Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I know I should've posted this on the "pets" board, but I think this one gets more action.

I want a puppy so bad, but am not sure about leaving it home alone all day as we both have to work. I thought it would be good practice for me before we have kids.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

how young of a dog are you talking about?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I think it's unfair to an animal to leave it alone all day. Although some breeds are very lazy and wouldn't care one way or another.

BTW - I have 2 dogs, and I'm sick with guilt when FI and I are both working at the same time leaving the little ones alone.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I think it is cruel to leave it caged all day, and I don't think it is good practice for having kids. I don't really think anything can prepare you for what having kids will be like. The reason I do not want to have a pet now is because I don't think I will have the time to balance work, a pet, and kids, and I don't know how the animal would react to children. My IL's dog gets way too close to comfort to my nephew. It's cute, but they can never be out of eye sight or the puppy might bite.

Message edited 8/22/2005 2:49:20 PM.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Well. I think most people really have no choice since many couples both work full time. I don't think it's cruel, as long as the dog has access to water & food.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

IMO i think that taking on the responisbility of a dog certainly does teach you responisiblity that in a way is training for parenthood...

There certainly are similarities

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I want either a Golden Retriever or a Lab, DH is really starting to like the Doberman's (sp?). I know it's not exactly practice for a child, but just the responsibility of having something to care for other than my fat lazy cat, who could care less about us, just as long as we feed him. We are buying a home with a huge backyard this coming fall. I know the guilt would kill me to leave the dog home alone all day. And the thought of keeping it caged up, it's kinda out of the question, unless I really have to.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Message edited 8/22/2005 2:57:31 PM.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Posted by nov04libride

Posted by Redhead

IMO i think that taking on the responisbility of a dog certainly does teach you responisiblity that in a way is training for parenthood...

There certainly are similarities

I suppose any living thing would have some similarities to a baby, but IMO nothing prepares you for the complete and total helplessness of a baby. I've had many pets, but having spent hours with my nephew who isn't a month old and can't lift his own head, nothing compares.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

When I got my puppy we left her during the day. In the beginning I would come home on lunch every day and make sure she was Ok and to let her out. I cage my animals, I dont beleive its cruel, she actually loves her cage because it is her space. When she is scared by something, be it fireworks or thunder that is where she goes because its her safty zone. Plus a cage helps house break them imo. It just needs to be big enough where if they do have an accident they are not laying in it but not to too big. Plus a cage is good for deterring bad behavior, when my dog stays out of her cage for a long period of time when noone is home, my house looks like a tornado went through it because she gets bored. In a cage she cant do that.

Message edited 8/22/2005 3:00:27 PM.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

If you want to test out having a dog, how about training one of the seeing eye dogs? I believe you have them for a year.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I think you will have a MESS to come home to everyday because housebreaking will be next to impossible and it is a little cruel to leave it alone all day. Dogs need attention and entertainment.

Is there anyone who can come in once or twice a day just for the first 4-6 months?

Are you against cats? They are much more independant.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I agree - I think if you are talking about a young young dog - they need to be (And like) being crated. It's really the best way to housebreak them.

We have a dog that we adopted - he is about 1.5 - 2 yrs old. We try to never leave him more than 5-6 hours a day alone. He has his own room (With a kennel in it) and I leave him food and water (although he won't touch it while we are gone)

He can make it more than 5-6 hours a day without having an accident - but we feel guilty having him alone longer than that...he requires attention - playing and love and if we can't be around for that then why did we get a dog in the first place??

Besides...I love spending time with him - and truthfully don't want to be away from him more than 5-6 hours a day!

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I think with a puppy, you really need to have someone home for at least the first week or so to help train and acclimate the little guy or girl. DH and I ended up adopting an older dog (our 9 year old Chihuahua, "Sparky"). For the most part, he was already housebroken and calmer than a puppy so he didn't need quite as much attention or exercise. All the same, we feel HORRIBLE when we have to leave him alone for a long time. We did build a little doggy door and doggy run so he can go outside when we're not here, and he uses it all the time. We'll come home and find him sunbathing in it... it definitely helps.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

We just adopted an older dog too. While it's not ideal that DH and I have to be away often (although we are both teachers and have good schedules) it's better than the alternative for our dog. He would have been put down if no one took him in.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

I work from home and am with my dog all day -- and he sleeps. Yes, dogs spend all day sleeping!! So as long as he gets taken for walks before you leave and when you get home, and you leave him food an water, the dog should be fine -- and yes I am sure much better off than being in a Shelter or worse!!

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

if you get an adult dog i would say it is ok for him to be home alone for up to 8 hours a day.

a puppy? absolutely not.
you cant leave him home all day alone. once he is on a schedule and is older its ok , but not a puppy.

Re: Do you think it's cruel to leave a puppy home alone all day?

Because we are not home all day, we adopted an older puppy. She is nine months old and crate trained. Like the other's said, her crate is her safe place, when she get's tired or scared she goes in and comes back out when she is ready.
I found adopting her was the best thing! We didn't have to house break her and we saved her from a shelter, which was where she was going if the original owner's hadn't heard from us.
Maybe try contacting a rescue group for the dog you are looking for. Either Dobie, Lab or Retriever. The lab you would probably find easily at a shelter.

Good luck with whatever you decide!