Comments on: Home Alone Canine Style – Let’s Talk About Leaving Dogs On Their Own

By: Lucy Easton

Lucy Easton — Mon, 12 May 2025 11:00:38 +0000

In reply to Amanda Snow. That's so wonderful to hear, I'm so glad that Pippa's book was helpful to you and your lovely dogs.

By: Amanda Snow

Amanda Snow — Wed, 07 May 2025 16:43:18 +0000

This article interested me as recently, for the first time in ages, we had to leave our three dogs (mixed breed rescues, 10-11 years) at home alone for eight hours. I wasn’t happy but there was no choice. Amazingly, we came back to three hungry but calm dogs and no puddles. Generally the longest they are left alone for is around 3-4 hours and that doesn’t happen often as there’s normally someone at home. I wonder if they coped well because they had each other for company?
I’d like to take this opportunity to give a big shout out to ‘Total Recall’ which saved me in 2013 when I brought home one of these three dogs, just 10 months and totally traumatised by mistreatment and being dumped at the AFCD dog pound here in Hong Kong. Within a few weeks he was a different animal and on the way to becoming the wonderful dog he is today. Thank you Pippa!

By: Summer

Summer — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 02:27:18 +0000

In reply to Stacy. Hi Stacy, how do you mean you have it for him to go in and outside while you are at work? I have a detached garage that he could go in but it’s cold out right now. He is already house trained and he’s a little over 2 but I work long hours meaning often times 10-12 a day. More like 10 but there’s still commute time. I don’t want to confuse him but are puppy pads an option for him to use in the house when I’m at work do you think? I prefer he’s in the house where the temp is controlled and I can watch him on camera and even talk to him if that doesn’t freak him out. Any ideas ? I just don’t know what’s best for him. To be in the house all day or be outside in a fenced area with access to a garage ?

By: Jo

Jo — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 20:50:27 +0000

I am a single mum to a 7 year old Chocolate lab, I got her at 12 weeks old Trained her from almost straight away that she will be left on her own, initially started with a minute and built time up. For the first 2 years was lucky enough to live next to a retired lady who went in every couple of hours. She now has a fab dog walker who takes her for a few hours so she gets to socialise with other dogs. I am a stickler for not leaving her any longer than 4hours as feel that would be unfair to her. I do ensure when I’m with her on evenings and weekends she has my attention.
I do have to say I think it’s very unfair to have a dog if you leave it all day on it’s own, very selfish on the owner. They need companionship. I feel bad for mine as can see some days she’s really missed me by her actions.

By: mylilpaw

mylilpaw — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 06:03:13 +0000

One of the best dog breed for families & friends

By: Caitlin

Caitlin — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 07:42:14 +0000

I have a 3 year old Labrador who twice a week is left on her own for a working day. This has always been fine for her, never seen any destructive behavior. She gets walked before and after work everyday and the reason she sleeps a lot is due to back leg problems which is probably why she is okay with sleeping for so long. Less pain on her back leg.

By: cavachon

cavachon — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 18:12:19 +0000

i am a factory worker …i have worked for 10 to 14 hours.. all that times i left my dog at home alone.. he spent his this time very easily
ragrds

By: Tom

Tom — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 13:36:52 +0000

In reply to Emma. Hi. Yes I work the overnight shift. 6:00p.m-6:00a.m. 4 nights a week. My last lab lived almost 15 years with that schedule. I would always have a neighbor let him out between 9:00 & 10:00. The first couple of years his home was in the laundry room, then after that he had free reign of the house. He would get a long walk in the morning after I returned home. Lots of play time in the afternoon before I returned to work. And lots of extensive quality togetherness and fun time on the weekends. He was a very happy dog and lived a fruitful life. Now I have A new puppy Labrador ( 11 weeks young ) and I have the same schedule planned for him with no second thoughts. One advantage with working the night shift is that dogs usually sleep during that time anyway.

By: Charlie Webhost

Charlie Webhost — Thu, 31 May 2018 14:05:07 +0000

As a uniform services man, I work odd hours. Raising our puppy has been a struggle but also easy. Personally, I don’t think it’s nice to leave the dog alone for hours but sometimes you have no choice. My wife had to come back during her lunch hour to walk my dog occasionally but it’s never practical. Anyway, now we have a dog camera on a dedicated server IP, feeding straight to our UK web hosting provider and we can see our lovely dog on demand through our phones and he gets long walks most nights to keep his fitness level up. We have also installed a dog gate so he can access the garden using those GPS controlled flaps.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 07 Apr 2018 18:13:35 +0000

In reply to itdoesnotmatter. Don't get discouraged, all dogs are different. My son has had labs for years, as have I, and he works long hours. Most days he's gone 9-10 hours! The dog has his own room with a king size bed, tv and radio on. Not ideal but it works for them and my 50 yr old divorced son has the companionship of his dog.