For instance, a 3-month-old puppy might be able to hold his bladder for about four hours. “This lovable small dog does not require vigorous daily exercise,” Dr. Tripp continues. Make sure that your dog is alright with the increasing hours being left alone. 9 years ago. Some dogs may develop incontinence or anxiety problems with age. It’d be even better if you can ask a neighbor or family member to drop by during these long periods of absence. Poodles are able to be left alone for the amount of time they can go without needing to go to the bathroom. A dog should spend no more than 6-8 hours alone during the day without a dog walker or dog daycare Recognize the signs of separation anxiety, which is a sign of stress when dogs are left alone We got our pug from a man who was an estate agent and was often out of the house for 8 or more hours, we noticed a significant difference in our pug after a few days of not being left alone for hours on end. If its nice they stay outside, if not they stay in the house. In this section of the blog, we will answer the question, “How long can I leave my puppy alone?” in detail. Food couldn't be left out where she could get it because she would eat anything, and sometimes she would get into the garbage. The problem with a puppy is that it will be very hard to housetrain her if you are gone for that long. Seniors dogs can be alone between 2 and 6 hours a day, depending on their health. I would rather see a dog adopted and left home for 8-9 hours while people work then to not get adopted at all and eventually euthanized. Most people work a 8 hour day, add driving time both ways and it is longer. The fact is, there is no clear, definitive answer. Answer: it depends. These dogs are used to being home alone. 4 0. I would recommend a dog walker even a neighbor who can let the dog out once in the afternoon before you get home. 5 years ago. Even then you may want to see is someone can come over and let the dog out once while you are away. Will I need to get another dog to keep my dog company? You might be better off not getting a puppy, but more mature dog, one that has been trained etc. Purchase the dog when you can take leave from work. My mom and I got her a dog walker so she gets taken out for two hours in the middle of the day but if that is too much for u then I wouldnt worry about it. Leaving a small dog alone in a crate for 8 hours a day is cruel. Yes a German Shepherd dog can stay alone for 8 hours as can any other dog. Elderly dog: Can be left alone 2 – 6 hours. If you want a small animal that can be left alone then get a cat because they will just sleep and look after their self. So a 3 mo old puppy can hold her bladder for 3 hours. Adult dogs should get the opportunity for a potty break every eight hours. How Long Can I Leave My Puppy Alone? My 2 GSDs stay home by themselves for 8 hours, 3 days a week. They were both very easy to potty train as well. No dog can get left for 8-9 hours a day, they need walks and attention, food and water. This doggie would be left alone for around 7 to 8 hours. The general rule of thumb is 1 hour per month of age. 2. Take a peek. The 21 st most popular dog breed of the United States is quite fond of toys. Most breeds, when raised and conditioned for it, get along just fine. But being dogs that can be left alone is just one of pugs’ selling points. Can I leave my dog alone for 8 hours when I’m away at work? If you get your dog out in the morning and run him, he should be … It’s not a yes or no question. How long your dog can stay home alone completely depends on your dog, their age, and their physical and emotional needs. Any dog, if trained and given something to do, can be left alone all day. An adult dog can be left alone for up to four to six hours a day, as a very general rule of thumb. Contrary to that, Boston Terriers are quite independent and can spend a lot of time on their own. The Timing . We did not leave Kasey much when he was a puppy, and the amount time all depended on his age. Generally, terrier dogs suffer from separation anxiety and can’t be left alone for too long. And then that is 4 hours in 24, not 4 hours alone, someone lets it out and takes it for a quick spin around the block and then another 4 hours home alone Lv 7. Imagine if you were left home alone without any companionship for that period every single day. The dog can only be left for 8 hours if you want to give up on the idea of house training the dog. Leaving a dog home alone for 10 – 12 hours every day is a long time for any dog, regardless of breed. He is amost 5 years old now (my how time flies) and we can leave him for 6 or more hours during the day and longer if we go out in the evening. Can be left alone 4 – 6 hours a day. Do a search on the dogs prone to anxiety