[troutman]

How Long Can You Leave a Dog Home Alone?

The answer to the "home alone" question remains elusive.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/b...dog-home-alone

I think 14 hours is too long to leave a dog alone, especially in a crate, but what do the “experts” say? The fact is, there is no clear, definitive answer. Although “How long can I leave my dog home alone?” is one of the most common questions asked by dog owners, the answer is elusive. As far as I know, no empirical studies directly address the question of “How long is okay?” If you Google the question, you get a wide variety of answers, none of them based on empirical data about length of time alone and its correlation with loneliness, stress, or welfare.

Here is what we do know: Dogs are social animals, and they form strong attachments to their humans. Selection pressures on domestic dogs have favored the “hypersociability” gene. Dogs don’t just tolerate human presence; they actively seek it out. It’s safe to say that companion dogs need social closeness with humans, and deprivation of this contact poses welfare concerns. Many dogs are stressed when left alone. Levels of cortisol in the blood increase, and sometimes spike, the entire time the dog is alone. Dogs certainly experience loneliness, and loneliness is painful (McMillan). Ideally, then, we shouldn’t leave our dogs alone much at all.

Despite the lack of focused research into the question, “How long a period of isolation is acceptable?” there seems to be a loose consensus among trainers and veterinarians that about four hours is a comfortable range for an adult dog. This is a target range, which then needs to be individualized. Puppies, of course, should only be left for shorter periods, and never for longer than they can hold their bladder. Older dogs who are less active or more independent may feel comfortable alone for somewhat longer periods of time. One trainer I asked told me, “My unsatisfactory answer is that a dog should be left alone for the least length of time possible.”

Partly why I did not get a dog in the city. My parents always had dogs at the ranch, and they were quite happy, because they could go in and out freely, and there was usually someone home.