How long can you safely leave a dog alone at home?
Most dogs can be left alone for around five to six hours before they become restless and need attention. Pushing past this window causes anxiety and accidents, making longer stretches like a full workday unsustainable without someone checking in.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- Most of it landed at once — the busiest month was September 2026, with 24 people.
- This comes up 15.9× more often in r/puppy101 than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1leaving toys, snacks, water, and TV onDid this help you?
- 2keeping dogs that are not the destructive typeDid this help you?
- 3Having neighbours or a pet-sitting service check in daily to feed and clean boxesDid this help you?
- 4Adopting a bonded pair or multiple cats to keep each other companyDid this help you?
- 5Training the cat to travel as an adventure kittyDid this help you?
- 6Hiring a pet sitter to visit halfway through the day for playDid this help you?
- 7Waking up early for dedicated morning play time and exerciseDid this help you?
- 8Using frozen kongs or slow feeders for mental stimulationDid this help you?
- 9Installing pet cameras to monitor the dog and interact remotelyDid this help you?
- 10getting a second pet so they keep each other companyDid this help you?
- 11Keeping the new cat and essentials in the bathroom for the first few daysDid this help you?
- 12Moving the new cat to a closed-off room after he decompressesDid this help you?
- 13Dropping the dog off at dog daycare occasionallyDid this help you?
- 14Hiring a dog walker or pet sitter through services like RoverDid this help you?
- 15Enlisting help from neighborsDid this help you?
- 16Paying a pet sitterDid this help you?
- 17Starting alone-time training over from 5 secondsDid this help you?
- 18finding a dog walker to come get him at 9amDid this help you?
- 19play his favourite game of find itDid this help you?
- 20Leave something that smells like you on his bedDid this help you?
- 21freeze clothes and it will retain your scentDid this help you?
- 22send your partner voice notes to playDid this help you?
- 23calming treats and sprays and plenty of lickmats and treatsDid this help you?
- 24leaving worn unwashed clothing or blankets nearbyDid this help you?
- 25considering adopting a companion animalDid this help you?
- 26asking neighbors or friends to pop inDid this help you?
- 27monitoring the pet via indoor camerasDid this help you?
- 28Keeping the puppy in a separate roomDid this help you?
- 29Crating the puppy during naps and at nightDid this help you?
- 30Sending the puppy to a nanny for the dayDid this help you?
- 31Gating off areas so the puppy cannot access themDid this help you?
- 32Dividing the house into separate areas for each dogDid this help you?
- 33Using cratesDid this help you?
- 34Getting an adult dog instead of a puppyDid this help you?
- 35Hiring dog walkers or using pet daycaresDid this help you?
- 36Using indoor grass pads, play pens, or doggie doorsDid this help you?
- 37Adopting a pair of dogs so they keep each other companyDid this help you?
- 38Going home during lunch breaks to let the dog outDid this help you?
- 39Buying toys, scratchers, balls with bells, and light-up floor toysDid this help you?
- 40Setting house lights on a timerDid this help you?
- 41Planning to install ceiling-high cat walksDid this help you?
- 42Placing a bird or squirrel feeder outside a windowDid this help you?
- 43Adding a cat tunnelDid this help you?
- 44keeping dogs kenneled all dayDid this help you?
- 45Asking to leave work early or go in lateDid this help you?
- 46Working from home the whole dayDid this help you?
- 47Hiring a dog walking service to break up the alone timeDid this help you?
- 48Asking family members to come over and walk the dogDid this help you?
- 49Putting the puppy in a safe den-like space in the kitchen with a chewDid this help you?
- 50Leaving the puppy after a walkDid this help you?
- 51Doing intervals of leaving for a minute, returning, and repeatingDid this help you?
- 52Giving the cat lots of attention when returning homeDid this help you?
- 53Scheduling errands around the puppy's nap scheduleDid this help you?
- 54Sneaking out while the puppy is asleep and returning before wakingDid this help you?
- 55Finding someone else to watch the puppyDid this help you?
- 56Gradual separation training using a pen attached to the crateDid this help you?
- 57Gradual alone-time training using protocolsDid this help you?
