I don't think it's right that dogs should be alone for 8 hours a day or more! It's not good for them, they get no stimulation and they are bored to death with no one around. I understand if the owners have to work, but it breaks my heart to think of these pets all alone for so long
What do you mean they are bored to death? Do you have a secret camera hidden in my house? How do you know?
I used to have a job where my dog came to work with me every day, and felt similar (although I certainly never thought my heart would break for a well-cared for dog who was home alone during the day). My dog actually gets more interaction and stimulation from me now than she used to, because she used to come home and just crash for the rest of the day. Now we do some training every evening, some exercise, more walks, etc.
Meg's had two days this week where I was gone for my normal work day, but she had someone home (mom with the flu, dad with the day off today). Both of them said, "you know, even with me here all day, she pretty much just sleeps on you bed".
I think Meg is disappointed on the mornings when I leave and she doesn't get to come. But I don't think she pines the day away or sits around thinking how bored she is. I think she goes up stairs after a few minutes, gets back on my still-warm pillow, and has a good laugh about how her poor mother has to go to work.
i admit i worry a bit for dogs who are "never" alone. what happens if circumstances change, somebody has to go back to work, somebody ends up in the hospital, etc and the dog does not know how to be by himself?
I count myself very, very lucky that I didn't create a problem with Meg. For the first two years I owned her, I could literally count the number of times I left her home alone on my fingers. If I went out to dinner, she went with me. If I went to the movies, she rode along and slept in the car. She went to work with me, the barn with me, etc. Luckily she slid into my new lifestyle with perfect ease. Another dog may not have cut me so much slack.
