How many hours are your dogs alone? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

alaskayorkie · 10-08-2005, 01:45 AM

So the live-in mother in law took a 2-month trip to visit her sister, and we're in heaven having the house to ourselves. With one exception. We lost our full-time dogsitter. We've got friends, relatives and neighbors who can let Eddie out, but I'm wondering if I'm going overboard making sure he's not alone for more than 4 hours at a time. Here's a poll to see what you do.

Itspuppyluv · 10-08-2005, 02:08 AM

Don't ask me - I'm the one that voted never. I need to deal with it but I can't seem to leave him alone. I worry too much.

alaskayorkie · 10-08-2005, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itspuppyluv

Don't ask me - I'm the one that voted never. I need to deal with it but I can't seem to leave him alone. I worry too much.

I understand. I was a basket case today. We went to work at 4 p.m. I took a "dinner" break at 7 and spent a half hour with him. As I was leaving, a friend was stopping by to watch him from 7:30 to 9. Then my wife was home by 12:30.

Now we're talking about letting a friend move in for 2 months just to have someone here with Eddie.

Itspuppyluv · 10-08-2005, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Now we're talking about letting a friend move in for 2 months just to have someone here with Eddie.

That sounds like a plan to me but I'm definitely the wrong one to give advise. I'm grateful to have found YT but since joining I worry about liver shunt, him choking on his toys/food, hawks, someone stealing him out of the house or from the vet -the list goes on and on.

Does YT have a mental health section?

SoCalyorkiLvr · 10-08-2005, 03:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itspuppyluv

That sounds like a plan to me but I'm definitely the wrong one to give advise. I'm grateful to have found YT but since joining I worry about liver shunt, him choking on his toys/food, hawks, someone stealing him out of the house or from the vet -the list goes on and on.

Does YT have a mental health section?

Good point!

SilverStarShado · 10-08-2005, 03:35 AM

Never, ....I have reasons why

RowdysMom · 10-08-2005, 04:08 AM

I can't believe it! We're in the same boat! My mom lives with us and when she decided to spend 5 weeks with her sister this summer, my husband and I too, rejoiced in having our home and privacy back.

My husband is retired, so he was still here with Rowdy, BUT...... anytime we wanted to do anything or go anywhere, WHO'S GOING TO KEEP ROWDY???? Now, we have a doggie door, a very secure fenced and locked yard - so when we were only going to be gone a few hours, it was OK because Rowdy could have the run of the den (and the company of our other older dog), he could go in and out to play and do his business . Even though I know the back yard is very secure, I still worry about him when someone is not here - but in reality, even when we are here, he is outside a lot of the time by himself.

Anyway, back to the story. Woudn't you know it, my husband got sick and had to go into the hospital - so now....... Rowdy is by himself several hours per day. Luckily at first, I didn't have to stay overnight with my hubby so I would go to the hospital in the morning, go home in the afternoon to be with Rowdy, then back to the hospital in the early evening. THEN however, my husband had surgery and I had to stay overnight with him.

My daughter took Rowdy home with her for those days, but she works and is gone about 9-10 hours during the day. We took Rowdy's metal pen and set it up for him so he could stay in it while she was gone and of course, I was so worried about him having to stay in the pen for so long. But it was the only thing we could do, since our live in babysitter was gone!!! He did just fine, of course!!!

I don't think that we would have given up our blissful peace and privacy to let someone else move it with us - but it is a problem with things like this crop up! I know some people have to work and be gone during the day/evening - we were in that boat with our dogs (before Rowdy) just a couple of years ago. These little babies adapt to our lifestyle and do fine - it's just that we worry about them so darned much!

alaskayorkie · 10-08-2005, 04:14 AM

I see we're not alone, RowdysMom. I used to leave my lab alone for 8 hours without even thinking about it, but I just don't feel right doing that with Eddie.

