Can I be right!
 

My 14-month old little guy has been confined to the kitchen/laundry room area all his life when I go to work. It's a large area and he has his bed, toys, food, etc.

When I get ready to go to work - Murphy goes and gets in his bed in the laundry room. He does this totally on his own. He really settles in and acts likes he's going to take a nap. He is totally content and comfortable and has never cried or whinned when I leave.

PLUS - he is like any dog - totally ecstatic and happy when I get back home.
(I am gone about 6 hours, four days a week).

My concern (if it even is one) is that when I walk in the back door coming home from work - he is still in his bed, stretches, gets out and is happy happy happy to see me. But, I am beginning to wonder if he spends the entire time I'm gone in his bed. Does he ever even get out of it???? I am starting to notice that nothing in the entire area has ever been touched, or eaten, or moved.

Maybe he does just sleep while I'm gone and is happy and content doing this. After all, dogs (especially house dogs) do sleep 14-16 hours a day.

I have another dog who has free run of the house when I'm gone. And, I'm sure he spends most of his day on the back of a big chair - sleeping and looking out the window.

****** When I get home from work - both my dogs are chomping at the bit to go outside - and, they go out three or four times in the evening after I get home, plus they are happy and playful and do play with me and one another in the evenings. They also go outside in the mornings before I go to work.

This is weird - but the more I write about this - the more I think - everything is just fine. My dogs probably are sleeping most of the time while I'm gone - which is probably what most dogs do...and what most dogs want to do.

Whatever - have any of you ever noticed this!


Carol Jean

I've noticed the exact same thing as you. When I go to work Zena just lies down on the sofa. She has plenty of toys in the living room too but she never touches anything while I'm gone. When I come home she jumps down from the sofa and runs to the door to greet me but the toys are in the same place as when I left. Like you said, I think they just have a nap while we're gone :)

Mine are crated. When I pick up my keys to go out the door, they have started going in there on their own. But on days when I don't work, they still go in there about the same time and go back to sleep for a bit. They like their crate, I don't feel guilty, and the Christmas tree stays decorated.

Most dogs are only awake as a rule for 4-6 hours per day depending on age, etc. When they have working owners, I think they spend most of their time sleeping so they can be awake and with you when you're home. They sound totally normal to me, saving all that energy up for you. :)

Interesting thread. Proves my wish of wanting to be reincarnated as a lap dog:D

When we are gone mine sleep too. I am a stay at home Mom though and usually home. Alot of times though they still sleep untill My Husband gets home then they are ready to go

My husband and I just had a similar discussion the other day. We are both retired so spend more than the usual time with our furkids. But, when we do have to leave for one of my son's sporting events or shopping, it seems like they all hibernate while we are gone. So, I guess it is natural. Just taking advantage of down time to get some rest so they will be "full of it" when we return. Now that I think about it, when my "men folk" leave, I often take advantage of the time to put my feet up and relax too.

I know exactly what my girls do lol - they have their little noses glued to the door till I get back - and that's WITH my husband here all the time ...no worries for me - just guilt :)

I totally think mine just sleep when left by themselves.

When we have to be gone for any period of time, we gate them up in the kitchen. I leave them plenty of toys and treats and such.

When we get home they are jumping around happy to see us, but you can tell they've been sleeping. Naturally they ate/drank/used the piddle pad in our absence, but they usually don't touch anything else. UNTIL we get home. THEN they start chewing on their bones, playing with the kongs, etc! :p

Silly nuts. :p But yeah, I think that's very normal, and really, I'm GLAD. Takes the guilt out of leaving them.

I work from a home office and Jaxon sleeps most of the time while I'm working. He has a couple of beds in my office and is quite happy to sleep while I'm plugging away on the computer. I would guess that out of the 8 to10 that I'm working each day, he probably sleeps up to 6 of them!

I think it's unaminous! It looks like everyone's dogs but Villette's just take it easy while we're gone. Even when I'm home Debbie spends a lot of time in her little doghouse bed. Although I think it's so I can't get to her to brush her hair:rolleyes:
I think you can rest easy now. Your dogs are totally normal and you have nothing to feel guilty about.

Coco does the same thing. Not a single piece of kibble is touched, not a single of the million toys have been moved. She stretches and moans and groans when I come in, then she gets really hyper and happy :D Her bed is always cozy and warm so I think she's slept there most of the day.