How long can a dog be left alone?

There's no universal cut-off. A settled, well-adjusted adult dog, walked and exercised before and after, copes very well with a 7 to 8 hour working day. A puppy needs a more frequent break while he's growing. What counts is the quality of the rest of the day , not the number of hours.

Which dog can be left alone while I work?

It's not a question of breed but of organisation. An adult dog already used to being alone is calmer than a puppy. Above all, choose a dog whose need for exercise matches your days, and plan a break or some relief when you're away for a long time.

My dog destroys everything when I leave, is it serious?

Most often it's boredom or alone time that was never taught, not revenge: he doesn't connect the mischief to your return, so you never tell him off after the fact. But if he only goes for your belongings, vocalises non-stop or soils himself out of distress, it's separation anxiety to work on with a veterinary behaviourist.

A dog in my life: time, work, housing

Choosing and welcoming my dogPart of · Choosing and welcoming my dog

A dog in my life: time, work, housing

Q: Can you have a dog when you work?

Yes, it's everyday life for most dogs. The key is making the most of the times you're together: a proper walk morning and evening, a chew outlet for the time away, and alone time built up gradually. Even tired after work, you can give him what he needs. No reason to feel guilty.

Q: Can you have a dog in a flat?

Yes, absolutely. Floor space doesn't make the dog: it's the walks, the physical and mental exercise and anticipating his needs that count. A big, calm, well-walked dog lives perfectly happily in a flat, whereas a small dog who is never stimulated would be miserable in a villa.

Q: How do I get my dog used to being alone?

Gradually, below his stress threshold: micro-absences (post, bins), neutral departures and returns, absences you stretch out little by little, and a chew toy reserved for departures. You build up alone time before being away for long, never the other way round.

8 min read

Yes, you can have a dog while working, and even in a flat. A balanced adult dog sleeps 12 to 14 hours a day: properly walked and stimulated, he experiences your 7 to 8 hours away as a nap, not a punishment. What counts isn't the number of hours, it's the quality of everything else.

Working and having a dog

A healthy adult dog spends roughly half his day asleep, in short naps spread across the hours. If his needs are met (going out, burning energy, sniffing, chewing, time with you), your absence becomes a rest period rather than an abandonment.

A day that works, job and all

Four moments give his day its rhythm: the morning walk, the outlet as you leave, the time alone, and your return.

30 to 60 min

A proper walk in the morning

A lap round the block isn't enough: your dog needs time to sniff, explore and meet other dogs. A dog who has used his nose and moved his body then settles down peacefully.

An outlet just before you leave

An outlet is a chew toy or a foraging toy you keep for departures: it turns "you're leaving" into a good moment rather than a worry.

While you're away: he sleeps

Well exercised, he spends most of your working hours napping. That's normal and it's healthy.

Coming home, then a walk or some play

Even when you're tired, give him an end-of-day walk so he can sniff, or a quarter of an hour of play.

He's just arrived: build up time alone first

A dog who lands in your home has left everything behind at once: his mother and littermates if he's very young, his whole former life if he's an adult, and every landmark he had. Leaving him alone for 7 hours on day one is like asking him to run before he can walk. You lay the groundwork first, over a few weeks: neutral departures and returns, absences that get longer and longer, something to chew while he waits. Once time alone has been built up, the long days go by on their own.

Never leave a newly arrived dog alone for 7 hours overnight: move forward in stages.

Step 1 / 3

He understands that you leave, and that you come back every time.
- Step out for the post or the bins with no fuss, for 1 to 3 minutes
- Come back calmly, as if nothing had happened
- Take a shower with him on the other side of the door
Time alone becomes rest time.
- Stretch the absences to 5, then 15, then 30 minutes
- Walk him and let him burn energy before you go, so that he sleeps
- Give him a chew toy kept only for departures
Move on when: He stays settled instead of waiting for you behind the door.
A working day passes without stress.
- Lengthen the absences bit by bit, up to several hours
- Keep the departure neutral, and keep the walk that comes before it
- Take the chew toy away when you get home, in front of him: he needs to understand he only gets it while you're out.
Move on when: You leave for 7 to 8 hours and all is well when you're back.

