Taking care of a dog is one of life’s greatest and most rewarding experiences. However, even when we love our dogs to the point of considering them as our children, it’s undeniable that we also have other priorities in life like work.
Most of us have jobs that require us to leave our beloved pets for the majority of the day, only seeing them before we leave and after we get back. While this can be heartbreaking for us, no one is more heartbroken than our dogs. After all, they’re called man’s best friend for a reason.
However, considering that we can’t just ditch our jobs to spend all day at home with our furry friends (no matter how much we want to), there’s a question that many dog owners ask: is it bad for my dog to be left alone all day?
The general consensus is no, it’s not bad to leave them at home all day. However, this does come with a catch.
What’s the catch?
While leaving them alone at home while you work doesn’t make you a bad pet parent, this doesn’t mean that it’s okay to leave them alone for long stretches of time.
Here are some things you need to know about this issue and what you can do about them:
- Leaving them for 10 to 12 hours at a time is too long.
Although many dogs learn to cope with being left alone for long periods of time, 10 to 12 hours is still too long for them, especially if they’re still puppies. Puppies, who are still unused to being left alone, can only be left alone for a maximum of 2 hours. Adult dogs, on the other hand, can only be left alone for 4 to 6 hours per day while senior dogs can handle 2 to 6 hours of alone time.
Leaving them alone can make them develop bad behaviors like biting, scratching, and chewing on your furniture and other items.
To avoid this, you can teach them that being alone is okay. House training is a crucial part of being a dog owner. Aside from training them, you can also leave them with interactive toys that can help keep him busy while you’re gone.
- Dogs require bathroom breaks every 4 to 6 hours.
It’s one of the vital factors you need to consider before getting a dog. Dogs, just like us humans, need frequent potty breaks, ideally around every 4 to 6 hours, and it’s unhealthy for them to hold it for long stretches of time. Puppies, especially, need to go potty even more often than that.
If you don’t want your beloved furry friend soiling your home, there are a few things you can do to ensure they get their necessary bathroom breaks.
First, try to see if you can come home for lunch. This is ideal if your workplace is close enough to your home. This will allow you to walk him or her and spend much-needed quality time with your pet.
If that’s not possible, you can try asking a friend or family member living nearby and loves dogs to dog-sit. That way, your dog can get their required interaction and bathroom breaks each day. There’s also the option of hiring someone or enrolling your beloved pet in a doggy daycare.
Wrap-Up
Dogs are social creatures and while it’s not advisable to leave them alone all day, it’s inevitable to do so, especially since we all have other priorities. While most dogs learn to cope with the situation, it’s still better if we find ways to give them their required stimulation and potty breaks even while we’re at work.
Aside from that, it’s essential that we also dedicate effort to spend time with them whenever we’re not at work. After all, they’re our best friends. You might also be interested in reading about 5 Essential Commands you should teach your Dog.
Author: April Ann
