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Is It Acceptable To Leave Your Dog Home Alone During The Workday: Reddit Users Weigh In

We pet owners know that our pets are our babies, and there are very few people we trust to give them the care and attention they deserve adequately. When push comes to shove, sometimes we need to arrange for some last-minute pet care. There are several sites where petsitters can advertise their services and pet owners scavenge through them carefully selecting whom they believe to be the best fit.

Though, we often find ourselves asking- when is a sitter really necessary? If we're just going to the office for the day, should we have someone come by to check in and step out for a quick stroll and bathroom break? Of course, every doggo is different, but there must be some general sense of what is appropriate in these kinds of situations, right? Reddit users from near and far weighed in with their opinions. One pet sitter amongst the bunch chimed in with "If your dog can hold their pee/poop and doesn't have separation anxiety then imo there is no harm leaving them at home. They will sleep at your place, and they will sleep at mine all the same. Just with extra pats and cuddles." Let's hear some other opinions. 

 

Posted by kalilacourban
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  • 1
    Font - Posted by u/Anxious-Reality3329 3 days ago Is it still acceptable to leave your dog home alone during your workday? [Discussion] I know this used to be common, but it appears it no longer is. I'm debating hiring a pet sitter to drop in and let my dog out mid day. Do people still leave their dogs at home for the workday with no mid day breaks or does everyone have pet sitters who come over to give them a break these days?

    OP starts off the discussion with an interesting question. "I know this used to be common, but it appears it no longer is. I'm debating hiring a pet sitter to drop in and let my dog out mid-day. Do people still leave their dogs at home for the workday with no mid-day breaks or does everyone have pet sitters who come over to give them a break these days?"

    Via Anxious-Reality3329
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  • 2
    Font - Adenidc · 3 days ago I am one of those "sitters" for people, and I'm honestly not needed for most of them. Dogs are completely okay with being home alone for long hours, the important thing is that they are exercised properly after, and that it's not a brand new puppy or anything; the dog needs to work up to the schedule, know it wont be going out and using the bathroom for a while (which most dogs have absolutely no problem doing). Dogs are absolutely about schedules, and as long as you
    Via Adenidc
  • 3
    Font - dameavoi · 3 days ago · edited 3 days ago I second this. Also a millennial and my dog is happy staying home on days I need to go into the office. I have a doggy cam set up and he's napping every time I check on him. I will say he's a small guy who uses pee pads in our bathroom even when I am WFH because his little bladder isnt always great at holding it more than a couple hours. If I had a bigger pup who couldnt use pads, I would prob hire a walker so he could get relief since Im gone 9-1
    Via dameavoi
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    Organism - soupertoe · 3 days ago I think it depends on the dog. Most adult dogs will be fine for 8-9 hours on their on and just sleep the whole time. A puppy or a dog with separation anxiety/high energy might not be ok with that arrangement. If it helps ease your anxiety set up a camera to see what your dog does while you're gone.

    "Most adult dogs will be fine for 8-9 hours on their on and just sleep the whole time. A puppy or a dog with separation anxiety/high energy might not be ok with that arrangement. If it helps ease your anxiety set up a camera to see what your dog does while you're gone." 

    We love the idea of setting up a camera at home! It's always fun to check in on the doggos from a distance, and this way you are able to monitor the doggo and assess how much a daily sitter could really benefit them.

    Via soupertoe
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  • 5
    Font - zanderbrown · 3 days ago I'm a millenial and my dog has always stayed at home while I work. He's old now but has always been pretty low energy (unless we pull up at the dog park, then he turns into a total spaz). I think he's very content with chilling at home while i work. He has a backyard, doggy door, an autowaterer, autofeeder. I also have a roommate now that adores him so that helps a lot but most of his life it's just been me and him.
    Via .zanderbrown
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    Font - mrsjturcyn · 3 days ago Most dog trainers will tell you rule of thumb is a dog should be able to hold their urine for 1 hour for every month they have been alive up to 12 months. Now that being said you know your dog. My lab can go 16 in a pinch home alone with no mess (not counting the black hair on our bed and couch where he lumped throughout the day. My husky can go 8 to 10 in a pinch but let's me know it was unacceptable for the next 2 days. My dogs love day camp but others hate the v
    Via mrsjturcyn
  • 7
    Font - Codles · 3 days ago Gilly: Doberman/Lab Mix Don't forget your audience, too. If you ask a bunch of people on r/dogs you are going to get much stricter takes than the majority of the population. I think it's absolutely fine for an adult dog. I think most decent humans think it's fine. Your response may be like when I offered dry food for feral cats through a Facebook page. Our cat had passed and I didn't know what to do with it. I got yelled because it wasn't wet food. It was a bit mind bl
    Via Codles
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  • 8
    Handwriting - markonopolo · 3 days ago I've had dogs for nearly 40 years, and for most of that time, they've stayed home while I'm at work all day - the exception being puppies. Dogs sleep most of the day anyway
    Via markonopolo
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    Font - moshi99 · 3 days ago I see this daily right now working in an animal hospital lab. I see vets with small offices having their dogs with them there. Believe me when I say that those dogs look bored as heck being there. The plus side for the vets and other techs are that they can have a close eye on their dogs and take them out for a few minutes during their lunch break. But I think those dogs would've been happier (based on my daily observations) at home in a more comfy environment with to
    Via moshi99
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    Font - Burntoastedbutter · 3 days ago I'm a pet sitter and majority of the people I get HAVE to do it because their dog has separation anxiety from being alone, or their dog just can't hold their pee/poop til they get back, which is understandable. COVID didn't help either with all the WFH. I had some dogs over who developed separation anxiety from that. Of course, there are some people who do it just for a fun thing for their dog. But let me tell you this... With the exception of dog breeds lik
    Via Burntoastedbutter
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  • 11
    Font - ATXKLIPHURD · 3 days ago My dog has a chauffeur, personal chef and a dog walker while I'm work. Anything else would be uncivilized.
    Via ATXKLIPHURD
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    Font - Consistent_Try5805 · 3 days ago When I first adopted my monster I installed a wifi camera, I would be out a solid 6/8 hours some days and figured if she was looking anxious then I could call my mum to call in on her as she lived very close. Happy doggo slept all day, got up occasionally to stretch and have a drink/nibble biscuits left over from breakfast (I had a movement alert as it was a home security wifi thing, and it hardly ever went off). If the dog is happy, healthy and gets plenty
    Via Consistent_Try5805
  • 13
    Font - dogmom375 · 3 days ago Like others have already said, I think it depends on your situation. We have a senior dog and she requires less exercise and can hold her potty for 8 hours. Prior to working from home, she was completely fine during the day. Now, she has developed separation anxiety from us being home 24/7 so we try to only leave her at home for 3 - 4 hrs at a time while we can figure out a solution to help with her anxiety. Our other friends have a 3 year old rescue that requires m

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    Via dogmom375

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