Hellobee Boards Topic: Where's your dog while you're at work?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Where's your dog while you're at work? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 13:32:37 +0000 BananaPancakes on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193911 Fri, 29 May 2015 20:54:09 +0000 BananaPancakes 2193911@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I grew up in the country on a farm, and we didn't have inside pets. The dogs lived outside, often with the other farm animals. Our dog passed in February, but we kept her in the house with free roam. We live in town and though we have an acre, she wouldn't have been a fan of staying outside all day. But I know lots and lots of people who do leave their dogs outside during the day. I don't think twice about it as long as they have water and shelter. Totally normal around here since so many people have land and there are a ton of farms. But I'm strictly talking about dogs 30 plus pounds. I don't think little dogs should be left outside around these parts because of the wildlife risk. Torchwood on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193878 Fri, 29 May 2015 20:12:00 +0000 Torchwood 2193878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Definitely inside! But they're totally indoor dogs. The longest they go out alone is maybe 15 minutes, and even that's long enough they beg to come in. I would worry WAY too much, especially since they're small enough that a big hawk could get them! The older one stays on the back of the couch all day (based on how she is when we're home and where she is when we come back), and the younger one has a big crate. (And really they're rarely home alone for any length of time, because I'm a housewife, but we would never, ever leave them outside alone for any length of time.) Corduroy on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193844 Fri, 29 May 2015 19:30:01 +0000 Corduroy 2193844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I don't have a dog but there are lots of outside all day dogs around my house and my parents' house. My parents live next to a very doting vet and she has her three dogs outside all day. I wish there weren't so many outside dogs from a noise perspective but it never struck me as neglectful or odd. Maybe it's more common in our California weather? Mrs. Jacks on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193803 Fri, 29 May 2015 18:36:56 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2193803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Gus is such a little prince. He goes to work with my husband most days and when he doesn't it's because one of us is home or only gone for a short time. I think the longest he does in the crate is like two hours... But he's a voracious chewer so definitely the crate when he's alone. Outside a mid sized raccoon or a bird of prey could take him on ;). In fact, a seagull could probably carry him away! [attach=104/15/np4xll.450x600.image.jpg] simplyfelicity on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193791 Fri, 29 May 2015 18:11:34 +0000 simplyfelicity 2193791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My dogs stay in the kitchen with a baby gate up. They have plenty of room, their toys, bed and food/water. Pretty sure they sleep the whole time. I would consider a dog run outside if they were bigger but the smallest is 5lbs. SugarplumsMom on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193665 Fri, 29 May 2015 15:55:08 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2193665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We left the dogs outside when I was young. They had their doghouse out back and had access to the backyard. I thought it was normal. But I live abroad now and just found out that it's actually illegal to leave your dog for longer than 3 or 4 hours (more applicable in the city). alphagam84 on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193607 Fri, 29 May 2015 14:45:30 +0000 alphagam84 2193607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My dog is outside all day while we're at work. Why leave her in the house? It's boring, she can't get any exercise, and she'd have to hold her pee/poop for 9 hours or so. That seems cruel. She's in a fenced in yard and there's a doggie door so she has access to the garage where there's a bed and food/water bowls. Way better than being stuck in a house all day. We always left our dogs outside when I was little. travellingbee on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work/page/2#post-2193489 Fri, 29 May 2015 12:50:04 +0000 travellingbee 2193489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I also come from an area where all pets were outside pets. But here in Texas, I live in a city with very close neighbors and a small yard. We leave ours inside all day so he isn't a nuisance. Also it gets oppressively hot here so it doesn't seem fair to him. That said, I see no problem with a dog staying outside all day if it is the right situation and they are used to it. They are an animal. I love ours, but he's not a person. lemondrop on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193447 Fri, 29 May 2015 12:30:36 +0000 lemondrop 2193447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Inside in his crate. I used positive crate training as a puppy, so it's his happy place, never for punishment. He tends to be a bit neurotic (cattle dog) when left to his own devices, so it's the safest place for him. Working in the vet field, bad things can happen anywhere, anytime- but I have seen many, many FAR worse things happen to dogs outside rather than inside. IRunForFun on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193439 Fri, 29 May 2015 12:23:59 +0000 IRunForFun 2193439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @T.H.O.U.: Well, again, my perspective comes from keeping our dog crated inside, so that way limits his ability to hurt himself. We even remove his collar before crating him so he can't get it caught on the crate. And dogs are absolutely stolen, I've seen many stories about it. Even if it an infrequent occurrence I'd rather not take the chance. snowjewelz on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193404 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:51:54 +0000 snowjewelz 2193404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When she was a puppy we could only leave her in one area and as she got older she