Time alone mastered

A puppy asks for more organising: he can't hold on for long yet and needs to go out often. While he grows, plan a midday break (a friend or relative, a dog walker, a doggy daycare). It isn't "impossible", just a few months to arrange, so you're set for the next 15 years.

Living in a flat

Floor space is not what makes a dog happy. A big, calm, well-walked dog is perfectly happy in a flat, while a small dog who is never stimulated can be miserable in a large house with a garden.

What makes a dog thrive in a flat has nothing to do with square metres.

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Happy flat dog

Yes, go for it with confidence

You can give him a proper walk morning and evening
You've planned an outlet and a quiet corner for the time alone
You build up time alone bit by bit before the long days
For a puppy, you have a midday break (a friend, a dog walker, a daycare)

Take the time to get organised first

Your days run 10 to 12 hours with no break and nobody to step in
You'd like to leave a newly arrived puppy alone all day from the start
No quality walk is possible, morning or evening

Going further

guideTeaching Your Dog to Stay Home Alone Without AnxietyThe step-by-step method so he copes well with your absences, without anxiety or damage.Read the guide guideWhich dog is right for me?The right dog for your pace of life, rather than a fashionable breed.Read the guide guideAm I ready to welcome a dog?An honest look before you take the plunge: the right moment, not just the right urge.Read the guide guideThe dog who destroys things when left aloneIf the damage piles up while you're out, how to understand it and put it right without punishing.Read the guide guideExercising and keeping your dog busyPractical ideas to burn his energy, even with a packed schedule.Read the guide guideThe real cost of a dogThe real budget, monthly and yearly, so you can plan generously before welcoming one.Read the guide

Sherman & Mills — Canine anxieties and phobias: separation and graduated departures as the basis of treatment (2008)
Duranton & Horowitz — Olfactory enrichment and positive affect in dogs (2019)
An adult dog sleeps 12 to 14 hours out of every 24 (polyphasic sleep), American Kennel Club, Sleep Foundation

Frequently asked questions

How long can a dog stay home alone?

There's no universal cut-off. A balanced adult dog who is used to it, walked and exercised before and after, copes very well with a working day of 7 to 8 hours. A puppy needs a break more often while he grows. What counts isn't how long he's alone: it's how you fill the rest of his day.

Can you have a dog when you work?

Yes, and it's the daily reality for most dogs. The key is making the most of the time you're together: a proper walk morning and evening, a chew outlet for the time alone, and time alone built up gradually. Even tired after work, you can give him what he needs. No reason to feel guilty.

Can you have a dog in a flat?

Yes, very well: what makes a dog happy in a flat is his walks and his physical and mental exercise, not the size of the home. A big, calm dog can live perfectly well in a studio if he's properly walked, while a small dog left to his own devices will be bored even in a house with a garden.

How do I get my dog used to being alone?

Gradually, staying below his stress threshold: micro-absences (the post, the bins), neutral departures and returns, absences you lengthen little by little, and a chew toy kept only for departures. You build up time alone before being away for long stretches, never the other way round.

Which dog can stay alone while I work?

It isn't a matter of breed but of organisation. An adult dog already used to being alone is calmer about it than a puppy. Above all, choose a dog whose need for exercise matches your days, and plan a break or someone to step in when you're away for a long time.

My dog destroys everything when I leave, is that serious?

Most often it's boredom or time alone that was never taught, not revenge: he doesn't connect a punishment to something he did earlier, so you never tell him off after the fact. But if he goes only for your belongings, vocalises non-stop or stops being house-trained when he normally is, that's separation anxiety, to be worked on with a veterinary behaviourist.

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