Question - how long are your puppers alone during the day?

[Barb]

I have recently had a change in my household...and now it is just me and the puppers.  Before, they were home alone for 8 hrs. and now it will be 10 hrs.  They have a doggie door and access to the living room, dining room and I have been leaving the door open to the bedroom  so they can snuggle in the big bed.  Is this too long for them to be alone?   Would it make sense to have someone come in mid-day and walk/play with them and give them a treat?  When I am there all day (like on week ends) and we are just watching tv and stuff - they basically sleep the day away - so I am sure that is what they do when I am gone.

Your thoughts?    What do you do?

[Leslie]

My two do just fine from 8am to 5:30. (Two days a week) The only accidents occur when the Lokster has not poohed the night before or in the morning. Then she leaves a pile for daddy in his studio.
Let's face it, no one here really expects to have a nice rug, eh?

[Marcia from MI]

When I was working Sam and Eddie would be home for 9 to 10 hours at a time without anyone.  I usually would find them asleep when I got home or they would just wake up when I would walk in the door. 

I would also leave the radio or TV on for them(Animal Planet or CNN or an easy listening radio station.)  Occasionally I would walk in and they'd look at me like "oh you're home already"   I never really worried about the kids unless There was a storm then I would call on the neighbors to check on them.  I would even call home and if I got the answering machine I knew the power was still on and all was probably OK.

[Pokeys Mom]

Personally, at 10 hours a day I would either try to come home for lunch, hire a pet-sitter/walker or have a neighbor let them outside.  Our guy is a senior, 100% housebroken but has some SA isssues.  At best he can be left for 6 hours.

[Nikki]

Mine are usually alone 9 1/2 to 10 hours per day.  I usually spend most of the weekend at home with them.  They seem to do fine. 

[Kari]

Penny is only alone about 6 hours per day - she is pretty hyper when I get home. I was leaving her for 9 hours and she was just fine.

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Ah Barb...so sorry for this new situation. Some things just don't make sense. 
Fortunately R and B are used to being home quite a long time, so two more hours shouldn't be too traumatic for them.

My 2 cents...(and there goes my salary this week LOL) is since they have access to being able to go potty, and they have each other and all the comforts, I would say to not have someone come in. The few times I've had to leave Hallie for more than a couple of hours, I used to have someone come visit her, take her out (I don't leave the doggie door open here when I'm not home so she doesn't have a potty access), give her a cookie, etc. But the caretakers always say she ignores them and runs to sit and stare at the front door. I think the visit upset her more than my being gone as she thought it meant Mom was coming home too. So now I don't have anyone come unless it's during a meal time or so long she would need a potty break. I also figure that is one more thing that could go wrong...bolting out the front door (not that she does that but I don't know for sure if it were with someone else) or getting fed something she shouldn't or...well my mind can go to about 500 scenarios.  BUT your two may be different and welcome the visit, you know them best. Do you leave tv or radio on for them? How about one of those automatic treat dispensers that spit out a treat or two at timed intervals?

[Jacqueline]

This is an issue I am going to have to deal with soon.  I was working until just about this time last year, 2 pm to 11 pm, and those hours would have worked out great.  But I finally got tired of the aggravation and told them all sooooo long, find someone else.  Considering I gave them nine months notice to fill my job, and they still thought they keep me there  :idiot:  No, they did not bother getting a replacement in for me to train.  Guess how they are doing now  My reaction?   

My hubby leaves the house at 8:30 and comes back between 4 and 4:30.  I really don't want to work the late shift anywhere.  I hope to get her comfortable with us leaving her by January.

[Krista]

My pups do not have potty access during the day and they are usually alone from 7am - 5pm each day.  They do just fine.  We used to only have to leave them for 6 hours or so each day, but now we work similar hours and that is not possible anymore.

I confine my pups to the kitchen though.  I don't want them to hurt themselves jumping off the furniture (since no one is there to help them get off), and then to lay there hurting for  9 hours, or keep moving around and make it worse.  It is a big fear for me.

If I were in your shoes and comfortable with leaving the doggie door open, I would not feel the need to have someone visit them, even if you had to be gone for 10 or more hours.

[DeeanDave]

Barb,

Prior to Dave retiring in April and being home full-time, Sarge would be alone during the weekdays  from 8 to 10 hours with no problems and that was with no doggie door for him to go out.  If we knew we would be longer than that, then I would get in touch with the neighbor to let him out.  We always left the TV or radio on for him for noise and in the winter time, had a light on a timer so he wouldn't be in the dark.  Looie came to live with us after Dave retired but even now if we are both gone and sometimes that could be all day, both puppers do just fine.  I think that Brandy and Rudy would be just fine for the time you are at work. 

Sarge and Looie send you very special kisses and belly rubs to Brandy and Rudy.   

Dee

[lotsadox]

Right now, mine are usually alone for about 6 hours, but when I was working for the non-profit they were often alone for 9 or 10 hours and did just fine.  I also have a doggie door.  I leave them in the bedroom/study/master bath area with a doggie door to the side yard.  Most of mine are couch potatoes and I think they just slept all day.

[Sandishooligans]

We confine the Hooligans to the laundry room from 8-5 but most days, we get to come home for lunch and then I let them have run of the house from 1-5.  On the long days, neither seen any worse for wear.  Brandy and Rudy will be just fine.  :apls:

[oceangirls]

This is a tough situation.  It is probably not IDEAL for dogs to be left 9-10 hours, but in reality - like many people said - they will most likely adapt and do just fine.  Dogs do adjust very well to routine.  If they are not prone to separation anxiety, I don't think you will have any problem.  My husband works from home, and if he is traveling I will come home at lunch to let them out to use the bathroom (they stay in a large kennel-type crate).  However, there have been a couple times I wasn't able to leave and they were fine.  Sorry you have to change your schedule; adapting to a new one is hard on everyone, especially you!

