leave dog alone

[mirela]

hi, i just back to work from last week, so i have to leave my puppy alone at home, she is 6 months now. i do 6 hours each day and plus traveling, so the dog will be alone at home about 7 hours. i pay dogsiter to take her walk half hour lunch time. and if im doing full day shift ocassionally, i ask dogsitter to visit twice a day, moring and afternoon. just wana know until how old the dog is, i can leave her alone for 6 or 7 hours without gettiong a dogsitter?

[lankeela]

I seem to remember we advised against this when we were asked about it when you first said you were getting a puppy.
It is not fair to leave a dog all day without at least a visit from someone, and a boxer puppy of that age could well become destructive and noisy. Maybe an older dog would settle down, but puppies need company and are such an active breed that it is almost cruel to leave them shut up alone. Why did you get a boxer puppy when you knew you were going back to work?

[Tallulah!]

You should have got a cat. They like their own company. Where I live dogs are barking all day because their owners are at work. Most are indoors but they can still be heard. They start to bark as soon as the owner shuts the gate. Our dog did it once when I'd just popped to the postbox. I wouldn't have believed it except I heard him.
Perhaps someone lonely would look after your dog in their home

[mirela]

i wasnt on this forum yet when I got the puppy.
i dont mind to pay for dogsitter like what im doing now. the one i found is very reliable, they took the dog for nice walking and under my request, they are going to walk her with other dogs as well, to find some pals for her.

erm,lankeela, i think you are a bit overreact, im seeking for advice, because i dont know the answer. if not good for the puppy, of course i wont do it, thats why i ask questions first. i dont wanna my puppy unhappy, so im trying my best to look after her. i got petsiter to visit each time im out for work, im considering to do short shift instead as well, which means i only not at home for 4 to 5 hours and 5 days a week. is that still not acceptable?

[Illyria54]

You must continue to use the dog sitter for as long as you go out to work, it is very unfair to leave a dog and especially a lone dog on it's own every day for that length of time, a dog is a pack animal and to leave it like this is cruel, your dog has absolutely no idea that you are ever coming home, if I leave my dogs just to put the bin out it takes about 2 minutes, when I return my dogs are so excited, like I have been gone for weeks!! I once read somewhere that leaving a dog alone for 1 day is the equivalent to 1 WEEK to a dog, I have 4 dogs and wouldn't dream of leaving them for any more than 4 hours absolute maximum, and I feel guilty about that!

[jedimistress]

Your dog will NEVER be too old to be left for that period of time. Your dog won't grow up and want more time alone like a child does. Your dog is a pack animal and will quickly become depressed if left for long periods. It needs you. You haven't said if puppy is he or she.

[Hitler]

you are an evil woman. I wish i know where you lived so i could send the police round. I suggest you find a new home for it with some one who cares about animals and isnt cruel like you. You are evil and twisted. I hope you never have children! Richiiiieee

[mirela]

erm, hitler, thats a bit too harsh. do you know you need work to earn money to feed urslef and the dog?

ho jedimistress, it is a girl. i have dogsitter visit everyday now,

just out of curiosity, people, if you stay with your dog all the time, where you get money from to pay the dog food?

[Hitler]

from hard working tax payers. They must all bum off the dole or have rich partners

[whiffeу]

make the dog into a stir fry

[darcydark]

I know how you feel abou the criticism you are getting, I asked a question about my puppy and got abuse instaed of advice?

As long as you have a dogsitter she will be fine, a dog os not a human, she will learn you will always return home. Some could say how does a child know, when left with a childminder, tat Mummy is coming back for it.

Good luck with your puppy.

[mirela]

cheers darcydark, my puppy copes well at moment, she is very exited and happy evey time im home. apart chewed few things she can reach, she is very rare ******* or ******** in the house. the petsitter company is very reliable, i gonna keep using them whenever im off to work :)

[LoftyLottie]

I am really surprised at some of the replies. Mirela is doing her very best for her dog and is employing dogsitters to visit as necessary. Life is not perfect. I have always rescued dogs and have always had to work until recent years. I have always made arrangements for my dogs to be let out and exercised if I have had to be away for any length of time. They have been dogs who have initially had very bad starts in life and all of them have ended up as lovely and loving dogs after being with us for a while.

We would all love to have dogs in perfect conditions and not have to work or leave them, but it just isn't always possible. I maintain that my dogs have had wonderful lives with us, certainly better than if they hadn't been rescued from awful homes.

Well done mirela for being a responsible dog owner.

[Velvetee]

Your poor puppy will be traumatised, being left for so long and will probably become very destructive. Dogs need company, it probably would have been better if you'd got a cat, as they are independent and don't need so much attention.

My mother has people living opposite who leave their Rottweiler outside, alone all day and much of the evening. The poor thing just barks all day and is obviously very lonely. It's so sad to see.

[LoftyLottie]

If you read mirela's postings you will see that she uses payed dogsitters and will continue to do so. I used to have a neighbour that called in to see my dogs, chat to them and take them out. They were all absolutely fine.

And cats are not that much different to dogs when it comes to company. Most cats who are aloof and independent are like that because their owners think cats don't need them and very rarely give them attention. My cats get as much attention as the dogs and are very dependent on our company.

[LoftyLottie]

Velvetee. I agree that you shouldn't leave dogs outside for most of the day with no company and no attention, but this is not what mirela is doing.

[jimee99]

If a dog is left alone all day that you know of, call the RSPCA - they will visit the house and if nessicery take the dog away from the owner. You must not own a dog if you are out of the house all day, it is very very cruel.

Please phone the RSPCA about the rotweiller in the garden all day, they will come and take it away from the owners, and maybe even fine them for being so cruel.

Mirela - you are very cruel, and you should have your dog taken away, you must really hate dogs to do what you are doing to that poor animal. Please contact the RSPCA and ask them to take your dog away, and ask them to fine you as well - think of it as a donation.

[Postdog]

Well I just read the last answer, and had to say something. What a load of tosh!.

The fact that you are not ignoring it entirely proves there is nothing wrong with you as an owner. People have dogs and have to work, that's life.

[Postdog]

whoops, too many answers to read, so didn't read properly - didn't realise it was a different dog. sorry.

[mirela]

thank you loftylottie, i was a bit disappointed earlier when i found when you ask foe advice, but lots people give you lots criticism. it is not a perfect world, its same if you have a baby, if neccessory, you still have to back to work after giving birh becuase financial issue, i feel like in thos people's view, sounds like only rich people who no need work deserve a dog!!
now if im working, i got up at half 6, feed the dog and took dog for a walk before i set off at half 7, the dogsitter came around 12 and take her for another half hour walk. i back home at half 3, feed her again and play with her. sometimes, evening, when my bf back, about 8ish, he took her for another walk. we are trying our best to keep her happy:))

[LoftyLottie]

Agreed Postdog.

Jimee99 obviously can't even understand or hasn't read the question properly. Quite honestly, the RSPCA cannot take a dog away from anyone if is has proper shelter and access to water and is in good condition. Get your facts right Jimmee99.