How long can a dog be left alone?
Most adult dogs can be left alone for about 4 to 6 hours, and no more than 6 to 8 hours without a bathroom break, according to veterinarians quoted by the American Kennel Club. UK charities like the RSPCA and PDSA recommend 4 hours at most. Puppies can usually manage about one hour for each month of age.
I’ve been looking after dogs in Woodland Hills since 2018. Here’s what the vets say, by age, and where the US and UK advice splits.
Your dog has a different answer to this question, which is “zero hours, why would you ever leave.” The vets are a bit more flexible.
How long can a dog be left alone?
Most vets put the limit for a healthy adult dog at about 4 to 6 hours. Bethany Hsia, DVM, told the AKC adult dogs can be left “about four to six hours at a time without experiencing significant distress.” Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Vint Virga sets the outer limit at six to eight hours without a chance to relieve themselves.
UK charities are stricter. The RSPCA, PDSA and Dogs Trust all say no more than four hours. Think of 4 hours as the comfortable number and 8 hours as the bladder’s absolute final offer.
Leaving your dog home alone while you’re at work
A full workday plus a commute runs 9 to 10 hours, which is past every limit above. That’s why the AKC’s experts suggest having a dog walker come by on long days, and VCA’s guidance suggests a neighbor or dog walking service to check in.
A walk in the middle of the day breaks one long stretch into two short ones. Your dog gets a bathroom break, some sniffing, and a fresh topic to tell you about at 6pm, mostly by staring at the leash.
Can I leave my dog alone overnight?
No. A night alone stretches well past the 6 to 8 hour bladder limit, and nobody would be there if something went wrong. The AKC lists having a pet sitter stay overnight as one of the options for longer time away.
The night is also when the house makes all its weird noises. You know they’re the fridge. Your dog is fairly sure they’re a burglar, and has decided to tell the whole street.
“I needed someone last minute to stay with my dogs over night and was so fortunate to find her!” Eden R., May 2019
Leaving a dog home alone for 3 days
You shouldn’t leave a dog home alone for 3 days, even with food and water left out. For longer trips, the AKC’s experts say it’s best to avoid leaving your dog home alone and relying only on drop-ins, because even several visits a day may not prevent loneliness. A sitter who stays keeps your dog in familiar surroundings.
If you do use visits, VCA’s vets note a sitter may come several times a day to walk and play. Three days of one bowl of kibble and a lot of window-watching isn’t a holiday for anyone, least of all the window.
Puppies, senior dogs and dogs on medication
Puppies need much more frequent breaks. The AKC says from 3 months old a puppy can usually hold it for about an hour per month of age, so a 4-month-old manages about 4 hours. Under 10 weeks, it’s about 1 hour.
Senior dogs often need more bathroom trips too. Veterinary behaviorist Dr. Sagi Denenberg tells the AKC that many senior dogs “simply need more frequent access to a suitable potty area,” and conditions like kidney disease can increase urine production. If your dog is on medication, ask your vet how long is safe.
Young, old, or somewhere in the middle, everyone here would like a bathroom break, thank you.
“She house sat and cared for my 7 month old puppy and 14 year old senior dog so well.” Laura A., July 2019
Signs your dog isn’t coping alone
Some dogs find time alone genuinely hard. Estimates of separation-related problems range from about 5% in a study of 13,715 Finnish dogs to 20% of dogs in a 2014 review, so it depends a lot on the dog.
Signs listed by VCA and PetMD include:
Time alone also shows up at the door. In a Swedish study, dogs left for 2 or 4 hours greeted their owners more intensely than dogs left for 30 minutes. That full-body wiggle when you get home is love, and it’s also a review of how long you were gone.
“The pups seemed to really enjoy her and were nice and content and happy when I returned.” Kelly L., August 2021
How to leave a dog home alone
Build up to it slowly. Dogs Trust says to “build up time apart very gradually,” and the RSPCA says to reward your dog for staying relaxed. A few steps that help:
A tired dog is a calmer dog. A tired dog with a chew is basically on a spa day, and has no idea you went anywhere.
How I help with dogs home alone
I look after dogs up to 40 lbs in their own homes around Woodland Hills, and I can give oral medication and have experience with senior dogs. Depending on how long you’re gone:
Wondering what a full week of walks adds up to? Here’s how much a dog walker costs, and if you have a cat too, how long a cat can be left alone.