Is it OK for dog to be alone all day while we are at work?

[make_x_it_x_so]

Should be okay!

Depending on the breed/individual of course!
I’ve got a ~1 year old mixed breed (maybe pit? boxer? beagle? haha I just say she’s 100% adorable) , and she seems fine to spend the day alone. We still crate her because we only adopted her a few weeks ago, and we’re hoping to trust her with free range of the house soon.

I am a full time college student, and both my parents work, so she is home alone for variable amounts of time every day. Every morning before I leave, I take her on a walk for at least half an hour, usually 45min-hour, and when I get home we go outside and play for a bit.

She’s always very excited to see us when we get home, but she doesn’t cry when we put her in the crate (unless we’re still around the house- that drives her mad!). She is very people oriented but doesn’t seem to get separation anxiety, which is good, and on weekends we take her all sorts of fun places to tire her out!

So like most people have said, it’s doable depending on your level of commitment to exercise and also depending on the specific dog.

[sisu27]

I think it really depends on the breed you choose.

I won’t even admit how long my Jagdterrier is home alone most week days. She is not crated and doesn’t have accidents nor chew or be otherwise destructive. She is about the most high energy dog I have ever met but she is smart enough to know how to deal. She gets a lot of fetch when I am home! It also doesn’t seem to hurt her feelings any…terriers are great like that.

The contrast is my Dobe. He takes it personally when I do not have him with me. He comes to work with me every day. When I do leave him at home he isn’t crated either and is very good. I guess I am just lucky with these two.

I don’t know of another breed that is as obsessed with their people as a Doberman. Perhaps breeds of that nature would not be best. Something a bit more independent might be a better choice??

I have a very busy schedule/life so I adopt adults. My last 5 have been around 2yo (Dobes) when I got them. No way would a puppy be a fair choice.

I think the idea of getting 2 can be flawed. I did that when I added the Jagdterrier and the two are fine together now but it is no great love affair. They tolerate and occasionally might be said to like each other. It was a nightmare for the first year or so though. The only way I would consider the two at once deal would be if they were already a pair and would be best not separated. I see that quite often on Petfinder and that might be an easier transition depending upon the breed etc

Bazillions of dogs do manage just fine being home alone every day. I don’t know that it is always fair to them but the beauty of dogs is their amazing ability to adapt, forgive and be joyous no matter what their situation!!

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I think a bull dog or something would be a perfect at-home-all-day dog. I too would avoid a high-drive dog. I have dobermans, but I also train a lot. My rescue is a couch potato, but my other dog is a constant goer–she’s just beginning to mello out at 6.

Also some breeds are not accepted by your insurances policy. I had to switch my carrier when I got dobermans. There are towns nearby I can’t even have my dogs in unless they are muzzled (which is just ridiculous, but something to be aware of).

[islgrl]

I have a cattle dog, who we adopted at about 9 months. He was crated until we knew he understood the rules (about 2 weeks) and then he has been loose ever since. He is alone all day 5 days a week (well, he has the cat, but I’m not sure that’s much comfort - the cat picks on him :lol:) and he seems fine. He sleeps all day as near as I can figure and we do something fun when we get home.

[Gen]

Thanks again for all the replies, I truly appreciate everyone’s perspective.

@Go Fish;6402200

When I was working F/T, it was not unusual for my Corgis to spend 12-14 hours a day alone. DH travels for work, and couldn’t be relied upon, either. They were JUST fine! The worst trouble they got into was sleeping on the couch which is strictly forbidden! :lol:

Funny you should mention that, I have been lusting after a Corgi for years!

There is even a darling older one at a rescue a few hours from me. I did fill out an application form for him but have yet to hear back. I figured perhaps our schedules, as well as the long distance from the rescue, were against us.

[andreab]

I agree with Sisu that two dogs are not always better than one. It really depends on the individual dog(s). Some dogs prefer to be only dogs.

Also, I personally do not like the idea of a doggie door, but that’s because I’m a little paranoid… the dog could get stolen from the yard, attacked by bees, etc. I just feel safer if my dog is inside.

I like the idea of a dog walker, and my dog has one that comes every work day for an hour. He gets to get outside, play, have some human interaction, and eat his lunch.

[meupatdoes]

[QUOTE=andreab;6403435]

Also, I personally do not like the idea of a doggie door, but that’s because I’m a little paranoid… the dog could get stolen from the yard, attacked by bees, etc. I just feel safer if my dog is inside. :)[/QUOTE]

I have competeing elements of paranoia over this.

