My puppy home alone

Tiphaine1504 Icon representing the flag French

26/08/2026, 11:43

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Hi everyone,

I'm posting this because I have a question that's really bothering me.

Can a puppy, or even just any dog for that matter, be unhappy if they are left for, say, 7 hours on their own?

I leave my dog for 7 hours because I'm at work.

In the morning I look after him, take him for a walk, play with him, give him plenty of cuddles and all that, and it's the same in the evening.

Translated from French

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Provetojuniorconseil Icon representing the flag French

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26/08/2026, 21:43

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Hi there,

As a vet student, I would say that seven hours alone doesn’t necessarily mean a dog is unhappy.
It depends a lot on their age, temperament, needs, and how they cope with being on their own.
A puppy will usually find it harder to stay alone for that long and will need to be gradually trained to handle being by themselves.
For an adult dog, plenty of physical and mental stimulation before and after work can go a long way towards keeping them settled.
The main thing is to keep an eye out for signs of distress: destructive behaviour, barking, accidents in the house, or restlessness and anxiety when you’re getting ready to leave.
If these signs appear, a midday walk or a drop-in visit could be a great solution.

Best wishes,

Romane

Translated from French