Need dog answer/opinion fast!

[Neshanic]

Is it unreasonable to leave a dog in the house from 8 to 5? I just started a new job, and if I take him out before I leave, and he does both items....would coming back at 5 be too long?

[IdaBriggs]

1. No. Get a crate, though, if its a new dog. nt

[Neshanic]

8. He's two now.....

It is just that I have been working for myself out of the house, and he has always had me near him. I did it yesterday, for the first time, and he seemed fine. I just was worried that it would harm him.

There is a really nice dog day care right next to work, but I am worried this new experience of him being in a strange room by himself, would freak him out. He would get two personal play times being there per day, by himself.

Should I go for the day care, or let him be comfortable in being home?

Oh, he is a Bull mastiff/rott mix and is 100 pounds for the info on breed.

[radwriter0555]

18. You need to TALK to him and EXPLAIN it to him so he understands what's

going on.

I know that sounds crazy, but if you explain it to him, he'll do his best to please you.

Maybe you could do the doggie day care a couple times a week so he doesn't get bored?

[IdaBriggs]

20. He should be fine either way.

Dogs are diurnal. (In English, that means they sleep during the day, and during the night, and are most active in the mornings and in the evenings -- convenient, eh?) If you can trust him not to destroy things, leave him at home. If you are worried he might want to play/destroy stuff, crate him. Eight hours is not that big of a deal. :) Best, Ida

[Cerridwen]

2. I've done the same with my various dogs over the years.

I hate it, but my dogs seem to "go with the flow." Though it may take a few days before they can hold it.

I'd also suggest a doggie litter box which I hear works well for some dogs. That might help the dog's bladder and your floors.

[havocmom]

3. too many vairables

size? breed? age? physical condition? temperment?
If you think one answer to your question fits all, you need to boneup on dogs. Get a sitter.

[tavalon]

4. Sorry, it depends on the dog

Bigger dogs can handle that, littler dogs not so much. It also matters what kind of temperment your dog has. Also, if you have a safe space to confine him or her to, like the kitchen and you can put doggy potty training pads down just in case, it would be fine. You'll need to spend extra time with him/her after or you will have an unhappy mutt and unhappy mutts find ways to make sure their family understands that.

[liberal N proud]

5. Go to the puond and save an animal that would otherwise be destroyed

My suggestion is to get a puppy that is a mix. They are the best behaved animals. Experience talkining here.
We currently have a purebread Cocker that we saved from the pound and she is doing better with age, but still has moments. Our other dogs have been mix and were just great.

[raggedcompany]

6. that depends...

on a lot of different things. The temperment of the dog, it's relationship with you, the site it'll be alone in for the day, etc.

My dog is fine, but I've had her for six years since she was a pup, so she knows I'm coming back. Well, I think she knows...

[L84TEA]

7. um... yeah.. BUT

it really can be hard on puppies. I would try adopting an older dog.

[wellstone dem]

9. I have two dogs

Who are alone from 8 until 5 some days, other days my daughter gets home from school at 3:30. I try to get home for lunch at noon, but it doesn't always work. The dogs both do fine with the changing schedule, so I imagine they'd do even better if it was consistent.

[berner59]

11. The dog will be fine....

They really don't know "time"...but they remember good times and if you get into a routine where you give high quality time when you get home, a great walk/romp...plus lots of good old attention... It's more our guilt that makes it tough...they're simple...love me...

[Orsino]

10. Probably okay

Two of our three dogs are perfectly fine with walkies twice a day. When it gets to be twelve hours since the last trip o-u-t, the youngest one whines a lot.

[RebelOne]

12. Sometimes it can't be helped.

I work from 7 to 4. So I leave the house at 6 and don't get home until 4:30. And my poor doggie has to be left in the house all that time. Fortunately, she will not go in the house unless it is a dire emergency like diarrhea. But I do feel bad that she has to hold it for so long.

[sariku]

13. How long have you had the dog?

It really depends. How well behaved is the dog? My dog is home alone from 7:40 am until about 1pm. She is quite well-behaved (well, except for eating all the candy corn from a candy dish which fell after getting too close to the edge of the table). She doesn't have a problem holding her bladder until we get home.

If you're unsure how well behaved the dog is, I would really, really recommend getting a crate (they are much less expensive on ebay). Not only will this keep the dog from messing in the house, BUT it will keep him out of trouble while you're gone. In other words, you won't have to worry that he'll get into something harmful while you're away.

Oh, and my pooch was a humane society find. She'd been at the pound for two months, it seemed nobody wanted her. A trip out to the exercise yard pretty much explained why - BOUNDLESS energy, low on manners. But hey, what can you expect after two months penned up? Four months after adopting her, I couldn't be happier. She's a lovely dog, well behaved, very affectionate. She's protective of the entire family (she has a pecking order, too - kids first, mom second, dad last - poor dad!) and good with the kids. She's my buddy!

[Neshanic]

14. Thanks gang! I am off to work....

I just came in from his walk, and he did both items. Thank you all so much....I just could not bear to have him uncomfortable.

On New Years Eve, my lease is up and I will have a place 2 miles from work, so I will be home for lunch and breaks for walking him.

[HeeBGBz]

15. My dog is cool with it

She's 5, so she's old enough to know our routine. She does not go in the house. However any dog will poop when they have to. You have to know your dog. You can tell when they are just untrained or when they had an emergency.

[sinkingfeeling]

16. My dogs have always been left from 7:30AM til 5:30PM during

the work week. I found out years ago that having more than one dog is the solution to them 'wrecking' things while gone. It took my Samoyed about a year to get off the 'paper' pottying, but the American Eskimo was capable of 'holding it' at around 12 weeks of age. Paper training is an excellent way to go.

[ProfessorGAC]

17. We Have To Sometimes

It's generally not a problem unless the doggie is feeling poorly.

If i know that, i will run home at lunch time, but i live close enough to my job that i can make this work.

But, we have a walk-out basement and he spends the day down there in the rec room. So, worst case is a wet concrete floor. Not the biggest problem we will ever have.
The Professor

[hlthe2b]

19. Most dogs will just sleep all day, and like us..... can usually go

many hours before feeling an overwhelming urge to urinate. Most of us go all night long without getting up, right? If the dog is older, though, he may have less control and you either need to provide a newspaper backup in a back room or corner, or hire someone to come take him out during the day.