I can't get home at lunch anymore, what should I do?

Hi there,

It is technically possible not to take your dog out at midday, but it really depends on their age and how well they handle being on their own. Dogs are social creatures and don't generally enjoy being completely alone for several hours at a time, though some adapt better than others. I’m guessing from your message that your dog is still a puppy? If that’s the case, skipping a midday walk will almost certainly mean a little accident (or worse!) to clean up when you get back. Does he settle well by himself?

It can certainly be tricky to find that "perfect person" to pop in and break up the day for your dog. What exactly are you hoping to achieve? Is it purely for his well-being (which is lovely to see)? Or is it because he isn't house-trained yet and you're worried about him making a mess? Pinpointing the main issue might help you consider other options.

If you’re worried about him being lonely during the day, you could look into a "doggy playdate" with a friend’s dog who might be in the same boat. If it’s the toilet side of things you're concerned about, and you have a secure, fenced-in garden that doesn't face a busy street, you could consider leaving him outside—provided he has a proper kennel or shelter, of course. It’s definitely possible to have a dog without coming home at lunch, but it does require some adjustments to make sure everything goes smoothly for him.

I completely understand the hesitation about leaving your house keys with someone else due to the risk of theft. You might want to consider dropping your dog off at someone’s house in the morning instead—perhaps a retiree looking for a bit of extra cash or a friend who works from home on the days you’re out. That way, you don't have to hand over your keys. You could also look for a professional pet sitter; there are plenty of websites and apps that connect sitters with owners. Don’t hesitate to meet them a few times first to put your mind at ease and check they are reliable. Word of mouth is often best too, so why not ask around and see if anyone knows someone trustworthy who might be available?

Best regards,

Julie

I think she’s just sharing her own experience based on what you said; I don't think she's trying to start an argument or being aggressive.

On the rare occasions we have to leave our dog for a long stretch, she handles it well. We usually leave her in the garden (she prefers it) where she has shelter and the garden is fully secure. It’s never an issue; she just sleeps or plays on her own. She could stay indoors, but we’d rather she didn't have to hold it in.

I was just thinking, could you install a microchip dog flap (I think you can find them online)? That would allow your puppy to come and go as they please. How long are you going to be working full-time for? If it’s going to be a while, doggy daycare or a pet sitter would be a good shout; it really is quite a long time for them to be left without a break...

@Patou88

Before I had two dogs, I only had one, who also had to deal with long days from 8.30am to 6.30pm on his own, right from when he was a puppy.

At the time, I couldn't find a pet sitter I trusted to drop in, and I didn't have the money to pay for a professional walker.

I never had any issues with him—no accidents in the house (mind you, until he was about 6 months old, he was left in the garden with access to a shed so it didn't mess with his house-training), no chewing things, and no barking while I was out (after the first week of getting him used to it).

I’m not saying it was the perfect situation (and I know the idea of a puppy being home alone from 8.30am to 6.30pm will make a lot of people's hair stand on end), but he seemed to cope with it just fine.

I'm not saying it would go that smoothly with every dog, and I’d actually planned some backup options in case he couldn’t handle it, so I wouldn't end up in a situation where I had to rehome him because of complaints about barking from the neighbours.

I think it’s more a matter of getting them used to it AND their individual temperament (a dog that's well-adjusted, without anxiety issues, etc.) rather than whether they're an adult or not, or whether they're totally alone or with another dog.

Back then, my dog likely spent almost the whole time I was gone asleep (I didn’t have a pet camera then, but since nothing in the house had been moved while I was out, it’s the most likely scenario), and now that I have two (with camera footage to prove it)... it’s still the case! :D

But I feel better about it now, because even if they do spend the day sleeping, at least they have the option to do something else if they want to.

The only real issue when a dog (who’s used to it) stays home all day like that is managing to meet all their needs (in terms of physical and mental exercise) in the few hours left before bed. It makes for very dog-centric evenings. Walks, playing, training, cuddles—not much time for anything else. By dedicating a huge chunk of my evening to them, even after long days of being inactive, they’ve always seemed happy to settle down at night.

Nowadays, I have a pet sitter who, except for the odd occasion (like when she’s on holiday), drops in at lunchtime when I'm working long hours. But I often wonder how much better it actually is for them, or if it’s just better for my own peace of mind. As it happens, the younger of my two dogs almost always causes a bit of mischief after the sitter has been (it’s like he’s venting something, an emotional overload or frustration that her visit was so short—only 30 mins—I don’t know), whereas he doesn’t do it if she doesn't come at all, even if it’s a long day. :/

Personally, I’d go for a pro as they’ll have insurance, which is more than handy if anything goes wrong... and at least everything will be above board with the payment (plus you’ll have some recourse if there’s a problem).

When I was working, my girls would sleep through the morning, then I’d pop home at lunchtime and drop them off with a licensed dog sitter until the evening (I think she had about nine dogs in total). She’d sometimes keep them into the evening if I had a meeting, and I’d have to bring their dry food along in those cases. They got some lovely walks with the other dogs; the lady had a vehicle that could fit the whole pack in the back.

Yes, definitely look into getting a pet sitter—either a pro or someone recommended to you by word of mouth :)

I don’t get home at lunchtime either; I have a (pro) pet sitter who pops in for about £7 a day. It’s an expense, for sure, but I trust her completely and the dogs like her (well, Basile does anyway; Léon struggles to bond with people outside of his family).

That being said, it does occasionally happen that my dogs have to wait the whole day without the sitter visiting (when she’s on holiday, or when something unexpected happens at work and I have to stay later than planned when I thought I'd have the afternoon off), and they seem to handle it fine. It means being away from about 8.30 am to 6.30 pm (my partner's hours; mine are even longer), but we've never had any accidents in the house when that’s the case. When we open the door, the dogs don’t seem like they’re about to burst—they’re just happy to see us, they come in and settle down etc., and sometimes they don't even head out to the garden for a wee until 30 minutes later. But they’re adults (the youngest is a teen) and they’re large dogs; I’m not sure a young dog or a small breed would last that long.

I have a garden, so I could leave them out there to make things easier for toilet breaks, but I’m too worried about dog theft. I actually used to do that with the older of my two dogs when he was young (all through his puppy stage, I’d leave him in the garden while I was out, with access to a shed), but he very quickly made it clear he wanted to stay inside—he wouldn't go out into the garden when we were leaving in the morning. Then I heard all those stories about dogs being stolen, which really put me off by the time I got the second puppy... so he has always stayed in the house when we're out (for his house training, I had the pet sitter come twice a day at the start—so double the cost!).