Expert: Patti - 10/19/2006

Question
I am looking to get a dog that can live most of the time in our barn.  In the evenings she/he can come in the house with us but while we are at work and for sleeping I would like to keep her in our very spacious barn which is attached to our house. I have a dog now that was raised in the barn (springer spaniel) and that is working out very well. She can come and go as she pleases. She can roam on our 25 acres. She never runs away or leaves the property.  We live on a lake so she can swim any time she wants.  However she is getting old and won't be with us very long and I thought it might be better to get another dog now, while she is alive to keep her company in the barn while we are away or sleeping.
Once a year we go away for 3 weeks and leave the dog alone with the exception of  someone who comes everyday to feed the dog and check on her.  She can sleep in the hay or go in and out as she feels.  I always thought this was better than putting her in a kennel.  

We live in a moderate temperate climate so we never leave her outside if it is freezing. Our Springer has a very thick fur for the winter and most of the time she has a hard time staying in the house because it is too warm.

My question is : Can dogs live alone 18 hours a day?  Is this humane?  What is a good outside dog for us?


Answer
Hi Pat,

Dogs have a strong need to be social, and to be a part of a "pack" (meaning a family). A dog should never be left alone longer than 6 or 7 hours. Leaving a dog alone for 18 hours a day sounds more like neglect than pet ownership.

I understand that your current dog is left alone for considerable lengths of time, and does not get into trouble. I'd say you're either extremely lucky, or you simply are not aware of how your dog spends her day.
Of course, being elderly, she may not do much more beside sleep the day away, but you might not be as lucky with another animal.

Dogs who do not have enough social interaction with thier human families often develop emotional, and behavioral problems simply because they are domesticated social animals.

Leaving your dog  home alone for three weeks while you vacation is excessive, and I do not share in your opinion that it's better than keeping the dog at a kennel.

We have vastly different philosophies on dog care. Frankly, I don't understand why you want a dog, it sounds as though you hardly spend much time with the one you have. Have you considered getting a cat?

Best of luck,
Patti