Home Alone; How Long is Too Long?

I went back and forth on a few blog ideas for this week, but decided that I wanted to write about a topic that hits close to home for me. So I'll be talking a little bit about how long your dog should be home alone, what an acceptable amount of time may be, and what your furry friend may be feeling while you're away.

I have an extremely busy life and work four different jobs. I take my dog, Cairo, with me whenever possible. He absolutely loves my car and will lounge in it all day if I let him. But, living in Syracuse, NY prevents me from letting him do that for a good chunk of the year. Many times, it's either too hot or too cold for him to be in there, so he's stuck at home sometimes. I live alone, but have a couple people who help me out with him (thank god!), so he's normally not home alone for too long. But sometimes life gets busy and he's forced to be here by himself longer than I'd prefer. Let's look at how long dogs can/should (two very different words) be home alone for.

How long can our dog be left home alone? How long should our dog be left home alone? These are two entirely different questions. Everyone's schedule is completely different. Consider yourself lucky if you have a work-from-home job and can be with your furry friend for the majority of the time. Most of us have full eight hour shifts, plus travel time. Plus, many of us have errands to run after, as well as social time to unwind. The truth of the matter, is that every dog is different. Most adult dogs should have the opportunity to relieve themselves at least every 4-6 hours. Obviously, this varies with your dog's age, the size of their bladder, and if they are sick or not. Dogs learn to adapt to our schedules, but they may not prefer it. Sure, they might get used to being home alone for 10+ hours at a time, but that doesn't mean that we should do that to them. You know your own dog better than anyone else and you should attempt to give them the best and most happiest life possible.

Leaving your dog home alone all day can be hard on them in many ways; not just their bladders. They can be affected emotionally. Dogs get lonely, just like we do. Long stretches of isolation can lead to separation anxiety as well. Dogs are social animals and want your company. If you're never home to begin with, perhaps you should think twice about even having a dog. Try to put yourself in their "shoes." Imagine being at the mercy of someone else when it comes to "using the bathroom." Imagine not being able to leave your house or interact with others. All I'm saying, is that you should consider their needs and plan every single day out so you can accommodate them. Sound hard? Welcome to the life of a dog owner.

Many people crate their dogs when they leave in an effort to prevent damage. This, in many studies, has caused the dogs to actually act out more. Crates shouldn't be used for more than a couple hours at a time, tops. I have people who try to tell me that dogs feel safer in an enclosed area, but I've also done some research on this topic. Sure ... perhaps some dogs do feel like that, but the majority of dogs are not "den animals." And if they do prefer to be in a small space, they want the ability to be able to leave that enclosed place if they so wish. If you have a crate available and always keep it open, that's one thing. They can utilize it as a doghouse. But trapping them inside for long periods of time isn't healthy. If you find yourself using a crate in an effort to avoid destructive behavior, you may want to rethink your method and address the problem through training or "management that involves meeting the dog's physical, emotional, and intellectual needs." (whole-dog-journal.com)

There are lots of different options on how to minimize your buddy's home-alone time. Here are a few options to look into if you haven't already...

- Hire a dog-walker. Maybe you have a friend you know who could stop by your house. Maybe you could drop your dog off with them for part of the day. That's actually what I end up doing. I have a few good people in my life who help me out when I'm away for long hours. I consider myself lucky to have them available. If you don't have people in your life like this, there are dog-walking companies you can go through with reliable employees who will help you out. Just check out their reviews first.

- Take your dog to work with you. Okay, most people don't have this option, but perhaps you do. They'd love to go with you! This is an easy way to solve your problem and not spend any extra money.

- Drop them off at a doggie-daycare. This can be expensive, but such is having a dog. They are family and should be treated as such. You wouldn't leave your young kid home alone all day, right?! You'd find a daycare service for them or figure something else out. Your dog should be treated the same.

- Bring your work home if possible. Maybe you have a job where you can take some of your work home with you. If you have that option available to you, utilize it! Your pup would much rather be laying around with you by his/her side, than without you there.

- Come home for lunch. I do this on occasion if I have to and I live almost a half hour from work. If my buddy has to be home alone for my entire work shift and no one can stop by, I'll make sure I can take an extended lunch and go home to be with him for a short while. It's just part of the responsibility of owning a pet.

All in all, having a dog adds a great responsibility to your life. You should be thinking about all of this before getting one. It always sounds great to begin with, but many people can't handle the responsibility. It's just a fact. So make sure that you can adapt your life around the needs of your pet. There are a lot of options out there to help limit your dog's home-alone time, so utilize them to the best of your ability. Dogs are pack animals and love being around others, so make sure you allow them to be as much as possible. Give them the best life that you can, after all, they love you unconditionally.