Can I leave my dog alone for 2 days?

I don’t really get your point of view, Lorna. Just because a dog seems fine being left alone for an 8-hour day, it doesn't mean it's okay to leave them for 48 hours. She’s bound to miss having someone around and feel lonely... and what if she starts whining or wrecking the house? We just don’t know. It’s honestly madness; it’s not a cat! With all the pet-sitting options available, there's really no excuse – it’s so easy to find a solution these days!

An adult dog that's fine on her own during the day and has access to the outdoors can absolutely stay alone for two days. Do you honestly think she’s going to spontaneously combust the second the clock strikes midnight at the end of day one? Or maybe she’ll just spend the second day exactly like the first... and that’ll be that. I don't get why everyone is reacting so strongly. It’s probably because she’s a 12-year-old Yorkie, which makes her seem more vulnerable. Why not just ask a neighbour to pop in and check on her? If you can’t find a proper sitter, just a quick look-in every now and then to make sure everything’s alright would do.

Well, you asked the question and we’re giving you the answer. And the answer is no, you can’t leave a dog on its own for two days. At the end of the day, you’ll do what you want, but we aren’t going to just tell you what you want to hear. I don’t understand why your friends who have a dog can’t look after yours. I’ve looked after friends’ dogs plenty of times, even though I have one of my own. If you can’t find anyone, there’s always the boarding kennels; around £50 for three days is a pretty reasonable price. Otherwise, would a local rescue centre offer boarding? I’m not entirely sure, but you could always ask as I think I’ve heard of that before. I doubt it would be less than £15 or £20 a day, though.

You say: "I’ve looked online and only found boarding kennels but I find them quite expensive." I just want to tell you that when you’ve had a pet since they were a puppy, you have a duty to do everything for them... feeding them, loving them, taking care of them... and obviously, paying for their care regardless of the price... I don't think the cost of a kennel for 2 days is more important than your dog's life... she’s been by your side for 12 years, she’s a senior dog, so if you can't leave her with family or friends, get a competent professional to watch her... First of all, hello—because you can love animals and still have some respect and manners. Secondly, you can keep your moral lectures to yourself. Let’s be clear, we don’t know each other; you don’t know my life or my means. Of course my dog comes first, she always does, but I’m having trouble finding a sitter right now and there is no way I’m paying about £50 for 3 days, especially as I’ve got some financial worries at the moment, though that’s none of your business. It doesn’t stop her from eating and drinking as much as she likes, or being vaccinated and wormed regularly... And believe me, if I could no longer look after her, I’d rehome her, because there’s no way I’d let her be unhappy. That is exactly why I’m asking if she can stay home alone for 2 days with everything she needs for her well-being. If I didn't give a toss, I’d just leave her without asking anyone; use a bit of common sense.

Why not leave her with a friend, a family member, or a pet sitter who could look after her? Leaving a dog home alone all day isn't ideal at all, but since she’s a senior dog, it’s slightly different. But leaving her completely on her own for two days is just out of the question! All my friends either have dogs of their own or are away on holiday... I don't live near my family, they’re several hours away, and I don’t know any pet sitters in my area. I’ve looked online and could only find boarding kennels, but I find them a bit pricey to be honest.