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Leaving a dog alone

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  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
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    CPS wrote: »
    Thanks for that response - lots of good advice and information. Is there any stage you think a dog would be okay in the house for the day on its own in terms of bladder control and loneliness?? Ie how long would we need dog walker / per sitter / neighbour??

    An adult dog can hold its bladder for eight hours, but try doing it yourself, while possible its not pleasant, this is why its advised that a dog shouldn't be left for more than four hours.
  • missbiggles1
    missbiggles1 Posts: 17,481 Forumite
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    GwylimT wrote: »
    An adult dog can hold its bladder for eight hours, but try doing it yourself, while possible its not pleasant, this is why its advised that a dog shouldn't be left for more than four hours.

    If that were true, very few of us dog owners would get a decent night's sleep!
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
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    If that were true, very few of us dog owners would get a decent night's sleep!

    Just like humans dogs produce ADH during long periods of sleep.
  • CPS
    CPS Posts: 172 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Thanks for all responses - making me think a pup isn't for us. Will look into slightly older dog / rescue dog which might suit our lives better and we wouldn't have to go through the training misery....... albeit not sure if it's fair to leave an older dig that long.
    The research will continue........
  • cliffsgirl
    cliffsgirl Posts: 367 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts
    I have a Lhasa apso. She is 18 months old. She is the best dog ever. She is very stubborn, if she doesn't want to do something she won't lol. She is very loving, the greeting you get when i come home it fantastic, the best feeling ever. I work days and my partner works nights so she isn't often left alone, about 4 hours at the most which isn't very often. She would go out for walks all day but equally would sleep all day too if she could. Getting her was the best thing we ever did. Yes it was hard work at the start but totally worth it. I wouldn't leave her alone for longer than 4 hours, any longer and we get someone to look after her.
  • missbiggles1
    missbiggles1 Posts: 17,481 Forumite
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    GwylimT wrote: »
    Just like humans dogs produce ADH during long periods of sleep.

    I'm afraid I don't know what ADH is in that context.
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
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    I'm afraid I don't know what ADH is in that context.

    Have you noticed that you urinate less in the night than the day, and when you urinate in the morning your urine is more concentrated than usual?

    This is because we (and dogs) release a hormone during prolonged sleep (antidiuretic hormone) (although not if sleep is continually broken and in a very light room) that is anti-diuretic, therefore dramatically reduces urine production. This incidentally why toddlers night time dryness cannot be taught like daytime dryness as you have to wait for ADH production to kick in, which sometimes doesn't happen until eight years of age.

    Just like humans, dogs don't produce ADH during their day time naps, so still need to urinate regularly, and just like humans dogs produce less as they get older and so are likely to start needing to urinate in the night.

    Which is why a dog can often go through the night without needing to urinate, but cannot go eight hours in the day time without needing to urinate.
  • missbiggles1
    missbiggles1 Posts: 17,481 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    GwylimT wrote: »
    Have you noticed that you urinate less in the night than the day, and when you urinate in the morning your urine is more concentrated than usual?

    This is because we (and dogs) release a hormone during prolonged sleep (antidiuretic hormone) (although not if sleep is continually broken and in a very light room) that is anti-diuretic, therefore dramatically reduces urine production. This incidentally why toddlers night time dryness cannot be taught like daytime dryness as you have to wait for ADH production to kick in, which sometimes doesn't happen until eight years of age.

    Just like humans, dogs don't produce ADH during their day time naps, so still need to urinate regularly, and just like humans dogs produce less as they get older and so are likely to start needing to urinate in the night.

    Which is why a dog can often go through the night without needing to urinate, but cannot go eight hours in the day time without needing to urinate.

    Thank you for the explanation.

    However, IME, many dogs sleep just as soundly in the day if undisturbed as they do at night and manage perfectly well without peeing.

    Obviously not puppies or very young dogs.
  • tooldle
    tooldle Posts: 1,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    CPS wrote: »
    Thanks for that response - lots of good advice and information. Is there any stage you think a dog would be okay in the house for the day on its own in terms of bladder control and loneliness?? Ie how long would we need dog walker / per sitter / neighbour??

    Hi, We have been leaving our dog between 8 and 3.30 since he was around 10 months. Whilst he was really small, one of us popped home every lunch time. I would take him out the garden for 10 mins or so. A quick wee and a play, and then it was back to work. He very quickly settled into this routine. Eventually it became that we had to wake him up each lunch time for a wee. At this point, he was okay to leave for the full day.
    Last night he went to bed at 10.30pm, and was still fast asleep when I left for work at 6.30 this morning. He sleeps for approx 18 hours each day.
    When dogs are very young they don't need a lot of walking. If I remember correctly the recommendation is 5 mins for every month of their age. In the day, it is more the toilet breaks than the exercise, if you see what I mean.
  • GwylimT
    GwylimT Posts: 6,530 Forumite
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    Thank you for the explanation.

    However, IME, many dogs sleep just as soundly in the day if undisturbed as they do at night and manage perfectly well without peeing.

    Obviously not puppies or very young dogs.

    However they aren't making ADH during the day, personally I wouldn't be comfortable leaving a dog to hold its urine for such a long time, I wouldn't expect to hold mine for eight hours, so I can't expect an animal to do that either.
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