Dog Walking (How Long Can They Be Left?!)

[StevieP87]

Hi, my partner and I have 2 Labradors and we both work weekdays Monday to Friday apart from Wednesday which is my day off. We are both out the house between 9 and 10 hours in total. We have a dog Walker who comes and takes them both out for an hour around midday. This is costing us nearly £300 per month and isn’t financially feasible anymore.
If we walk then for a good hour in the morning and as soon as we get home, would a 10 hour gap be comfortable for them? Or is it too long to leave them alone in the house?
Any advice would be appreciated. Many thanks!!

[davebro]

My friends have a dog - if they are going to be out all day & can't take it with them I go round at lunchtime, take her out for a short walk & stay for another hour or so doing a crossword or summat.

[barry1010]

Do you live near the OP, davebro?

[davebro]

LOL - It's an occasional thing - not something I would commit to 4 days a week!

[barry1010]

There's the problem, dave. Many people would help their friend out occasionally but committing to five days a week, every week is a different matter altogether.

Stevie, I would not leave dogs alone for that long every day and putting them outside for the whole day is the worst option. I can't think of a more cost-effective solution than the walker you currently have unless you can find somebody to walk them for free - and you wouldn't be able to rely on them full time. Doggy daycare would cost around £10 - £30 per day, per dog so would be even more expensive.
Don't forget labradors are really working dogs so need more than a walk every day - they need good, solid exercise unless they are elderly.

[burlyshirley]

10 hours is definitely too long to leave them. Maybe look around for cheaper dog walkers, but if you are both working it should be factored in to your monthly expenditure, otherwise why have dogs ? Do you have any friendly neighbours nearby who love dogs but can't have any of their own and would love to walk yours ? You could always advertise in a local shop, but do vet them carefully.

[curlygirlies]

So you've gone back to work after being on lockdown? Otherwise, why buy two dogs if you are never home? If you had kids you would have to pay daycare, so just pay up, you're on a good deal. If you can't afford them find them good homes.

[pastafreak]

The OP said nothing about going back to work after lockdown. What they did say was that £300 per month wasn't financially feasible anymore. That's a bit different.

[Smowball]

I’m clearly reading this wrong.£300 per month = 30 days a month so £10 a day for the Walker? So you are both working full time and cannot afford £5 each a day to make up the £10 a day? Or am I reading this completely wrong?? Apologies if I am x

[Redhelen72]

Its not 30 days a month though is it smow as you don't work for 30 days its more likely to be 20 working days
If you are on a low paying job then 300 a month is a lot

[SparklyKid]

How about a dog flap with garden access.

[Smowball]

True Helen - ok, let’s say 20 days a month. Which is £15 a day =£7.50 each per day.

[pastafreak]

I was looking at local pet sitting the other day. Those that walked dogs charged between £11 and 20 per walk...for 1 dog only if I'm not mistaken.

[wolf63]

Sparkly

Bad people steal dogs these days.

I think that there are some helpful answers on this post and, unfortunately, some judgemental ones too.

The dogs may have been part of the family for years and their humans have maybe had a change of circumstances. The dogs are loved. They are paying out a lot of money (£300 off any wage is not a small amount).

Stevie - I hope that you find a solution to your problem.

[AuntPG]

Why did they buy two large dogs if they can't afford them? They obviously have full time jobs so if both are even on minimum wage they will be bringing in excess of £2400 per month between them.

[jennyjoan]

that;s right Chris - from I got Maxie - i try to keep to 3-4 hours - Maxie anyway does not like being alone.

[Redhelen72]

With the best will in the world you can investigate things till your blue in the face and still things scrape by.
Stevie at the end of the day it is your decision, I have no issues with leaving mine 8 hours that is what they were used too but now they are older and due to lockdown I leave them no longer than 5.
If money is an issue look around and see if there are the dog groups I mentioned earlier.

[pastafreak]

//...isn’t financially feasible anymore. //
The clue might be the word "anymore". Changing circumstances?
Unfortunately the OP hasn't come back with any follow up. It's Wednesday so maybe they are out with the dogs;)

[AuntPG]

I volunteered to walk an old couples dog in the village when the husband had to go into hospital and the wife had to be out all day. She caught the bus at 8 am and came back at 6pm. I used to go walk the dog, an aging staffie, at around 1 o'clock. I literally had to pull him off the sofa, I think he would have been quite happy to lay there all day, but he was quite old.

[Redhelen72]

Thats nice of you APG, can you come round and walk mine at some time - as much as I love my hounds and I really really do - there are just times that I would love a day to myself no slobbering, no being followed to the loo and no demanding to be fed/walked/stroked.

[pastafreak]

He probably have liked a doggie push chair ;)