On the one hand I am terrified someone will steal the dogs from the yard (there are enough shady ads on CL in the area “looking to adopt/buy” little dogs…) and on the other I am terrified they will be stuck in the house in the event of a fire.

Currently the combined facts that

1. I would have to install the dog door
2. the floor plan of the house/yard does not really permit the dog door to be accessible to the dogs but not the indoor cats
3. I don’t have the most secure fence has me keeping all the dogs in.

And never, EVER having the dryer on when they are home alone.

Yard fear eclipses fire fear at the moment.

[fordtraktor]

The cat issue is why I never had a doggie door for my JRT – my cats are indoor-only because we have coyotes. And the other fact that all my doors are glass, I would have to put a doggie door in the side of the house. But I still think it would be a great idea in the right situation (tall solid fenced backyard, away from the street, with elderly neighbors that like to keep an eye on your stuff, and no cats.)

[MsM]

My Aussie had SA and it was a bear to manage!
I did get two dogs this time. Dont know if it helps them, but it helps me to know that they have each other :winkgrin:

If you do get a dog while you are not working, resist the urge to spend all your time with him/her. Make sure the dog has some alone time from the start so it is not a big change when you go off to work.

I managed two puppies by running home at lunchtime and spending lots of my nonworking time with them. Also hired a dogsitter at times when I was unable to do the midday run.

I think I have crossed into the “crazy dog lady” territory now. I am considering punching a hole in the wall of my house to install a doggie door. This would also require an outside ramp to ground level. And, although the yard is fenced, I am way too paranoid to let them be unattended in the yard, so I would also build a kennel run. Yep, over the line… :lol:

[Lone]

[QUOTE=meupatdoes;6403447]
I have competeing elements of paranoia over this.

On the one hand I am terrified someone will steal the dogs from the yard (there are enough shady ads on CL in the area “looking to adopt/buy” little dogs…) and on the other I am terrified they will be stuck in the house in the event of a fire.

Currently the combined facts that

1. I would have to install the dog door
2. the floor plan of the house/yard does not really permit the dog door to be accessible to the dogs but not the indoor cats
3. I don’t have the most secure fence has me keeping all the dogs in.

And never, EVER having the dryer on when they are home alone.

Yard fear eclipses fire fear at the moment.[/QUOTE]

I had the same debate when I installed my doggie door. But, I’m totally paranoid about fires, so I loved the idea of my guy being able to get outside if a fire started. However, I also had a very secure fence and lived in a safe place so I wasn’t worried about anyone trying to nab my dog (plus, he’ll chew off the leg of anyone who tries to enter my house/yard without permission :winkgrin:)

[GaitedGloryRider]

My dog does just fine home alone while I’m at work. I usually come home to find him zonked out snoring in my bed, totally unaware I’ve even been gone it seems. Whenever I have to work over I call my kindly neighbor who is always willing to pop over and take him out, he’s about the only person Diesel will let open the door without me home.

If you end up only getting one dog go for one of the “lazier” breeds, possibly an adult like you’ve already brought up. I might be a little biased but I think an English Mastiff might be a good breed for you to consider If you’re comfortable with a dog that size of course. Mine does just fine with a walk in the morning, sleep all day while I’m working and lots of lovin’ in the evenings. From everything I’ve heard he’s pretty typical for his breed and as an added bonus their sheer size alone is enough to deter anyone snooping around the house from attempting entry.

[Canaqua]

Depends on age/breed/temperment.

Our 14.5 year old ACD/JRT mix has been able to be home, loose in the house, alone for many years now. Mon-Thurs, 8am-4pm are the hours our house is empty. She does just fine, she sleeps all day. She’s been doing that since about age 3.

The 13 month old BC mix is just getting to the point where I can leave her alone, with the ACD/JRT as supervisor (old dog is very bossy and scolds the young dog for getting into things) for 3-4 hours at a time. For months, she was too destructive if left unsupervised by a human. Now she’ll sleep along with the old dog. All this time (we got her at 12 weeks) we had her in “dog school” three days a week and with my mother one day a week. I’m interviewing dog walkers right now, to take her on a big, multi-dog mid-day hike, so we can start leaving her in the house Mon-Thurs. Dog walker will have her out for about two hours mid-day, so I think she’ll be tired enough to sleep the rest of the afternoon. Morning is her good time, when she just hangs out…I work from home on Fridays (when the rest of the family is at work/school), so I know her daily energy level routine, when the house is very quiet, and she always lets me get my work done until about 11:30am, then she wakes up/gets bored and starts looking for trouble.

