Leaving our dog during the day - advice

afooksy

Hi,


I am looking for some advice on this. Myself & partner have a dog, he's just over a year old. For the first 6 months of his life he was left alone for up to 4 hours at a time, with no issues. We have spent the last 6 months living with my boyfriends parents who have 3 other dogs, so whilst there are periods of time where nobody is home during the day, our dog has always been in the company of 3 other dogs. We move out this week into our own home, so our dog is going to revert to being alone again during the day. My boyfriend will go home at lunch to see him, so it will be a 4 hour period that he's alone.


I am getting worried our dog will get separation anxiety. I plan to take time off when we move in and gradually leave him for one hour two hours etc. Has anyone had experience of this before?

teddysmum

Could you leave a video cam running while you are away ? This could well reassure you,as I know that my two sleep for most of the time I'm out (and probably going deaf with age, continue to do so until they realise I'm home).

afooksy

teddysmum that's a good idea. It would put my mind at ease if I could check up on him throughout the day x

ariba10

We always let a radio on low and the back door open (we lived in a terraced house with a walled garden and good neighbors)

Best of luck!

Geodark

Have to say we have an English Bulldog and she sleeps all day - we were worried at first about leaving her but she is fine (unless the window cleaners turn up in which case all the cushions from the couch end up on the floor for some reason!)

ripplyuk

How far are you moving? Would your boyfriends parents be happy to petsit your dog during working hours?

Otherwise, if it's 4 hours, I'd set up a camera to check on him, and use a variety of activity toys eg: a stuffed Kong. If it's more like 8 hours, could you employ a dog walker for at least one long daytime walk?

SensibleSarah

I used a webcam to keep an eye on mine at first. Fortunately she's always been happy being left and just sleeps. I used to have a dogwalker but the cam showed me that was actually stressing her out more than being left totally alone and after 12 months there was no improvement (she's a rescue with trust issues when I'm not there - dogwalker was lovely), so for the last 3+ years she's left with the run of the house & garden (via flap) on weekdays & seems much happier. She's odd though Most dogs would love an extra walk & some company!

I would definitely try a camera to keep an eye at first & see how your pup does. That way you can see if he's getting stressed or bored & look at other options e.g. Dogwalker, daycare etc if needed.

missbiggles1

Could you consider getting another dog so that they'd be company for each other? We always left dogs during the day but never had just the one.

ktjackson

I had this problem but we got a dog walker who takes him out for an hour a day. He still gets to socialise with other dogs and he gets some exercise.

Make sure you do your research though as I have heard some horror stories about walkers taking dogs out for 10 minutes and charging you £10 for the hour!

afooksy

thank you all for your replies!


I am definitely going to invest in a webcam. Found one on amazon for £22 that links to your phone so will be ordering that. I think I'll see how it goes with that and if he gets stressed/worked up I'll investigate local dog walkers, there are quite a few around but will def do research first! thanks Sensible & ktjackson for those suggestions.


ripply - We don't live too far from both sets of parents but in a turn of good luck my boyfriends Mum will be starting a new job out in the community where we live, so will be able to drop in when she's passing our place.


When we first had the dog, if we were going to be out all day we'd drop him into my Boyfriends Mum's house, long story but two of the dogs she has are our dog's mum and dad, so they all get on really well and it would keep him occupied. Of course we could go back to doing that but I think the fact he's going to be leaving and then going back to where he's been for the last six months then every night coming back to the new house will be too much. We might trial doing it one day a week though but that could again cause more stress. Think its going to be a bit of trial and error with this but hopefully will work out in the end and we'll have a happy puppy!

afooksy

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Could you consider getting another dog so that they'd be company for each other? We always left dogs during the day but never had just the one.

biggles - I had to laugh at this...its what I suggest every time me and the bf have this conversation!! Its always met with absolutely not!! But you never know I may be able to persuade him!