[Barb]

Thanks so much for the responses.  I have always left the tv on for them so there is some noise.  I am able to go home at lunch every once in a while - but it is too far to go every day.  I have always worried about them being home alone.....I guess moms just do that !!!!   For the time being, I will just leave things as they are.  I am happy to go straight home from work and spend the evenings with them and the majority of the week end.  I try to wear them out on Sundays - so that Monday anyway is a snooze all day day !!!!

Thanks again - you guys are the BEST !!!!

[Mike]

I'm sorry to hear of your change.  Clifford is alone from 6:30 am to about 5:30 pm.  I have resigned myself to the fact that as a senior, he just can't hold it that long and I will need to wash the throw rugs weekly.  I can deal with that as it's easier than shampooing the carpet.  I know that he just burrows into his (my old) comforter on the floor and sleeps all day.  Your's will probably do the same.  I leave the radio on playing either National Public Radio or classical music (unless that large lady is screaming in German!!!!)

[Lori R.]

Penny is alone for about 8 hours a day.  But she makes the most of it by doing her spite work, like making on the carpet, ripping up papers.... I know she has total run of the house.... I am a bad mommy!

[TerriL]

Hi Barb....  I hope your doing okay.  Regardless of change you always have those beautiful puppers to brighten your day! 
My three are on there own from about eight in the morning until six at night.  They handle it just fine.  They have a doggy door so they can go out when they need to and they have access to the screened porch (with THERE sofa) and to the kitchen.  I think we all worry about them when they are home alone for any length of time!  I'm sure yours will be just fine and waiting at the door with kisses when you get home.

[MindyKay]

We had to kennel Ozzy because of separation anxiety.  He nearly clawed and chewed his way through the molding in our laundry room, trying to get out into the garage.

He is kenneled in our formal living room, where he can get some sunshine, and we've draped an old blanket over part of the kennel to form a sort-of "den" where he can snuggle up to nap.  He is alone from around 6:50 am to around 11:10 am, then again from around 12:00 noon to 4:45 pm.  I am lucky that I work for a place where it doesn't matter when I take my hour-long lunch, so I can be very flexible in that respect.  Plus, I only live about 10 minutes away from work.

When we started kenneling him, he acted almost relieved to have a more confined place to go, and he readily goes to the kennel on my command.

I used to worry about him being alone, but someone has to pay the bills.  Anyway, someone once told me, "When you walk in the door, it won't matter to Ozzy how long you were gone.  When he sees you again, he will forget how long he was alone."

[April]

Cajsa is alone from about 8-6 or 6:30 M-R and on Fridays I am generally home by 3:30 or so.  She does well with that and gets tons of cuddles and all when I'm home.  I do leave her for a few hours on the weekends but I really try to not be gone longer than 3-4 hours then since I am gone so much during the week.  I don't have the opportunity to go home for lunch in the middle of the day so she is alone right now.  She does have access to her pottybox, the couch and blankets to snuggle in, her water and Elf feeds her just before we leave.  It works out pretty well I think.  Of course if I stay home sick she is cuddled up with me sleeping and getting loves.

[Shumard4]

Barb,

Sorry about your situation change. I have had many dogs that wouldn't do good with a change like this. But it sounds like yours will adjust just fine. My only concern would be that if they have access to the doggie door is there any chance that someone could steal them? It does happen:( I would rather use potty pads or clean up messes than to take a chance on them disappearing. I am lucky in that I live in a very small town on the main road. The business across the street can see my yard and she watches my dogs. If she sees something she calls me or goes and takes care of it. I do have the luxury of going home almost everyday for lunch. One of these days we are going to talk dad into letting me take my office home.

[Roberta]

As I work in pathology my hours varie and Nick is a 9-5er, so the max they are left is 7-8 hour about twice a week. they have their doggie door and their own big bed next to the front window next to the front door, they have access to all the wet area's. they take their seves out and Aunty marjory next door says they some times have chasie games. I think it is easier if you have at least two as then at least they have company and somebody to snuggle with.
Roberta

[Julie]

I am gone for about 9 hours and my puppers all survive.  Some days I am able to go home for lunch and let them out and other days they have to stay locked up for the whole day.  I feel bad on the days I can't go home, but they are always just happy to see me when they do.

[Jenny G]

Berman and Lucy are home alone for about 9 hours each day.  We have a doggy door, but it stays closed unless we're home.  Berman is very good at not having accidents during the day.  Lucy's learning...

We leave TV Land on for them - good clean wholesome television.

[oceangirls]

I'm sorry to hear of your change.  Clifford is alone from 6:30 am to about 5:30 pm.  I have resigned myself to the fact that as a senior, he just can't hold it that long and I will need to wash the throw rugs weekly.  I can deal with that as it's easier than shampooing the carpet. 

Mike, would he use a puppy pad?  Might make him comfortable to know you have put it there for him to use, and would save you laundry time.

I leave the Food Channel on for mine during the day, and have suggested that if they see a dish that looks good, they might fix it for dinner.  They have not taken me up on that so far.

[Charlie]

Charlie has been left alone anywhere from 10-12 hours a day since he was a puppy.  At first I'd set the baby gate up to confide him to the kitchen, but he has had the roam of the house for a few years now.  Sometimes I'm able to come home at lunch, but most often I'm not.  He does fine.  I do put pee pads down for him.  I crate Abbie when I'm not home and have since I first got her (back in March).  It keeps her out of trouble and she has never had an issue with it.  I think it may have had to do with the breeder having kept her and her brothers and sisters in one of those play pen areas inside.  She and Charlie definitely have the roam of the house when I'm home.