Well, after I watched the trailer for a movie (click on the link, its a must watch) that is coming this summer, it made me think, what do your pets do when they are home alone? When Pepa was at my grannys I left her on our bed that is outside to sleep for the night and she ate the bed... :/ What are your experiences
Pongo would like me to think that he is an alert, conscientious guard dog, patrolling our home to guard it from burglars and threats of all sorts. In fact I think he just sleeps. And then sleeps in another chair. And then on the sofa. The giveaway is when he meets us at the door with a huge yaaaaawwwwwwwnnnnnnnnn and a sstttrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeetttcccccchhhh...
Juno is very boring and just sleeps in her bed until she hears the car at which point she moves to sit on the rug in the hall with a toy ready to greet us .
Charlie eats his kongs, sleeps, then jumps all over the dog walker saying he's been abandoned, home alone for weeks.....gets his walk and then eats his kongs...etc.
On a recent TV programme it showed some dogs very upset when their owners were not there, pacing up and down, whining, going to the window to see if they could see the owner, all very sad. I think mine sleep, hope so! They are only left for about 2 hours a day.
We have a camera system so we can check on the dogs when we're not there. Most of the time they sleep. Sometimes they have a bit of a play. But, generally, it's eat the kongs we've left for them, then zonk out until we get back.
Have you seen a device called Whistle Activity Monitor? There are a number of similar devices, some of which are Accelerometer based and some are GPS They can tell you how active your dog is, and in the case of GPS units, even help you locate him if he is lost. Our two friends with Sammies have them, and are constantly comparing the dogs activity levels though the day. Both Sammies go to the same doggy daycare, and spend a lot of time together. Since we are home most days, I haven't been sucked into it, but is is kind of interesting. Our dogs can go out into the yard anytime they want, since we have a dog door. Tilly doesn't go out often unless there is something going on. Cooper will go out several times a day just to patrol the yard. I have a wireless webcam that I could set up in the house, that might be interesting. We have used it in the past to observe birds nests when Robins or Juncos had babies.
Harley starts off having her treat in the living room when I leave. Most of the time she then goes and lies on my bed and snoozes until I get home.......she usually is stretching on top of the stairs as I walk in the door! I used to monitor her on the webcam so know she is relaxed when home alone. On Monday I left for work at 9am. Dog walker came in at 11am to get Harley. Hubby popped home at 12.30pm amd Harley was still out with dog walker. Hubby left 5 mins later. I got home at 1.30pm, Harley came downstairs and welcomed me. I went upstairs to use the toilet to find my quilt from my bed on the floor, pillows strewn all over the room, and...............in the middle of my bed, a muddy circle where Harley had obviously decided to have a hoolie.......it was a cream sheet!
When I was home sick one day I was curious to see if the last Lab and the kitten at the time played together without input from me. I felt crummy so just laid around and watched, maybe not truly representative of what would happen when I wasn't there at all, but ..... They'd snooze. Then the dog would go search out the kitten and instigate a play. They'd snooze. Then the kitten would go stalk, pounce and get the dog going for a play. All day, first one would start something, then the other. With long naps in between. I can only guess it was the same when I wasn't home.