ademas · 10-08-2005, 05:18 AM

6 hours on Mondays, and that's about it.
I worry about it, but I force myself to get over it.
He doesn't like it, but neither do I. I would much rather stay home and hang out with him, but hey...someone's gotta go out in the world and earn the dog food.
He's in a penned area with a bed, food & water, and a place to piddle and poop. I just remove his harness so there's no chance that he'll get caught up on anything, and I hope that he's not barking the entire time (for the neighbor's sake...)
I would let him have run of the house, but he's not quite entirely house broken yet.
I'm really trying to keep it light when I leave and when I get back. I think these dogs are smarter and more perceptive than we think. We stress, they sense it, and so they stress. Maybe it's our separation anxiety? They just pick up the ball and run with it.

Bentley&BitsysMom · 10-08-2005, 05:27 AM

We hardly ever leave our alone for more than a couple hours at a time and that's just so I can run errands or we go out to dinner. We are ALL homebodies and I don't work and we prefer to just be at home

I went to visit with my mom last night and she lives about an hour away and I couldn't wait to get home to see my four legged babies

I don't even like to be out of the area if I am gone!

Krishna's Mom · 10-08-2005, 05:35 AM

I try to leave mine alone for about an hour 3 or 4 times a week just so they are used to the experience and don't worry so much. Usually I use the time to go grocery shopping, do the dishes, etc. I'm not always gone from the house and they are pretty much fine with it now. Well, actually Krishna tolerates it and Kita will do anything if there is a cookie involved

Esme's Mommy · 10-08-2005, 05:36 AM

I know its difficult because your baby has never been alone before. We leave the house at 6:30 am and one of us is back around 3:30pm. Sometimes my husband will come by at his lunch time. Esme has free reign of the house and we think she sleeps most of the day. Also, we leave the radio on for her.
Good Luck!!!

tmatherly · 10-08-2005, 05:51 AM

Pippa and Scout are alone from 8:20 till about 2:30 during the week. We have an old house (built in 1939) that has a kitchen that is in the back of the house that actually can be closed off with a door. I would rather have a utility room, but it works. We used to let Pippa have the run of the house when we were gone, but last May my daughter forgot to lock the front door on her way out to school and a thunderstorm blew open the door and Pippa ran away (sorry, I don't mean to add to your anxiety...LOL). Of course we didn't know how long she's been gone or anything. It was one of the worst days and nights of my life. It rained all night and she had never been outside for very long. I was up all night looking outside, sitting on the porch, crying. Of course we had canvassed the neighborhood, etc. She was finally found wandering by the English building at University of Arkansas by an English professor, who called the animal shelter-who hooked us back up...yay! Now it was one of the happiest days of my life...what a roller coaster.
Anyway, now the dogs are securely gated in the kitchen with everything they need. I believe they sleep most of the time we are gone, because even on the weekend 8-2:30 is their sleepy time, then it's party, party, party until 10:00 pm!

ldenise · 10-08-2005, 06:04 AM

i could count on one hand the amount of times that we have left ours alone. I am too protective towards them. just this week my husband said "we are going to see a movie!" I might be wrong but i don't trust any friend or family with them. they will treat them like dogs. LOL
when we do leave them i also remove any harness or clothing they have on. and also leave the tv on for them so they don't get lonely.
i know i am way too protective and i know it is not good for them to be protected this way but the look on the face when they know i will not be taking them with me is more than i can take.

minniemn · 10-08-2005, 06:25 AM

I work from home so my dogs are not alone during the day- except for 15 min in the am when I bring kids to school... and then once and awhile if I run to the store. I am planning on finishing my RN soon, so they will be home alone... I will have an area all set up for them, with food, water, pee pads ect... but with my sons school, he comes home at lunch... my husbands business is to the point where his guys do most of the work, so he is home more ect.... it will work out fine... I am not worried about it.

We don't stop our lives though, if we want to go out to eat we go- the dogs are in a kennel where they feel safe and they can't get into anything.

they come camping with us, and if we go out of town, they go to family homes.

