How long can I leave my 1 yera old Maltese? in The AnswerBank: Animals & Nature

Six hours is a long time to leave a dog on its own. However, if you take her for a long walk before you go to work and leave her enough water and toys she might be alright.
Do you have a neighbour who could come round and let her out into the garden for a little play?

I have two dogs who are company for each other but I would not leave them stuck in the kitchen for six hours a day.

Ratty2E

I don't like to leave my boys for longer than 4 hours but then despite there being 2 of them they do get quite upset at being left. If I were you I think I'd try to get someone to take her out for a walk to break up the day and give her a bit of company.

dawny0311

Question Author

These are my feelings too. I am really stressed at the moment because I don't want to leave her that long. This job came up very quickly, I have been registered with an agency for almost 6 months and I am required to start tomorrow.
I am also mid way through a divorce and house sale and will be moving at the end of May so I won't know my new neighbours either.
I have searched the net extensively and was up until 5am this morning trying to find a dog walker/sitter but there doesn't seem to be any near where I am going to move to. In any event I would want to 'check them out first' and there just isn't time!
I have got to work and it is becoming clear that my only option is to re-home her and it's so heartbreaking. I haven't stopped crying since I got up this morning!

Goofy

Is there a club for your breed?
If so, it might be worth asking them if they know of someone close to where you are moving who has one and would be able to help look after her.
Is there someone who can give her a temporary home while you look for a long-term solution?

Best of luck

lankeela

Why not give it a try leaving her and if it doesn't work out then rehome her, but she might be ok. Mine are left for varying times, but then I do have quite a few dogs!. Make sure she has a good walk before you leave and make sure she isn't left where she can do any damage or hurt herself, chew wires etc. Even if you do have to rehome her, please don't rush this and please don't advertise her 'free to good home' as so many dogs are being got in this way and used for bait dogs for training fighting dogs. Contact the breed rescue for help and they may have someone on their books waiting for a young bitch.

lankeela

Breed Rescue one in Merseyside and one in Surrey: http://www.the-kennel...fault.aspx?breed=6159

lankeela

Also try contacting the breeder, they should be willing to take her back.

fairycakes69

How long do you normally leave the dog? Can you not try a bit longer each time. That way the dog will get used to you being out. When we got our dog we got him used to us going out at different times of the day for different amounts of time.We never had a problem, he just accepted it. Kept him in his cage to start with, then in one room, now he has the run of the house. He is left for 9 hours if we are all working. He gets a good run when we get back.

chi-chi66

I'm sure you will be registering with a vet when you move.....ask there, they
are a good source of information too. A hard call, so good luck with you're
decision. x

dawny0311

Question Author

Thank you all for your help and advice. Yes it is very hard.
The max I have left her is 4 hours and she has been fine - very excited when I get home but no accidents etc. I leave her kongs, radio on etc and confined to the kitchen.
I leave the camcorder on the PC too so that I can view it when I get back to see how she has behaved and generally she has slept the whole time. It's just 6hrs - to me is - too long!
I have spent the whole morning searching for dog sitters etc but there is absolutely no point my working after I have paid out the fees. Catch 22

My daughter is off work, following a minor op, and she has said she will pop in this week for me (mid way) so I can cover this week and 'maybe' next week so I have a little breathing space now - but I am desperately trying NOT to give her up. I adore her and would miss her terribly.

nungate

I saw your post last evening and my heart went out to you Dawny, what a position to be in, I'd hate to have to give up any of my pets, they are members of my family. However, if after exploring all means working and keeping your wee dog have been exhausted and you find yourself with no alternative but to give her up, I'd like to offer her a home. Naturally there would be a lot of things for you to think about but I'd like to be your "last resort" I could guarantee you lots of pictures and so on and most important of all visitation rights. Something for you to mull over

B00

Awwww, don't re-home your obviously well loved friend.

Millions of people work, most full time, and have dogs. Sure, it's not an ideal situation, but if enough food, water and play things are left out, i'm sure she'll be perfectly fine. And treat her to a long walk when you get home each day :-)

NOX

I must admit if she isn't exhibiting stressed behaviour after you've left her for four hours then I think 6 will probably be fine as well. I don't leave my dogs very often, but when I do as long as they've been out and have water, toys etc, I'm perfectly at ease with leaving them all day as they are so laid back as to be practically horizontal and as you say spend most of their time test driving my sofas.

craft1948

The daughter's situation changed not long after she took in a re-homed Akita. She works full time and is out of the house from 7:30 to 17:30. She gets up and takes the dog out for an hour at 6:30 and another hour at 17:30............it's not ideal but she puts in the effort and the dog seems happy enough.

Clanad

While Mrs. C's little white/apricot dog is a Shih Tzu/Bichon Frisse, a neighbor has a Shih Tzu/Maltese cross and they are very similar. Very intelligent and the center of the universe, they are both excitable as is yours. We and our neighbor both need to leave the dogs for about the 6 hour period you describe. They do well... plenty of water and feed, of course, and two floor level windows through which they can keep tabs ont he world at large.
Our neighbor reports they've not had a problem and the same goes for ours. They do require a good walk afterward, as someone has mentioned, but they don't suffer for the separation... still very perky and "look-at-me" prone...

divegirl

Hi, please try not to worry too much, I have had to leave my dogs for as much as 6 hours a day in the past...someone has to pay for the food etc!
That said, I am in the position of having a few hounds that keep each other company but I know for a fact all they do is sleep anyway.
As long as your dog is getting a good walk before hand and plenty of chews she'll be fine.

Lisa x

LoftyLottie

I agree with all those who say keep her and try it out. My dog is often left for about six hours. She has the run of the house downstairs and is content. Give it a try.

And that is a lovely offer from Nungate if you decide otherwise!

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How long can I leave my 1 yera old Maltese?

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