11 hours too long for a dog to be home alone?

[TaraC]

I am wanting some advice from people who work full time and own a boxer.

I have a 7 month old boxer called Max. I completely adore him like you wouldn’t believe.

I work full time and the commute to work is an hour each way. This means I am out of the house 11 hours a day.

Up until now Max has been left alone for 6-8 hours at a time but usually no more than that, because my partner got home a lot earlier than me. It genuinely doesn’t seem to phase Max, he is so happy and has a huge fenced in yard to play in as well as lots of toys and shelter etc. I took a week off last week and even though I was home he slept all day! I felt rather unloved haha :o

I recently went through a relationship break up and I am keeping Max. However now I am going to have to leave him at home for 11 hours each day, Monday to Friday. I am going to pay a dog walker to come by a couple of times a week to break his week up a bit, but realistically, with everything going on I really cant afford to do this everyday. Max is walked for an hour every morning and has play time in the evening when I get home (throwing a ball around the garden etc). On the weekends he goes to the beach, which he loves.

I know 11 hours is a long time but I want to know if this is going to be ok for him? I couldn’t bare to give Max away and even though I know it might be fair to give him to someone who isn’t out the house so long, I love him to absolute pieces, and I know he loves me too. He sleeps in my room at night and I treat him so well, I just don’t know if 11 hours really is too long?

Any advice or stories from people in my sort of situation would be really appreciated :o

 

[EAO76]

Yes & No. While 11hrs is a long time (especially since he is so young) I wouldn't give him up over it. If he has indoor/ outdoor access and your yard is totally secure then I'm sure he will be fine. The dog walker will certainly help. Some people may not agree but I'm coming from the perspective of a person that's involved in dog rescue. I see way too many dogs that are unloved, neglected, abused, turned into kill shelters, etc, so in comparison to the sad cases I see, being alone for extended periods several days a week certainly isn't the end of the world. But keep in mind he could become destructive out of boredom. 11hrs is a long time for a pup to be unsupervised. You will really need to make an effort to make the time you are home quality time (training / exercise).

 

[Sansal]

I do think 11 hours is too long for a 7 month old boxer. I won't kill him and if you have outdoor exercise that certainly helps but you definitely need to spend lots of time when you are with him for training, mental and physical exercise. A dog walker is definitely a good idea and if there is a daycare close by that could be another good idea. I think I wouldn't give him up over this but definitely try to have someone come by every day or as much as possible during the week. My boxer is 2 years old and I know that if I would leave her alone for 11 hours her energy level would be through the roof and she would probably be destructive out of boredom.

 

[Jan]

Moto and Tara get left for 10-11 hours everyday and he has since he was a pup. He does have access to a dog door and secure fenced yard. They both do fine. It's not an ideal situation, but I don't have a choice.

Good luck with Max!

 

[The J]

too long

i eneded up with my guy because he was going to be in same situation. he was used to being alone for 6 with access to wee wee pads, then owner had to go out of town unexpectedly and he would have been left for 12 hours at 5 months old! no way i said and i took him. if your guy has access to outside(which doesnt sound like he does) thats another story. but if he is to be inside alone all that time, might see if you can get dog walker to come every day.

 

[elgerdes]

Zoe is left in her kennel about twice a week for about 5-6 hours each time. It kills me because I'd much rather not have to (but have to pay for dog food some how). The other days she gets to go to work with DH or hangs out with grandma (). But she likes her kennel and we go to the DP about 2-3 times a week and have plenty of play time. I think 11 hours IS long, but not the worst. He could be much worse off. Just make sure to balance with plenty of exercise, play and loves!

 

[ruca girl]

My pup is left at home for about that time every day. When she was a baby I would drive home during my lunch break to let her out for a potty break. Since she has been able to hold it in her kennel (since about 5 months old) I haven't been coming home during the day unless I know it's going to be a late one. Ruca does not have access to the house or yard, she stays in her kennel. I know that this is not ideal and that some people here will not agree with the situation, but I have no choice either, as I am single. This routine works for us. My puppy is hyper, but who's isn't? I make sure I exercise her plenty and spend as much time with her as I can when I'm not working (thankfully I have every other Friday off). Every day when I get home I take my dog to the local dog park for about an hour or 2 then we play with her toys when we get home from the park. Now that the sun is setting sooner, I take her to the park for as long as I can then usually finish it off with a nice long walk and lots of play time at home. I plan on looking into local day care places for when the sun is set before I leave work. I'm also learning to run (that sounds weird...I'm doing a couch to 5k program) so that when my pup is old enough I can take her on longer runs. On the weekends I take her to the bigger parks in my area where she can run and swim in the ocean. I think the key is making sure you exercise your pup plenty and spend all of your time with them when you are home from work for the day.

 

[TyTysmom]

I agree with the others; it's not ideal but not a reason to give him up.

We have at times (not often) left Tyson for 11 hours and he's been absolutely fine and he did not have access to the outside.

Best of luck!

 

[CrazyCharlie]

Its a long time, but you said he has a nice yard and a good set up to be in so I dont see why he wouldn't be perfectly fine. My dogs get left at home (inside) for 8 - 9 hours a day and they are perfectly fine. Charlie gets a little huffy when his dinner is late but thats about it... hehe.

 

[curedham]

any friends/relatives/college or high school kids you trust

Economy as it is, we are lucky that our pup had someone home with him every day, and i do not begrudge those who are away from home for a workday. We have irregular schedules, so we lucked out. I am sorry for your breakup and applaud you for trying to keep your home stable for your pup! My cousin gave up coffees to get doggie daycare once a week to socialize her puppy, and then just made sure he got thorough exercise every day, even if she was tired. If you have friends/relatives/trusted people in the area, maybe they could take out your buddy when you are away? You would have to trust them enough to go into your home, of course, but your pup would be happy. Yes, destruction happens when they are bored or don't get enough attention, so don't be mad if they chew on the couch, pillow, shoe, etc that was left out. I wish you luck and good friends, since it is hard to raise a pup on one's own-and I'm glad you didn't just give up!