View Poll Results: How many hours do you routinely leave your dog(s) alone.
Never	18	26.47%
1-4 hours	29	42.65%
5-9 hours	17	25.00%
10 hours or longer	4	5.88%
Voters: 68. You may not vote on this poll

10-08-2005, 01:45 AM	#1
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	How many hours are your dogs alone? So the live-in mother in law took a 2-month trip to visit her sister, and we're in heaven having the house to ourselves. With one exception. We lost our full-time dogsitter. We've got friends, relatives and neighbors who can let Eddie out, but I'm wondering if I'm going overboard making sure he's not alone for more than 4 hours at a time. Here's a poll to see what you do. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

10-08-2005, 02:08 AM	#2
Itspuppyluv Gus Is The Fuss Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,277	Don't ask me - I'm the one that voted never. I need to deal with it but I can't seem to leave him alone. I worry too much. __________________ Erin & Gus Gus You lost me at stay! "He is a good heart and a kind soul, and an angel on four feet." MW

10-08-2005, 03:35 AM	#6
SilverStarShado I Love My FurBaby! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,195	Never, ....I have reasons why __________________ Becky & Sir Yoda See ME & My PupPals HERE My YT Photo Gallery HERE *Live, Love, Be Happy*

10-08-2005, 04:08 AM	#7
RowdysMom Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 2,624	I can't believe it! We're in the same boat! My mom lives with us and when she decided to spend 5 weeks with her sister this summer, my husband and I too, rejoiced in having our home and privacy back. My husband is retired, so he was still here with Rowdy, BUT...... anytime we wanted to do anything or go anywhere, WHO'S GOING TO KEEP ROWDY???? Now, we have a doggie door, a very secure fenced and locked yard - so when we were only going to be gone a few hours, it was OK because Rowdy could have the run of the den (and the company of our other older dog), he could go in and out to play and do his business . Even though I know the back yard is very secure, I still worry about him when someone is not here - but in reality, even when we are here, he is outside a lot of the time by himself. Anyway, back to the story. Woudn't you know it, my husband got sick and had to go into the hospital - so now....... Rowdy is by himself several hours per day. Luckily at first, I didn't have to stay overnight with my hubby so I would go to the hospital in the morning, go home in the afternoon to be with Rowdy, then back to the hospital in the early evening. THEN however, my husband had surgery and I had to stay overnight with him. My daughter took Rowdy home with her for those days, but she works and is gone about 9-10 hours during the day. We took Rowdy's metal pen and set it up for him so he could stay in it while she was gone and of course, I was so worried about him having to stay in the pen for so long. But it was the only thing we could do, since our live in babysitter was gone!!! He did just fine, of course!!! I don't think that we would have given up our blissful peace and privacy to let someone else move it with us - but it is a problem with things like this crop up! I know some people have to work and be gone during the day/evening - we were in that boat with our dogs (before Rowdy) just a couple of years ago. These little babies adapt to our lifestyle and do fine - it's just that we worry about them so darned much! __________________ Rex & Rowdy's Mom

10-08-2005, 04:14 AM	#8
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	I see we're not alone, RowdysMom. I used to leave my lab alone for 8 hours without even thinking about it, but I just don't feel right doing that with Eddie. __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

10-08-2005, 05:18 AM	#9
ademas No Longer a Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Des Moines, WA Posts: 18	6 hours on Mondays, and that's about it. I worry about it, but I force myself to get over it. He doesn't like it, but neither do I. I would much rather stay home and hang out with him, but hey...someone's gotta go out in the world and earn the dog food. He's in a penned area with a bed, food & water, and a place to piddle and poop. I just remove his harness so there's no chance that he'll get caught up on anything, and I hope that he's not barking the entire time (for the neighbor's sake...) I would let him have run of the house, but he's not quite entirely house broken yet. I'm really trying to keep it light when I leave and when I get back. I think these dogs are smarter and more perceptive than we think. We stress, they sense it, and so they stress. Maybe it's our separation anxiety? They just pick up the ball and run with it.

