Hi, I hope I can get some help and suggestions here. Our black labrador is 1.5 years old now. We adopted him about a year ago and loved him very much. He is very energetic and playful most of the time, obsessed with playing balls. We have a backyard and he lives in a dog house on the patio near the backyard. Since my parents are all retired, they are his company during the day time: playing with him, walking him...I work from 9 to 5, so I will take over when I get home at night. Now my parents will be away for two months. I just don't know what he will become if nobody is at home with him when I am at work. I can get up early in the morning to bring him out for a walk and play. Evenings and weekends are not problem for me neither. Still, I am worried he might feel lonely suddenly for two months and it might develop any behaviour issue? Any tips? Thanks.
Hi Linus welcome to the forum. That is quite a time to leave a dog alone that is used to company. My girl I know could be left that time happily if needed but just on the odd day and we have built up to that length of time. A bored dog can be destructive. As can an anxious dog. is there anyone you know that could look in at lunchtime for a play or a walk? Perhaps a youngster on vacation. Or do you have any dog walkers in your area. Perhaps doggy daycare. A mixture of all the aforementioned might help. Some would say you can't leave your dog for that length of time ever, but the reality is that there are loads of people who work and just get on and do it. You are right to think about how to make the best for your dog for this period of time though. Are any of these options open to you? jac
Hello and welcome to the forum. It's great that you're thinking of this; many people wouldn't even consider the dog in this situation. Jacqui has given you some great advice and options to consider. Someone taking him out for a good walk in the middle of the day would really break it up for him - if they could then give him a nice frozen kong or two when they leave, that will help fill a bit more time and hopefully he'd then sleep most of the while until you got back from work. To fill the rest of his day, giving him things like empty cardboard boxes to tear up will keep his mind occupied and focus any destructive behaviour, and you can get treat balls, or toys like the Kong Wobbler, which they have to work at to get bits of kibble out.
Hello and welcome from Molly and me. As usual Jacqui has given good advice. I sometimes go out and leave Molly for several hours and she just curls up and goes to sleep. As did my previous dogs, they know I am coming home so they don't worry. Getting someone in to break the monotony for him is a great idea, there must be many teenagers who would relish the chance to make some pocket money either by visiting or by taking him for a walk.
Hello there, and a warm welcome I work full time and have a dog, and I manage. It's perfectly possible. Does your dog sleep outside too? If so, being alone all night, and all day apart from seeing your briefly before and after work is unlikely to be ok. It's unlikely to be ok even if someone pops in to give him a walk. What is ok really depends on many things - your dog's personality, the routine he is used to, how long in total he is left alone, his overall activity levels (how many walks, training, outings and activities with other dogs) he gets. And so on. Going from company all day to nothing is likely to be difficult for any dog though, although most of course would manage for a couple of days in a pinch. And some dogs would adapt. Some dogs would not be ok though, mine wouldn't be. Daycare might be an ideal solution for you. And you might consider allowing your dog to sleep with you on your bed to give him more hours in your company - and then dog walkers could visit say twice in the day, that might work. Any chance you could reduce your hours at work, or work more flexible arrangments (some time at home perhaps) for a while? Best of luck with it, I hope you find a solution.
Hi and welcome I work 25-30 hours a week. Personally I never leave Harley for more than 4 hours at a time. Twice a week I have a dog walker who takes her out for at least an hour around 11.30am so it breaks up her day - I get home about 2.30/3pm. I also take her to work occasionally. I always leave her with a frozen Kong to occupy her. I used to have a webcam in the living room do I could check on her whilst at work, but it's no longer viable as she has the run of the house when we are out now. I built up how long she was left over a period of weeks - if they are used to have people home it can be very stressful for them. I would really consider day care or a dog walker if you are unable to go home during the day.
I have to leave my pooch alone during the day at times, I usually try to get someone to stop by around noon or early afternoon to take him for a walk. There are times when that is not possible, so he makes do and is fine but I wouldn't be doing it every day. I hope you are able to find some solution, it's not really fair to the pooch to leave him alone too much, although some dogs manage to cope, it's not really ideal.
Thanks very much everyone. I really appreicated all your input. I will take some time off, maybe 2 days per week to take care of him. If I can't, I will try to arrange some dog walker for my naughty boy.
Linus, doggie day care is GREAT a couple of days a week to get in socializing and exercise. Mine looooves to go to day care and he is 17 months old. They play all day and come home very tired. The next day he is happy to stay home and recuperate!!! Good luck.
