Woof! Bark! And also Whiiiiiiiiiine.

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Sharkie Mar 2017 12:40pm, 31 Mar 2017 11,208 posts	0 Sharkie I totally agree with Helegant. While some dogs can cope with being left for hours on end some really, really can't - and it's not always apparent to their owners. Dogs are social animals - they like company and function best in a family group. Like their ancestor the wolf.
BaronessBL Mar 2017 12:56pm, 31 Mar 2017 6,401 posts	0 BaronessBL Wanda sleeps for much of the day but likes to sleep near whichever of us is about so usually in whichever room we might be in. If we are both here then she will drag her bed to a position (in a doorway) that means neither of us can enter or leave that room without her knowing about it! She can be left during the day for short periods but we try not to make it longer than around the 4 hour mark unless it is unavoidable.
Sharkie Mar 2017 12:59pm, 31 Mar 2017 11,209 posts	0 Sharkie I think some of the working breeds - collies and GSDs for instance - suffer not only through separation anxiety but they also get BORED.
D2 Mar 2017 1:31pm, 31 Mar 2017 9,543 posts	0 D2 my dog is a very lucky boy
Mandymoo Mar 2017 1:45pm, 31 Mar 2017 4,569 posts	0 Mandymoo Our cocker is left alone during the day. He is walked before we go to work, has the conservatory and the whole back garden to himself. Goes to the fence to see the neighbours and get a treat (he is spoilt). If we are home he still takes himself to "his" sofa in the conservatory and sleeps. Hubby gets home just after 3 and as soon as I get home he is ready for his next walk.
Sharkie Mar 2017 2:44pm, 31 Mar 2017 11,210 posts	0 Sharkie Like D2's Indi (and all your other dogs I'm sure D. Jess is a lucky dog - but that doesn't stop Raffo worrying that she gets bored at times. Oh well they say children need to be able to withstand a little boredom now and then. So perhaps clever dogs do too.... Jess is four and a half now and still brings us a toy, or paces, or sits there staring, sighing and whistling if there's not enough happening. I'm just back from a 2 hour seven mile walk. She is sleeping for now, but she certainly won't sleep all afternoon.
Mazlin Mar 2017 4:18pm, 31 Mar 2017 2,696 posts	0 Mazlin I'm sure all dogs are different (just like people, or cats, or horses), and it must depend on what they're used to as well. I agree about working breeds getting bored - but then historically they would have lived outside, and no one would have come to play with them when they weren't working (or would they just have roamed around and amused themselves? My dog history could be better...) I think the answer is just making more places dog-friendly - I see no actual reason why a dog couldn't quite happily sleep under my desk at work, but I'm not brave enough to suggest it!
Helegant Mar 2017 4:20pm, 31 Mar 2017 4,465 posts	0 Helegant When I visited Army sites it was quite common to find dogs under the desks. One had a pet pebble that it would drop onto my foot at regular intervals.
Helegant Mar 2017 4:22pm, 31 Mar 2017 4,466 posts	0 Helegant And speaking of roaming wild... the side gate was left open this afternoon and we were working in the back garden when I realised I couldn't see Jet. It took about ten minutes of calling and searching the local area before we found him digging a hole in a neighbour's front garden. He still looks as if butter wouldn't melt...
Mazlin Mar 2017 4:26pm, 31 Mar 2017 2,697 posts	0 Mazlin When I was prentending to be a GP for a bit a few years ago, the senior partner had a Labrador puppy who used to sit in his crate in her consulting room. No one complained (I expect if they had they'd have got rid of the complainer before getting rid of the puppy.)