- 58Just leaving the dog and pushing through the whiningDid this help you?
- 59Buying and setting up a pet camera to monitor the dogDid this help you?
- 60Working from home so the dog is rarely left aloneDid this help you?
- 61Taking the dog to doggy daycareDid this help you?
- 62leaving food in an automatic feederDid this help you?
- 63setting up a security camera to monitor the petDid this help you?
- 64inviting the partner over to one's own home instead of staying outDid this help you?
- 65blocking off the kitchen space with access to a crate, water, toys, and scented clothesDid this help you?
- 66dimming lights and playing classical musicDid this help you?
- 67having friends or dog walkers check in and play during the dayDid this help you?
- 68driving home for lunch breaksDid this help you?
- 69putting a blackout blanket over the crateDid this help you?
- 70Keeping the dog indoors in a large kennel while away at workDid this help you?
- 71Hiring a dog walker or having someone visitDid this help you?
- 72gradual training exercisesDid this help you?
- 73using a small pen inside the bedroomDid this help you?
- 74Setting up a pen or dog-proofed room with pee pads instead of a crate.Did this help you?
- 75Coming home on a lunch break to let the puppy out and play.Did this help you?
- 76Using doggy daycare, which some found cheaper than hiring a dog walker twice a day.Did this help you?
- 77Working from home until the dog is old enough to comfortably hold it.Did this help you?
- 78Using employer health and wellness spending accounts to subsidize pet care costs.Did this help you?
- 79leaving the TV on for background noiseDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I swear my dog acts completely normal when I'm around but I have a feeling he's doing some wild shit when I leave 😂”source ↗
“I've been thinking about getting a pet camera just to see what he's actually up to”source ↗
“Do you guys check the camera all the time or does that just make you more paranoid lol”source ↗
“I feel bad that my dog is probably bored in her crate while I'm not home, im considering leaving the tv on for background noise for her but im worried she wouldnt like it.”source ↗
“I just feel super bad and sad for him, and I get main anxiety issue for leaving him alone for so long.”source ↗
“Wish I can just have him in my pocket everywhere I go so we can be together 24/7.”source ↗
“i can’t help but still feel guilty. i feel like there’s more i could be doing for him.”source ↗
“in addition to this- being gone for anything other than work seems to bring me sooo much guilt and any tips on how to juggle a hard work schedule, a high energy dog, and hopefully- a social life.”source ↗
“They stay in their kennels all day, I tried leaving them out a few different times and they have accidents in the house. But when we are home, they literally never have an accident since they were puppies.”source ↗
“I have a ~3 year old low energy cattle dog, I keep him indoors and he stays in a large kennel while I’m at work. I have a small yard with high fences, would it be better to leave him outside while I’m at work?”source ↗
“Part of me feels bad leaving him outdoors, but I also feel bad that he’s stuck in a kennel most of the day.”source ↗
“He is very wary of strangers and will bite someone that comes into my home. So that isn’t an option.”source ↗
“Last time I went away (2 years ago, also for ten days) he had a hotspot from licking himself. And he was really upset with me which was fine after the first few days.”source ↗
“My dog is with me all the time. In my bed, when I go to places, he’s such a good boy.”source ↗
“He’s going to be home alone for 4 days each week from 4am to 4pm.”source ↗
“does leaving an attached dog damage them? It’s just 10 days”source ↗
“Something I have been thinking about is if it is okay to leave them unsupervised in the house together while I'm at work (7 hours, 5 days a week)?”source ↗
“I started alone-time training based on the BRB protocols pretty early, and now she can comfortable be alone for...1.5 minute.”source ↗
“I am super terrified. By mid-October I am starting uni, and would need to be out for ~4h a day total.”source ↗
“I really need some advice or reassurance, I guess. I get super stressed over this.”source ↗
“However, we are really struggling with leaving her home alone. Whenever we try to leave, she starts crying and barking.”source ↗
“every time we do a "real test," she panics/cries as soon as we step out.”source ↗
“Generally we don't like to leave our labs for more than 5 hours alone.”source ↗
“My puppy is doing really well with everything but she HATES being left alone.”source ↗
“Problem - she wont entertain the chew and she just barks/howls”source ↗