It will be a while before this dog can be home for 8 hours straight…age and “BorderCollieness” will prevent that for probably at least another year. Then ACD/JRT is unlikely to be still around and we’ll probably have to get a relatively calm/mature adult dog to keep her company.

[Townsend]

My Standard Poodle has been home by herself for an average of 12 hours a day since I got her at 10 weeks. I took a week off from work when I first got her to acclimate her to the house and introduce her to the dog walker. So starting at 11 weeks I had the dog walker come twice a day for the first year I had her so it worked out that she only spent 4 hours of time by herself during the day (I walked her at 6:30 AM, dog walker came at 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM and I or my husband were home at 6:30 PM). When she was a year old I switched him to once a day which is what he does now (I walk her at 6:30 AM, dog walker comes at 12:30 PM and we are home at 6:30 PM). My dog walker is really great and he is a huge part of why things worked so well for us.

I emptied my office when we got her and moved it to the basement temporarily and I kept her in a 5’ by 5’ puppy pen we put in the empty room with shredded paper, lots of toys, kongs, water bucket, etc. I also was at training classes with her at least several times a week in the evenings (we show in obedience, rally and agility and also lure course and have done some herding) and if not at a training class we walked or played in the yard when I got home. She was in the pen until she was a year and then I started leaving her out a little bit at a time when we were gone for a half hour or so (limited to the kitchen, living room and dining room) and increased the time gradually. She had a little bit of a setback with some chewing of moldings, etc. and so I moved her to a big crate in the dining room where she was confined but could see out the sliding glass door while we were gone for short periods and then gradually left her loose again. She has had run of the house since she was about 15 months old and has been fine. She is now 4 1/2 and I am hoping to get a puppy at the end of the year. I plan to do the same thing with the puppy as I did with my current girl.

Townsend and Fallon
ARCHX Calisun Night Flight, CDX, RE, NA, NF, OAJ, CDX-C, RL1X, RL2X, RL3X, CL1, CL2, CL3-F, HIC, CGC, VCX

[vacation1]

I think for an older dog,say 7+, this setup is perfect if you make time before and after work for them. They sleep a lot as older adults. I would say remember that “puppy” really refers to a dog under 3 years, in practical terms, particularly when the dog is new to your home. They still have that over-abundance of energy, crazy high spirits, etc., for a long time past chubby puppyhood. Of course, I like collie types, which tend to basically keep that going until they’re in double digits… But if you like oldies (9+), that would be perfect. You will never find a dog who fits into your life as easily as a senior dog. And the silver muzzles are so distinguished.

[Riverotter]

Go spring an adult dog from the pound.
I have worked with dogs and their people and I get this question all the time. My answer is “It might be just me, but I would think it beats all hell out of a lethal injection.”

[ManyDogs]

Our JRT would spend the day in her big crate-her choice. We’d come home to let her out and she’d stay in for another hour or so. Of course, she had just about everything imaginable in there-paint brushes, toys, blanket, anything she wanted to collect.
And I agree with Riverotter-sure beats being in the pound, or worse.

[dani0303]

I recently went through a pretty major life change. I went from living on a 65 acre farm and being home almost all day every day to living in a 1br apartment and working from 8-6. My beagle/aussie has definitely adjusted just fine. While I’m sure it’s not ideal (she misses the farm!), she does well as long as I exercise her twice a day, which usually involves going to the barn

[Gen]

Thank you for the further replies. Your input has helped reassure hubby and I that this could work with the right dog(s).

I followed up with the rescue about the corgi I mentioned earlier, and it turns out the adoption form I sent had fallen in a crack. He sounds like the perfect dog for us: adult, housebroken and used to being crated during the day while owners are at work, house trained and non destructive, and did I mention cute as a button? The lady that fosters him says he is more of a people dog, and used to being an only dog, although he gets along with lower energy dogs and cats. We have a date to meet him this Saturday and I am so excited!

[Riverotter]

Good luck!
Cardigan or Pembroke? I have Cardigan envy, myself.

[Gen]

@Riverotter;6411692

Good luck!
Cardigan or Pembroke? I have Cardigan envy, myself.

Pembroke. I think the Cardigans are stunning, and I would definitely not kick one off the couch ;), but they are even more rare than the Pembrokes around here.