Providing Companionship for Puppies Puppies are social animals so they don't respond well to being alone for long periods of time. Having a pet sitter or someone you know, such as a friend or neighbour, spend time with your puppy when you're working is a great way to lower the risk of boredom or separation anxiety.
Leaving a dog alone for hours on end is not good for his health or your relationship. He may become stressed, bored, destructive and he may toilet in the house. If you work full time you will need a large support network of people who can care for your pet while you're away.
Some households have an easier time if there is another person in the home who has a slightly different schedule. It would appear that many dogs can adapt to being alone for 8-9 hours at a time provided they have a means to potty and have adequate room to move.
Working full-time with a dog
Dogs need company, so it's not fair to leave them on their own for a long time if you are out at work all day. All individual dogs will cope differently with being left alone, and each have their own physical, mental, and social needs that will need to be met.
It's absolutely still possible to own a pet (or pets) even with a busy job, but it can also make things a bit tough. There are some things no one ever tells you about having a pet while working full-time that you should be aware of before you get into the situation.
Don't feel bad about going to work. After all, your job is what allows you to buy dog food! Dogs are perfectly fine staying home alone for a while. Just be sure to set them up for success with a comfortable room, treats, toys, and things to occupy their time.
Most experts agree you shouldn't leave your adult dog alone for more than eight to 10 hours, but some dogs (especially ones with small bladders) can't last that long. DO prepare your dog before you go.
Know your breed's behavior
Certain dog breeds are better being left alone at home than others, like: French bulldogs. Basset hounds. Maltese.
Conclusion: If you work full time but want a dog, go ahead, but make sure to proceed with care. Try to get a more independent breed, the younger, the better, or a rescue that's used to being alone.
"No dog should be left alone for more than 6 hours," according to the veterinarian-reviewed Reet Good blog. Many dog owners don't reach that ideal, but nurses who work 12-hour shifts can't even come close.
While it is definitely more of a challenge to raise a new dog or puppy while you're working full time, it isn't impossible. Puppies have a lot of needs, so you need to be able to make adjusts to your lifestyle and routine to successfully raise the new dog.
As a general rule, your dog should never be left alone for more than four hours at a time. However, this will greatly depend on your dog, their age, breed and how they cope with being on their own in the house. Some may struggle being away from their owners for this long and others will be unphased.
Before the shift, drop off your dog to a very kind friend or family member you trust while you are working then pick them up the following morning. The second option is to keep them at home alone throughout at the night in a safe place.
Ideally, adult dogs shouldn't be left alone for more than 4 hours. There is some wiggle room, provided that your pooch has access to enough food and water, as well as a place to go potty if they need to.
Each individual pup will vary, but the general rule is to only leave adult dogs alone for four consecutive hours. Dogs are social animals, often craving regular human attention and, without it, they become bored and lonely.
Until then, here are some options for puppy care while you're at work: Ask a family member – a willing grand pup-parent perhaps – or a friend to puppy sit while you're at work. Employ a professional pet sitter. They can come to your house during the day and keep your puppy company.
If you work more than eight hours a day, or if you'd just like your dog to go outside when you're gone, you have a couple of options: taking your dog to doggy daycare, or asking a neighbor or a petsitter/dogwalker (or even a personal assistant) to let your dog out and/or take him for a walk.
Experts suggest 8-10 hours is the maximum amount of time you should reasonably leave a dog alone.
You don't want to be leaving a dog alone for 24 hours or more because they will need to go potty and go out for some exercise. If you need to be away for longer, hire a sitter or get a friend to care for your dog.
The PDSA says dogs shouldn't be left alone on a regular basis for more than four hours. Modern Dog Magazine says crated dogs shouldn't be left home alone for more than three or four hours. PAWS Chicago, a nonprofit no-kill shelter, says five to six hours is the max for an adult dog.
The quietest dog breeds include the Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bernese Mountain Dog, French Bulldog, Borzoi, Basenji, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, and Scottish Deerhound.
This common practice of all-day confinement in a cage or crate means dogs suffer in many ways, including separation anxiety; excessive self-grooming, chewing and licking to the point of self-mutilation; worn and broken teeth and zinc poisoning from chewing metal cages; extreme boredom, leading to depression and ...
Impawtant Note: While it's common for dogs to sleep in crates at night, we don't recommend that you keep your dog in a crate for more than a couple hours during the day. Before you go back to the office, make sure your dog is fully potty trained so they do not have to stay in a crate at all while you're gone.