“I can leave her for 1/2 minutes and she starts barking”source ↗
“I do the leave for a minute, go back in, come back etc method but i haven’t seen much improvement over the last few weeks.”source ↗
“We are scared that if we are not at home, they will fight all the time.”source ↗
“We are just scared that one time one of them can snap and hurt each other.”source ↗
“We are afraid that maybe the cat won’t back away as he generally does not run away from her.”source ↗
“my two are good for about 6 hours before they start getting restless but i try not to push past that”source ↗
“I had to leave my labradoodles alone for 12 hours once when I had to take my mom to the ER.”source ↗
“Now, I am completely unable to leave her alone without her being distressed, howling, barking, it’s super sad to see (doggy camera).”source ↗
“I’ve been paying a pet sitter but I feel so overwhelmed, I didn’t expect that at all and I understand it’s a big change, but I was hoping to build up over time how long she could be left alone and now I’m starting training at 5 seconds.”source ↗
“I wasn't planning on leaving her so soon but I got scheduled a last minute important doctor's appointment in the morning. I could be gone easily 2-3hours. No one can stay with her unfortunately...”source ↗
“Will she thinkI abandoned her?”source ↗
“I feel guilty!”source ↗
“When my pup was 6 months, there was one or two days where I genuinely could not get home to let him out. He did alright but had an entire room to himself with only a bed, toys, and access to water. So he had a safe place to play and rest while I was gone and was not kenneled the whole time. On those few occasions, he barely made it outside to potty when it I got home to him so I know he was struggling to hold his bladder.”source ↗
“Will 7 hrs alone ruin all my potty training hard work?”source ↗
“Will 7 hrs alone make her sad? Is that too much time alone for a 8 mo old puppy?”source ↗
“During the day is a different story.”source ↗
“During the day I drive home around 2:30 for my lunch break.”source ↗
“We have a camera set up so we can check on him throughout the day and he screams and barks for sometimes over an hour.”source ↗
“It’s just constant screaming and barking it’s so loud and we have neighbors.”source ↗
“What can I do to fix this, I feel like I have tried everything.”source ↗
“I am at my breaking point and don’t know what to do. Easily that hardest thing I’ve ever done.”source ↗
“I live alone and have a full time job. My baby is 6 months old I cant afford anyone to come take her out.. is it even possible to realistically do this? I can’t just quit my job.”source ↗
“Breaks my heart watching Rosie through my cameras sit at the door when I’m normally home and then just wait for hours before going to her safe space under my bed”source ↗
“Recently I've been feeling very guilty about leaving them alone for long periods of time a day.”source ↗
“recently my grandma started guilting me about them being alone at home while I work and it's been sending me through a spiral.”source ↗
“I'm gone for work most of the day so I feel bad for leaving him alone without a buddy.”source ↗
“My only issue is that I'm going to be gone 8 hours out of most days.”source ↗
“I'm just worried about leaving a new cat alone for hours at a time.”source ↗
“I have two cats, I’m unsure what to do for them when I’m not home, if some could give me advice on activities or things to put around the house for them to do during my long shifts.”source ↗
“I am at the point where I worry about them when I’m at work.”source ↗
“Do you have any advice on toys or interactive things that they could do to get out some of their squirrel adventurous energy? My days are very long, so my energy is sacked and I don’t have much time to play with them.”source ↗
“What do you do if you want to sleep at someone else’s house but don’t want to leave the cat alone?”source ↗
“In a typical year, we might go on 3 trips (maybe 2 lasting a week, and another 2.5 weeks or so). We would have neighbours or a service check in daily, but we are worried if this might be cruel to the cat as well as stressful for us.”source ↗
“I always hated going to work at any time knowing my kitty would be by himself.”source ↗
“I’ve been wanting a dog for a while, but I’m concerned with the hours it will be left alone.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 36How to handle a young puppy alone during sudden schedule changes
- 8Why does my puppy panic in the crate when left alone?
- 10Groomer won't let me stay with my anxious dog
- 9When can I stop crating my puppy when I'm not home?
- 4How to handle a puppy while working and going to school alone
- 23How to move abroad or travel without leaving your pets behind