[gemy]

Excellent question. On a regular basis I don't leave any of my three dogs at home without me for more than six hours. How-ever sometimes life happens and eight or even 10 hours go by, but I get very very antsy with that.

Mostly though I am blessed with being able to take a dog into work with me. So I vary which dog, they each get to come in twice a week. I walk the dogs in the morning and my husband at night. In the afternoon at work the dog which is with me gets a long run in the park, or I take them to swimming, or underwater treadmill. Also some grooming :-)

Our lives revolve around our dogs, vacations, weekends etc. They are trained in obedience, and doing agility as well as being show dogs.

It is the lifestyle we love.

But, having said that I believe that more regular folks can and do leave a dog for eight hours or more at a time. Puppies need more time and attention, and having a dogwalker is a good compromise, or doggy day care.