roamed freely while we were gone. We'd never leave her outside b/c I don't know if she'd somehow get out, someone can take her, she can be barking and cause trouble, dig up plants, who knows...! jape14 on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193400 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:47:06 +0000 jape14 2193400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We leave our dog (60lb pit/boxer mix) inside while we are at work. When she was younger, we would crate her and come home at lunchtime to let her out. Now she has free reign of the house (and our nanny share is there every other month). I'd be wary of leaving her outside in our fenced yard due to really hot weather (in the South, even though we have a screened porch with a fan) and because there are dog thefts that happen occasionally, and often pits/pit mixes are targets. Also, she's a pretty good dog and is mostly out of the getting into trouble phase (finally at almost 5 years old) and we have a small yard, but I worry that leaving her outside all day long, she'd make an escape attempt, catch/eat baby animals (she's caught a full-sized rabbit before - gross), etc. She usually sleeps on our bed or the couch most of the day so I don't think she minds being in the nice air-conditioned house :) When I get home from work she doesn't make a beeline for the door so I don't think the bladder thing is an issue. Mrs. Pickle on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193357 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:06:11 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2193357@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Inside. I will leave them in the backyard if I'm going to be fine a couple hours. They love being outside. T.H.O.U. on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193354 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:05:08 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2193354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @IRunForFun: there could be just as many dangers of a dog getting hurt indoors I would think. Anagram on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193352 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:04:22 +0000 Anagram 2193352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Growing up I lived in a very rural area and everyone who had pets had "outdoor pets". Even cats were outside cats. Most people there have several acres of land and a very large fenced in area--dogs were only brought inside on freezing/stormy nights and even then only to the garage. And everyone I knew had a dog house of some kind outside. Neighbors weren't really close enough to warrant worrying about dogs barking all day, but generally they didn't. It wasn't until I moved to a city that I saw that indoor dogs are super common. T.H.O.U. on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193351 Fri, 29 May 2015 11:04:14 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2193351@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our dog stays outside in our fenced yard while we are gone. He has access tothe garage for shelter and his bed and plenty of water and food. When we get home he comes inside Do people really steal dogs? Our dog barks and is big. Would someone really willingly go open our gate and take him? Wouldn't they rather steal all my stuff out of my garage? We have accidentally left the side gate open before and came home to find him laying out in the sun in the front yard. I'm not worried about him running off. Occasionally he barks but mostly at trucks that drive by so that stops after a bit. getjazzy on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193339 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:55:36 +0000 getjazzy 2193339@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My dog stays inside. She has run of the main floor which has no carpet, since she is a picky eater and sometimes and gets sick. We have a giant leather ottoman/coffee table that she sleeps on. Or, she sleep beside the baby gate that leads to the front door. I've also come home to her sleeping in her crate (which we leave open). I don't feel bad though, even when I'm home with her all day she does the same thing.. sleeps. Haha She's black and in the summer it gets insanely hot here, and since I'm in Canada... outdoors in the winter wouldn't be safe either so indoors it is which suits her prissy self well - she doesn't like any type of precipitation haha. MediaNaranja on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193331 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:45:51 +0000 MediaNaranja 2193331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ He stays inside, but he has never been too fond of the outdoors. We close the doors so he stays in the kitchen/dining area, where he has food, water & a big fluffy dog bed. He's pretty lazy (and old) so he mostly sleeps. When we forget to push in the dining chairs he will jump on top of the table to look out the window, but then can't figure out how to get back down, whoops. If our house had a good, fenced yard I would probably put in a dog door and let him move freely from yard to house, but we live on a hill with a tiny postage-stamp sized yard on the opposite side from the back door. Maybe the next house!! blackbird on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193310 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:26:46 +0000 blackbird 2193310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Most people I know keep their dog outside and the garage to the back open. But we're talking 100-120 pound rottweielers and Labradors....plus 8-10 hours is a long time to hold their pee. If they have shelter, food, and water, then a big space to run and frolick in the fresh air seems like a plus to me IRunForFun on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193308 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:26:31 +0000 IRunForFun 2193308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'd never leave my dog outside all day, there are too many things that could go wrong. The elements, escaping, getting stolen, getting hurt, etc. Our dog is kept in his crate in a nice cool room with white noise on and classical music playing, haha. ETA: This is more about the fact that I don't trust our dog when left to his own devices and we don't live in the best neighborhood. I can see leaving a dog outside in certain circumstances, I