and these are the breeds to be avoided. The cocker that wasn't a mix was like garbage disposal, though. Your dog should be left somewhere where it will not escape or get into trouble. Your dog’s bladder control . My dog is left alone almost 8 hours a day too, I have school there is no way that I could be with her. Any puppy that age needs the option to go to the bathroom every 2-3 hours during the day, so no, you cannot leave the puppy every day for 8 hours and expect good behavior. For the sake of their health and wellbeing, you should not leave an adult dog (18 months and over) for more than four to six hours each day. They now have so many creative ways to take care of a dog even when you’re not home… cameras that let you talk to them, feeding timers, treat toys, continuous water dispensers, etc. Also 9 hours is a long time for a dog to not be able to relive itself and you will end up having a dog that soils in the house. I dont think it is abuse but sometimes I feel bad. Does your elderly dog experience health issues? Puppies need a lot of supervision and training. Our dogs are left home alone for 9 hrs most days. For example, do they need to pee more frequently? Especially, if you’re leaving them home alone in one single stretch. My home has a high, secure fence and an average sized yard, and i'm going to leave it some toys so they could chew on. Can a Siberian Husky be left alone for 8 hours? And although no dog should be left alone for an exorbitant amount of time, there are plenty of dogs that can be left alone for several hours without having anxiety or messing up the house. Therefore, if you are working full-time, you should buy some amusing toys for your dog and he will be fine. Thanks, D. Hi D., There are way too many variable to give this a definitive answer. How long can you leave your dog home alone? Can my cavachon be left alone and if so, for how long? Ask your parents how long you were wearing diapers. Puppies need to be checked in on and taken out every two hours, especially when their bladders are still growing. Can poodles be left alone? If you work a 9 to 5, you’re looking for dogs who can be left alone during the day without separation anxiety. I think 14 hours is too long to leave a dog alone, especially in a crate, but what do the “experts” say? I want to get a French Bulldog but I have to go to school and my mother has to go work. Then, leave it for one hour, two hours, and gradually add to the hours. The ASPCA advises that the number of hours a puppy's bladder can hold is equal to his age. Adult dogs, over 18 months, can be left alone between 4 and 6 hours a day. A house-broken adult dog can be left alone for hours but a puppy or young dog, although it can also be left alone for hours, should be contained in an area where it cannot do damage. Young puppies should, ideally, not be left alone at all. They have learned to sleep when you are not home. You can keep a young dog in a crate for a short period of time, and you step up from a half-hour to an hour or more as your puppy gets older. If his potty and physical activity needs are covered, they usually sleep while you are not home. Many people believe that cats can be left alone for long hours every day, and can even safely be left alone for days or even weeks, as long as food and freshwater are made available to them. After that, you can build up the time you leave the dog alone, but I wouldn't leave it for a 4 hour stretch until it was over a year. Before leaving your dog alone for more than a few hours at a time, consider the following. So how long should your dog be left alone? A French Bulldog is actually perfect for me and has the qualities I'm looking for in a dog, but I'm not sure if it's going to be happy being left alone that much time. Alesi's Chis. A good way to gauge how long a puppy can stay home alone without making a mess is to use a common formula based on age: Add 1 to his age in months for a rough estimate of how long he can hold his bladder. The Right Dog Breed. Some dogs are fine, others can develop behavior problems. In fact, you cannot leave a small dog up to about 2 years old in a crate all day because they are not in the frame of mind to rest all day. What I can tell you, though, is that I have an Australian Cattle Dog who is sometimes left alone for 7-8 hours at a time. Well, i'm planning on getting a Siberian Husky but i have to go to school for 8 hours. I think it really depends on the breed of dog. The list of questions goes on. 1-year-old puppies can hold their needs for 8-9 hours. Remember a puppy can only hold thier bladder for as many months they are old. We’ve found five pretty independent breeds. So, 2 months would be 2 hours, 3 months for 3 hours. 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