How long can a dog be left alone?

It depends entirely upon the breed and tendency of the dogs. Since you say everything is fine though, there is no problem. You certainly are not being anywhere near "horrible" for leaving your dogs alone! Now, if you had a dog that really needs exercise, then you would have a problem: you would be depriving the dog of something it needs constantly. However, especially in the case of a dog like a Pitbull, a good walk in the morning and evening should suffice.

1

You did to say the age of the dogs but I would say that as long as they are house/crate trained and a over I would say 6-8 months of age they should be fine as long as you give them lots of attention when you are home. When I was younger we had to leave my dog in her kennel during the day while I was at school and my mom was at work. We made sure she was taken out right away befor and after we left. She was a cocker spaniel whom we both loved very much. I watched her be born and held her in my arms when we had to put her down when she was 11 and was losing control of her bowls and bladder. We wanted to keep her alive but she felt such guilt at making the messes even though we didn't get after her because we knew she couldn't help it and she got to be in such pain we felt it was better for her. Sorry for going on but I will say that as long as you are good to your dogs when you are home and give them lots of love then they will be fine. Not everyone is able to be home all day but that dosent mean that they don't deserve the love only pets can give.

It only sounds awful to other people, but you're the one who knows your dogs best. If you've trained them to be alone for a long period of time and they are fine with that, then it's all good.

I often hear that people can leave their dogs locked in their crates for up to 4 hours at a time. If there is a yard, then people can leave their dogs alone for up to 8-9 hours.

I think that people who work and leave their dogs home alone are providing customers for BYB's. Kids and idiots think that dogs can be left home alone and they get puppy's from BYB's, they then dump them when they pee in the house and chew things up.

Having said that, I don't think that you are either a kid or an idiot.

Perhaps your dogs will try to hold on and try not to pee or poo in the house, however they will eventually develope bowel and bladder problems.

You have asked for opinions, consequently you will get opinions from selfish owners who leave their dogs alone all day.

Dogs left home alone will become bored, lonely and miserable.

Dogs are not put on this earth for our convenience.

Although I worked, I made provision for my dogs in my absence. I took my puppy's and oldies to work and paid someone to look after the dogs who were at home.

Please don't say that I was lucky to be able to do this. I would not have had dogs if I was not capable of giving them a happy life. If you cannot do this, you should not have dogs.

A puppy is usually sold at around 8 weeks, an can usually hold their bladder for 1 hour per month of life.

So a puppy is going to need to go every 2 hours...

I dont think its best for your dogs to be with you.

They will struggle to ever be house broken with such inconsistent training.

You should have gotten them when you could take a week or two off work.

I say for 4 hours tops.

They're fine.