suppose, particularly if there was a doggy door. ms.line on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193302 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:24:00 +0000 ms.line 2193302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We leave our dog inside (usually crated) while we're gone. My DH hates to leave her unattended outside AT ALL, although I'm comfortable with it for an hour or so as long as we're home. mrs.shinerbock on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193295 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:16:53 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2193295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @kiddosc: but that's not the question. There is no difference in the social aspect of being inside all day or outside all day while the people are gone. BSB on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193285 Fri, 29 May 2015 10:10:39 +0000 BSB 2193285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My dogs are kept inside during the day. On hot or rainy days, I like that they are sheltered. My cocker was an outside dog before we adopted him, and DH and I can't imagine him being outside all the time. The previous owners lived on a farm and one of the reasons they gave him up for adoption is because 'he was chasing animals'. Sounds silly to me. My cocker is so cuddly and such a people lover, I'm glad we found him and he can now sleep on the couch or our bed all day. ETA: [Oh, he has such a beautiful coat and I can't imagine how nasty it would get if he was outside. Oh, we had a rare thunderstorm one day and he came rushing to my side and started shaking. The thought of him being outside and having to wait out the storm by himself makes me sad. Yeah, our dogs are spoiled. ] I understand some people have outside dogs but I couldn't do it myself. My other dog likes to eat grass when we let her out and so I have to watch her. If she eats too much, she'll puke in the house. She does love being outside and takes a while to come back in when we let her out, but I don't think I would feel comfortable having both dogs outside all day. .twist. on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193228 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:32:00 +0000 .twist. 2193228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I honestly think it depends on where you live and your dogs environment. If we live on a large property and in a warmer , more predictable climate, I could see owning an outdoor dog. We live in the city, and that means we have close neighbours. I would never leave my dog outside all day while I wasn't at home because I do think it's rude to the community. Not to mention our climate sucks and it could be 20 degrees one minute and 0 degrees within a couple hours. Anyway, our dog gets free reign of the house while we're away. He thinks he's a human and would cry/bark all day long if we left him outside. FliegepilzHut on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193226 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:31:20 +0000 FliegepilzHut 2193226@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our dogs would (and can) be a tremendous nuisance left outside. When they were younger, we crated them. Now they have free reign of the the house and are very respectful to our furniture and other things within reach MK0180 on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193209 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:24:09 +0000 MK0180 2193209@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We installed a dog door last year - it was the best decision we made! Before, he was still a puppy and I would come by on my lunch hour to let him out and play with him. I sometimes still do. Eko on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193205 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:22:31 +0000 Eko 2193205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Depending on where you live I think it's not a problem to have your dog outside during the day as long as they have proper shelter, food, and water. I have not been able to do it with my dogs because I rent, but know many family's that do. I would prefer the dog to have access to the outdoors and get exercise than being crated or kept in a small area and holding it for hours. It does depend on factors, but would never rule it out as an option. kiddosc on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193195 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:17:41 +0000 kiddosc 2193195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @mrs.shinerbock: Dogs are social pack animals, however. It's not mentally healthy for a dog to constantly be alone, even though they can physically handle living in the elements. WinterBee on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193183 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:05:28 +0000 WinterBee 2193183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @TheSwissWifeStyle: I wouldn't leave my dog outside either, same reasons as you, plus I don't look at her as 'just a dog'. She's an important member of our family. Our dog stays inside the house when we're at work, she's pretty great and doesn't wreck anything so she has free reign of the house, she mostly sleeps haha. We put her outside for an hour or so before work, and of course after. She's usually alone for 7-8 hours but she has a bigger bladder so she can 'hold it'. It's never been a problem for us. She's a bit of a princess in that she would hate it if we left her outside, she needs a comfy bed and a pillow to comfortably nap! hahah. mrs.shinerbock on "Where's your dog while you're at work?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wheres-your-dog-while-youre-at-work#post-2193177 Fri, 29 May 2015 09:01:04 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 2193177@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Um, totally normal to leave your dog outside all day. Until the last 20 years or so, I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people did this and other places in the world still do. Every dog I had growing up stayed outside unless it was going to freeze that night. The first inside dog I ever had was because I lived in an apartment - now we have a doggie door to our yard, but if we didn't she would stay outside all day. As long as they have sufficient water and shelter, dogs are well suited to living outdoors.