Leaving a dog indoors

[sandrajo]

Whats's the longest time you have left your dog home alone?

I hate leaving my 3 more than 4 hours

[Ric.ror]

I would love one though
A little hairy jack Russell called Roy Keene (keeno)

[welshlibranr]

Oh ttfn, same for me!...............my German Shepherd, Max, was a big softie!......but the bark on him was so scary!.........nobody would ever come inside our gate, I could, and did leave our back door wide open for him day and night in Summer for 7 years, never had an intruder!................lol.................
..

[Barmaid]

A friend of mine who did contract work from home has a dog. Unfortunately, when his contract work dried up he had no choice but to go away from home to work. She was a rescue dog and can be a bit nasty - although under his tutillage she has become SO much better over the last few years. So he walks her in the morning, goes to work and then walks her again when he gets home. There is nothing else he can do. The likelihood of rehoming a dog with her history is small. The alternative is the big E. In my view, he does the best he can by her and she's a happy happy one man dog.

[pastafreak]

I work 3 days a week,and the rescue I got Sally from was ok with that. She's a couch potato-so never gets into any trouble while I am out. Oh-she ate a book once-but I bet she had fun doing it.
I'd like to take her places-but she's a timid thing,and hates hustle and bustle.
The longest she's been left was when I had to go to London for lil pasta's graduation.....15 hours and not a puddle to be seen. I hated doing it-but had no choice.

[ttfn]

Bless him, welsh. I left the newfi at home for several hours one day and arranged for my friend to come and see to him several times in the day. When I got home my friend was sat in the lounge with her coat on looking a bit miffed. When I asked how things had gone she said she had been there for 3 hr because the newfi had plonked himself against the front door. She hadn't the nous to tell him to move. He really never hurt a fly in all his life, but he probably just wanted her to take him for a walk (or t'other way round)!

[Frank97]

All this talk of dogs, I couldn't resist showing a pic of my mate Frank.
http://i791.photobuck...nd%20Nipper/189-1.jpg

[ttfn]

Great picture D97. I love a dog with attitude ☺

[Frank97]

Thanks ttfn.

[ttfn]

Welsh - I have just remembered when Big Sis and hubby rescued a 4yr old GSD. I took my newfi out into the New Forest to meet the new dog at a given time. We all got on very well and returned to BS's where new friendships were confirmed. As it happened the GSD had to be left in his new home the following day for several hours - unfortunate timing. I agreed to go over and keep him company for a couple of hours. As I let myself in the GSD welcomed us and then he and the newfi decided to have a play in the garden. I made myself a cuppa and settled in the dining room with the door open onto the garden. It was a cold day but the dogs kept chasing each other round the garden and were getting on famously. After an hour or so I saw the newfi fly past the door with a rose bush in his mouth. I blinked and saw the newfi come flying back past the door, still with the rose bush in his mouth. I jumped from my seat and went to retrieve the plant. I thought I would just replant it.
As I surveyed the garden my jaw dropped to the floor. The borders had all been trampled and I couldn't, for the life of me, determine from which part of the garden the rose had come. I got the dogs to calm down, cleaned them up a bit and sat with them indoors until they had recovered their breathing. As I left the house I put a note on the dining table to let BS know how well the dogs had got on. It finished with 'PS - there is a rose bush on the garage roof - needs replanting. luv Viv xx'. We are still speaking.

[Frank97]

Lol

[welshlibranr]

Viv, that's just the way dogs are!..............lol...........you can't have dogs and a lovely garden too!..........never works out!..................

[ttfn]

Tell that to BS now, welsh. The lurcher comes from a long line of JCB's ☺

[maggie01]

I am retired now so I am with my dog most of the time including night time. She sleeps on my bed.
Now and again she is left for 5hours after having a nice walk beforehand.
I think she sleeps most of that time and is happy when I come home. She is 11yrs.

[Old_Geezer]

The RSPCA may suggest 5 hours, but I bet the neighbours think 30 minutes of continuous whining & barking is already overdoing it.

[paddywak]

My Max, is very much part of the familyand has the complete run of the house, in fact he can open most of the doors including the patio providing they're not "latched."He normally goes out with us and on the rare occassions we hae to leave him alone my nieces lad Jack comes and walks him

[sandrajo]

Great answers folks, I don't feel so bad now. The vet did tell me you can be fined 200 quid if a neighbour reports a dog been noisy if they can prove it had been left alone for more than 5 hours. I think my 3 just sleep when i'm out.

I don't see the point in getting a dog and leaving it outside unless it is a guard dog and trained to protect your property. Pet dogs need love and attention and are usually for the home not the garden.

[Old_Geezer]

They need to be where they are happy.
A pack animal I understand.

[woofgang]

sandrajo I think that vet has it well wrong. Noise nuisance has quite clear parameters and none of them are around how long the dog has been left for and the sanctions are not just a 200 quid fine. Its a council matter in the first instance. if the dog is neglected then the RSPCA might take a hand but then the sanctions are again not as clear cut as 200 quid job and knock.
My boys get left for 4 hours max less than once a month, mostly they aren't left at all. On odd emergency occasions i have left them for 6 hours and more on one occasion, they were so good.

[joeluke]

What does it matter how long you leave them as long as you leave enough food and water out for them?

I'm sure there are some people who can't get home from work at lunchtimes to see/feed their dog so that anmal will be on its own for at least 8 hours.

Surely they will be even more pleased to see you after a few hours on their own?

[Dee Sa]

I sometimes leave my 2 shar peis for 4-5 hours,not very often though, but we have a dog flap for them and a notice in the kitchen window "I can reach the fence in 2.5 seconds can you ?" only hope the would be burglars can read english !