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Leaving my dog

Nanny71

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Dudley is rarely left without me or my husband. We do leave him for about one and a half hours while we shop but we have never left him for longer.
If we are going out in the evening we usually have a dog sitter.
My problem is, we have been invited out and both our dog sitters will be at the same function. It won't be more than 3 hours, I just want to ask if he will be ok for that length of time?
If the general consensus is not to leave him I will not go which may cause a problem with my husband.
 
When is the function? Do you have time to do some 'home alone' practice before then?

Have you left him alone for short periods in the evening before, or have you only left him in the day? (A dog who is happy to be left in the day may react differently in the evening.)

Would going out mean he misses out on any of his normal routines like toilet trips and bedtime?

When you've left him alone before, has he seemed completely relaxed and happy? When you get back, as well as (I assume) seeming happy to see you, does he look at all flustered (which could indicate a degree of anxiety)?

Do you have any family or friends who could dogsit? Or older children of family or friends who you know and trust?
 
When is the function? Do you have time to do some 'home alone' practice before then?

Have you left him alone for short periods in the evening before, or have you only left him in the day? (A dog who is happy to be left in the day may react differently in the evening.)

Would going out mean he misses out on any of his normal routines like toilet trips and bedtime?

When you've left him alone before, has he seemed completely relaxed and happy? When you get back, as well as (I assume) seeming happy to see you, does he look at all flustered (which could indicate a degree of anxiety)?

Do you have any family or friends who could dogsit? Or older children of family or friends who you know and trust?
He won't miss out on any routine. We are going out at seven and will be back for ten, he is used to going out in the garden at ten. When we come back after shopping he is always pleased to see us and seems happy. He has never been left alone in the evening. I have just got a week before we go.
He sleeps downstairs and never gets distressed when we go upstairs.
I am in a real quandary over this.
 
My thought is if he is used to and fine being left for 1 1/2 hrs he will be just as fine with the occassional longer time. After all they do not tell the time.
It is just that we don't leave him. He is normally a very relaxed dog, does not seem to get anxious. I did have a dog cam but my grandaughter has borrowed it for her tortoise.
I always feel guilty when I leave him, even when he is with my husband.
 
He will probably be fine. But why not pop out to the pub a couple of evenings over the coming week? First time for an hour (in case he's different in the evening to the day), then, a couple of days later, for two hours? You could record him so you can check for whining when you get back. If he seems fine, then you should be able to go out and enjoy your evening.
 
Why not go out one evening this weekend - take the chance to have a meal, a drink or a trip to the cinema, or even a stroll - and leave him from 7.00 until before 10.00, maybe until about 9.00 and see how he does? That only stretches his usual 90 minutes to 2 hours and will give you an idea how he copes in the evening. Timber practically herds us out the door in the evening so he can get some quiet time!
 
Cross posted again Judy!
 
Will try the going out for an hour. The pub is all of five minutes walk away. Recording seems a really good idea.
Thank you everyone
 
Watching him this evening he seems to have mostly slept since seven and it is now eight thirty. Has changed places from sofa, to bed, to cushion.
I think I am over worrying
 
Pretty much the only time we leave Harri is in the evening. He's usually asleep all evening anyway so he just sleeps in his bed in the kitchen rather than on one of the chairs. We are usually met by the opening of one eye and a definite go away I'm asleep look when we get back'
 
Well we left Dudley on his own for three hours. Never again I stressed the whole time. He went frantic when we got home then settled in his bed by 10.30. As for me I am still sitting here at 11 pm watching him.
 
Sorry you didn't enjoy your evening - did you record him this time? Was it just when you got home he went frantic?
 
Its always stressful when you leave them alone but having the dog cam would have helped. Maybe you should invest in a new one, they are quite cheap.
If you stop and think nothing awful happened, no harm came to Dudley and he was probably just really happy to see you home.

My OH stresses about leaving Murphy even if we just pop to the doctor or dentist 5 minutes away total alone time 30 minutes but with the dog cam I can show OH that Murphy is laying on a chair or in his bed (except that one time he jumped up onto the table!) but it helps OH know that Murphy is safe and so his stress levels remain low.
I dont know what cam you had but this one is really good and you can hear and speak to your dog via the microphone. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clever-Dog...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Q82QHTD48GZ9625C9MWJ
 
Sorry you didn't enjoy your evening - did you record him this time? Was it just when you got home he went frantic?
I had the dog monitor on and he just wandered from place to place. Didn't really settle but didn't seem overly upset.
But I didn't like it
 
Its always stressful when you leave them alone but having the dog cam would have helped. Maybe you should invest in a new one, they are quite cheap.
If you stop and think nothing awful happened, no harm came to Dudley and he was probably just really happy to see you home.

My OH stresses about leaving Murphy even if we just pop to the doctor or dentist 5 minutes away total alone time 30 minutes but with the dog cam I can show OH that Murphy is laying on a chair or in his bed (except that one time he jumped up onto the table!) but it helps OH know that Murphy is safe and so his stress levels remain low.
I dont know what cam you had but this one is really good and you can hear and speak to your dog via the microphone. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Clever-Dog...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Q82QHTD48GZ9625C9MWJ
I have bought another clever dog monitor. I think I was more stressed than him.
 
We went to two shops this morning one pet store one wholesaler, OH started to rush so I switched on my phone and showed him the scene at home.. Total peace and sleepy dog! OH calmed down straight away..
People might think the camera is for the dog but in my case its for OH !
 
We went to two shops this morning one pet store one wholesaler, OH started to rush so I switched on my phone and showed him the scene at home.. Total peace and sleepy dog! OH calmed down straight away..
People might think the camera is for the dog but in my case its for OH !
I totally agree. Having waited 70 years for him and getting him by default I hate to miss a minute
 

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