10-08-2005, 05:27 AM	#10
Bentley&BitsysMom Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Charlotte Posts: 2,836	We hardly ever leave our alone for more than a couple hours at a time and that's just so I can run errands or we go out to dinner. We are ALL homebodies and I don't work and we prefer to just be at home I went to visit with my mom last night and she lives about an hour away and I couldn't wait to get home to see my four legged babies I don't even like to be out of the area if I am gone! __________________ Michelle BENTLEY, BITSY, CHARLIE, & BAILEY'S Mommy Dogster Pagehttp://www.dogster.com/?145000

10-08-2005, 05:35 AM	#11
Krishna's Mom Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montana Posts: 57	I try to leave mine alone for about an hour 3 or 4 times a week just so they are used to the experience and don't worry so much. Usually I use the time to go grocery shopping, do the dishes, etc. I'm not always gone from the house and they are pretty much fine with it now. Well, actually Krishna tolerates it and Kita will do anything if there is a cookie involved

10-08-2005, 05:36 AM	#12
Esme's Mommy Esme's My Princess Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Miami Posts: 754	I know its difficult because your baby has never been alone before. We leave the house at 6:30 am and one of us is back around 3:30pm. Sometimes my husband will come by at his lunch time. Esme has free reign of the house and we think she sleeps most of the day. Also, we leave the radio on for her. Good Luck!!! __________________ Esme & Mari

10-08-2005, 05:51 AM	#13
tmatherly Razorback Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 2,056	Pippa and Scout are alone from 8:20 till about 2:30 during the week. We have an old house (built in 1939) that has a kitchen that is in the back of the house that actually can be closed off with a door. I would rather have a utility room, but it works. We used to let Pippa have the run of the house when we were gone, but last May my daughter forgot to lock the front door on her way out to school and a thunderstorm blew open the door and Pippa ran away (sorry, I don't mean to add to your anxiety...LOL). Of course we didn't know how long she's been gone or anything. It was one of the worst days and nights of my life. It rained all night and she had never been outside for very long. I was up all night looking outside, sitting on the porch, crying. Of course we had canvassed the neighborhood, etc. She was finally found wandering by the English building at University of Arkansas by an English professor, who called the animal shelter-who hooked us back up...yay! Now it was one of the happiest days of my life...what a roller coaster. Anyway, now the dogs are securely gated in the kitchen with everything they need. I believe they sleep most of the time we are gone, because even on the weekend 8-2:30 is their sleepy time, then it's party, party, party until 10:00 pm! __________________ Tiffany Pippa, Scout, and Ranger's Mom http://www.dogster.com/?198523 http://www.dogster.com/?198525

10-08-2005, 06:04 AM	#14
ldenise YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Rancho Viejo, Tx Posts: 2,698	i could count on one hand the amount of times that we have left ours alone. I am too protective towards them. just this week my husband said "we are going to see a movie!" I might be wrong but i don't trust any friend or family with them. they will treat them like dogs. LOL when we do leave them i also remove any harness or clothing they have on. and also leave the tv on for them so they don't get lonely. i know i am way too protective and i know it is not good for them to be protected this way but the look on the face when they know i will not be taking them with me is more than i can take. __________________ Buckeye, Ahia, Tressie, Archie & LDenise Dogs are really people with short legs in fur coats

10-08-2005, 06:25 AM	#15
minniemn YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 364	I work from home so my dogs are not alone during the day- except for 15 min in the am when I bring kids to school... and then once and awhile if I run to the store. I am planning on finishing my RN soon, so they will be home alone... I will have an area all set up for them, with food, water, pee pads ect... but with my sons school, he comes home at lunch... my husbands business is to the point where his guys do most of the work, so he is home more ect.... it will work out fine... I am not worried about it. We don't stop our lives though, if we want to go out to eat we go- the dogs are in a kennel where they feel safe and they can't get into anything. they come camping with us, and if we go out of town, they go to family homes. Last edited by minniemn; 10-08-2005 at 06:27 AM.