me 4-5 days a week, going somewhere to find new places to explore and experience.  We usually walk between 30-60+ minutes a day.  Sometimes we do a lot of "freedom" walks, where I bring my long leash and really let him explore (mostly when we are on the trails) and other times we do short leash walks, where I work with him "staying close" or healing.  Also, about once a week we've been getting together with a friend and her dog, and introducing them to each other, letting them play. 

The energy and the strength comes in to play when there are other people involved.  He LOVES people!  He wants to be all over them and in their business!  He wants to play and be petted and be on them.  I admittedly need to work more with him in training.  I guess this is something I need more confidence in, and probably need the trainer more than Salvador does! 

The neighborhood kids that are playing with him, are actually very close friends.  Even when he is inside, the oldest comes into my house, gets him from the crate or from the kitchen and takes him outside to play (or plays with him inside).  I've worked a lot with her and her sister to know how to play with him.  The oldest (9 years old) I trust and have given her permission to play with him a lot.  the 7.5 year old doesn't have that permission unless she asks me when I'm home. 

I have started the search for a doggie daycare too, but once again, they like them to be 6 months old before joining. 

I don't regret having Salvi at all-I adore him.  But he definitely is a change of lifestyle-especially for someone who is single and doesn't have children.  I know that as he gets older, it will be easier and as I am able to train with him more, he'll be easier to bring places without me feeling like he's inconveniencing people.  And I do bring him places now, I just need to know that they are pet friendly and very understanding of a high energy puppy!  But I do adore him and I really demand that in the long run, I have a "good" dog.  I'm confident that both Salvador and I will get there :) 

Thank you :)

[Camilla and Darwin]

At this point in time Darwin isn't home for more than 3 hours by himself. This is because DH and I are in school and work part time, each on slightly different schedules. I'm sure that will change when we both graduate, but at this point he can already comfortably stay home alone for more than 8 hours if needed. 

[Heather Martinez]

Teddy is home from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on weekdays, so about 8.5 hours. He gets a morning walk and/or playtime at the park with other dogs and the same in the evening. He used to be in a pen, but now (at 2.5 years old), he has free reign of the house. He sleeps all day and doesn't get into trouble. Teddy gets tons of attention when we are with him and is well behaved so I don't feel bad about working. I would love to have a dog walker but it is just so expensive in my area.

[Kyoko]

Charlie and Pinot Grigio are usually left alone 3 ~ 4 hours at the time. I normally come home on my lunch and hang out with them. Right now, my college age kids are home and in and out through out the day with different work shift, summer class schedule, etc... so it seems that they are alone no more than a couple of hours per day. I always feel bad when the summer is over and kids go back to school.... Charlie seems lonely when the school starts. This will be the first year that Charlie will have Pinot's company, so hopefully she wont be so lonely.

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Since we are both retired Libby is hardly ever alone!  The most she has been left alone is about five hours and she is usually crated for that amount of time.  Lately we have started to leave her out of the crate if it is a hour or two and she (we think) never moves out of her favorite chair:)

[Lori, Daphne, Lucy & Pippa]

Daphne & Lucy are usually never alone for more than 4 hours. I start to feel bad if Im away that long. I know they can do it and not have any problems though. I think that they lay right by the front door where they can look out the window and wait for me to return. But that's what makes me come home sooner. I think about those little faces just waiting patiently for me. It's funny, they act like they have not seen each other in forever as well as me. They greet me enthusiastically when I come home and then immediately start playing and "fighting" with each other as though they had not been there together and seen each other all day!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I always feel much better when Molly is here visiting Jack...they have each other for company.....I think two is better if they are left home ..

[Christine & Camus]

Camus is seldom alone for more than four hours, but that is because he goes to work with me.  When he is home alone he is still crated.  I think he feels more secure in his crate if I am not there.  I have even left the door to his crate open a couple of inches to see if he would leave it, but unbelievably he does not.  So even though I would love to get rid of the crate, which is 48", I cannot.

[Julie and Charlie]

At a year old, Charlie does spend 8-9 hours a day home alone, but he does get a break mid-day break. He's gated in a hallway and laundry room, so he has room to stretch out and move. I've been trying to leave work after six hours and finish the rest of the day at home... when work is busy, it's hard to leave when I'm scheduled straight through. Later this summer, I'll be spending more hours working in my home office so Charlie and I can take breaks in the backyard.

When he was in a crate, I tried for no more than 4-5 daytime hours inside it.