4 hours to a bull terrier is abit like me and you doing 5 yr jail stretch my dogs the most the go without seeing somebody is about 3hours !

we have more than likely made a rod for our own backs but we dont leave cassie for more than an hour, if we leave her she is left outside but if its raining or we are going to be longer she goes to my mum and dads, she is nervious and being left alone wouldnt suit her so she goes to my mum and dads where she get spoilt. Even when i was at work starting at 6.30 in a morning i will take her and the kids there first its a right mare! i start back in april too

Great advice everyone! Thanks. We'll consider visiting a shelter instead of the pet store now.

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Pets Alone At Home

8 hours is far too long imo! If you're gone for that amount of time a day I wonder why you have a dog! I never leave mine for more than 4 hours a day

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no more than 4 hours ideally has been as much as 5 on the odd occassion. And when they where pups no more than 2 hours.

People that work usually manage to find a solutions, as we all have to work to live etc. My dogs are walked before work at 6 am and if i'm on a split shift again at lunch time, if i'm working 7-5 then they get a walk at teatime and another before bedtime. I'm lucky because the OH works from home and has them out with him on the farm during the day, so they get company and free running exercise as well.

Many people that work get some one to come in during the day for ah hour to let dogs out and take for a walk, this can work as long as you get some one relaible and trustworthy or someone you know or family that can do it.

i would never leave any dog 8-10 hours on its own,

When two of mine were young they'd be left for up to six hours and in hindsight that feels too long. Nowadays I wouldn't leave any of our dogs alone for more than three. Two hours being more typical.

On a normal day the longest mine are left for is about an hour, the most is probably 2-3 hours and any longer my friend will come and walk them aand spend some time with them.

When I worked my dogs were left in an outside kennel/shed and run from 8.30 till 5.30. They were fine. And why did I have dogs when I was out all day - because I spent most evenings either at dog training classes or on long walks, our holidays were walking holidays and our weekends were taken up with with obedience shows or days out walking. The dogs were in a routine in the day and it didnt bother them at all.

Now I live and work on a farm so am normally around. Candy is now 5 months and I am just starting to leave her for longer if I am working away from the farm. Up till now I have arranged for a friend or a dog walker to come and let her out if I was going to be gone more than 4 hours but today she was fine with the other dog for 5 and a half hours. The older dog has always been left as long as necessary. She is quite happy being left all day.
My animals are a huge part of my life, I give up a great deal for them but I refuse to be dictated to by them and if I want or have to go out for a few hours it wont hurt them. Having said that I have not tended to go out in the evenings since I got Candy as I havent felt it fair on her. I think possibly we have both been out 3 times since we got her. She was left for up to 2 hours though from the day we got her.

I think its all about the quality time you spent with your dogs rather than the amount of time they are left alone.

For a lot of dog owners who work outside, the time spent at home can be dedicated to interacting with the dogs and giving them mental and physical stimulation. Thats what matters more than whether someone is at home or not (some people can be at home and spend all day watching TV which is unlikely to help provide with the types of activity a dog thrives on).

My boy can stay on his own for up to 7 hours roughly but at the moment its only a couple of times a week and often less than that.
The day both my OH and I have to work full time we will probably arrange our hours so that Diego does not spend more than 7 hours on his own as well as arrange for a dog-walker at least 2-3 times a week.
I dont think I would be very happy knowing my boy spends 7-8 hours a day on his own 5 days a week so a dog-walker will be a good solution for us I think.

xxx

It depends on the breed, some HATE being left alone ..and of course on your dog. But I would not leave an animal alone for more than about 4-5 hours. Again that is with a dog that doesn't mind being left for that kinda time.

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