How long are your dogs home alone?

[Dogs6]

It depends on when everyone is working but if everyone is working it is 5 1/2 hours . But my dad works 2 day shifts and 2 night shifts and he is off for 4 days unless he is doing overtime so it hardly ever happens.

[Saeleofu]

Monday and Wednesday up to 17 hours, but rarely does it ever go that long, and when it does there are two 1 to 2 hours breaks in between. I do try to take him to work with me at the clinic when I work my loooooong days (7am to 11:30pm between 2 jobs), so he's really *alone* for 5 or 6 hours on those days.

Tuesday 5 hours in the morning and 3 hours at night for class.

Thursday 3 hours in the morning and 1 or 2 hours in the afternoon for class.

Friday 4 or 5 hours at night when I go to work (7:30pm to 11:30pm).

Saturdays and Sundays are variable. Typically no more than 7 hours (3 in the morning and 4 at night) on Saturdays and 4 hours at night on Sundays, but there are also days when I'm totally off from school and all my jobs, and then he's not alone at all.

It may seem like a long time, but this is a dog that can sleep for 14 hours in bed with me, then get up and go sleep in his crate for a few more hours. He also gets plenty of physical and mental stimulation, chewies, toys, etc

[colliewog]

9-10 hours during the week, 1-2 hrs on the weekend. But as several others have pointed out, I've witnessed them sleeping for 10+ hrs straight. Mine sleep unless there is stimulation (me), so I stopped feeling guilty about it as long as I play with them when I get home ...

[ponbc]

Since my mom lives with us they aren't alone at home. However, before she retired, they'd be alone for 7.5 hours when I was teaching and it was fine. Now that mom is home she reports that as soon as I walk out the door in the morning with the human kids, they dogs all go and crate themselves. They stay there all day unless she specifically invites them out for treats, etc.

[Brattina88]

7hrs M-F, I can give them a break in the middle, but I've found that they don't really need it. They don't seem that excited when I come home in the middle of the day either, lol. Sometimes I need to run to Wal Mart after work, so after being with me for 3ish hours I'll leave again for a half hour or so. But usually I save my shopping needs for weekends, because I rarely am without a dog on the weekends!
But they get free roam of the house. Except for Tucker, but he gets a whole room to himself Right now Max (foster) has to be crated, though

I really don't like it when people make comments like that. I mean, without working, how else can you bring the kibble home??

[FoxyWench]

right now because i dont work its usually an hour or 2 a day tops...thats if i even go out...

they will go 8 hours without incident or fuss if needbe...

when i get my own place evnetually i want to put a big secure roofed run out back with acess so that when im working ect they can still "let themselves out" which they do already here but its usually by diving at the door handle untill the door pops open lol.

[BostonBanker]

Meg has had to adjust to my new job this year, which meant going from almost never being home along, to some fairly long day. The days we are all working, she is generally home 8 hours or so. If it's going to be much longer than that, like if my dad (last one to leave in the mornings) is out of town on business, or my mom (first to get home) has a meeting after school, I either have someone come in and walk her, or I take her with me where she sleeps in the car and gets walked on my breaks. I work rotating shifts, so some weeks she's home alone Mon - Thurs, and others it's just Thurs/Fri, because someone is home most of the day on the weekends.

You want to be accused of abuse, try keeping your dog in the car at work! I always point out to people that as long as the weather is okay, she's just sleeping in the car instead of on my bed. They still think I'm evil. Meg loves it.

I'm very lucky that Meg has handled the change with her usual grace. She's definitely in need of more activity and exercise in the evenings now; she used to just crash when we got home from work and be done for the day. But I'm happy to oblige.

[sprintime]

Mine are never alone, they even come in the car with us wherever we go--that said, my friend works and her dogs are at home from 8:00 - 3:30 and none the worse for it. Guess it depends on the dog and the situation.

[Baxter'smybaby]

my boys are home in a room together, for about 6 1/2 hours a day during the work week. The weekends --there is most often someone home all the time. Plus, being that I work a school calendar--when there are vacation weeks from school--I am also home at that time.
Truthfully though--same as many of you mention--my guys tend to sleep alot anyway. they get their outdoor time, and rides in the car (the love to ride!) and playtime--winter gets harder to make sure they get the physical activity they need just based on the weather.

[bubbatd]

With both daughters working , my Grand-dogs are alone all day . Seger not as long with Nash/sitter after school . All three dogs have free range of the houses , so just chill out . Ollie has never be kenneled more than 5 hours . Luckily loves his kennel .