Help please: How long can I leave my dog

i am going out for the evening and wondered how long I can reasonably leave the dog? A friend is going to come and feed him about half five but I won't be back til around midnight. He'll have had two long walks during the day and normally he sleeps/rests in the evening.
He's five, a rescue dog and we've only had him 8 weeks so this is the first time I've left him alone this long. I need some advice

Should be fine. I take it he's calm normally and doesn't fret or tear the place up. You might want to leave some toys about but remember to remove anything that might be consumable (food or otherwise). If he sleeps most of the evening anyway, I'm sure that's exactly what he will do when you're out

How long have you left him so far and how has he been?

Tbh Ledger will settle and take himself off to bed any time after he has had his tea (about 5pm) he stays home alone when I'm on nights and when I'm on 5pm-4am shifts I have a dog walker come in about 6pm and she leaves him with a frozen mince stuffed hoof for his tea to settle him.

Will your friend be letting him out for a wee? If so I would say as its evening he will likely sleep but that kinda depends how he is when you go out in general. Will he have the run of the house? To begin with I kept Ledger to the back room and kitchen but now he has the stair gate open so has a free rein

We've only had him a few weeks, although he's five; we got him from a dog rescue. Most of the time he's home with my husband but we have left him for up to four hours and he was fine. He is a calm dog and hasn't ripped anything up. He stays in the kitchen when we're out, which is where he sleeps at night. Yes my friend will let him out for a wee!

If he's been left by himself for four hours and he's fine then i dont see a problem leaving him a little longer when you have someone visiting in between to allow him to go out for a wee and a little interaction. Id just make sure hes got access to food and water and can play with his toys. Frozen Kongs are always a good idea to keep them occupied.

Thanks for the response; I haven't heard of frozen kongs so will need to check that out.

Rhona wrote:Thanks for the response; I haven't heard of frozen kongs so will need to check that out.

Check out some kong filler ideas in the recipe section, theres lots to choose from

The good old radio left on helps a bit as well just dont leave it on the doof doof station

I leave mine for 8 hours and they are working dogs. the lazy lil buggers just sleep

Thanks for the suggestions

Thanks Nathan, I think I'm just being a fussy mother. When we're here all he wants to do is curl up in a ball, so I'm sure he'll do the same when we're out.

It'll be fine I'm sure.. Enjoy the night out and don't worry. The welcome home will be fab

I'm sure he'll be fine, it's so often harder on you than the dog !!! My boy is 15 months and we left him home alone on NYE, 1st time ever, he was fantastic - no damage to anything and happy to see us per usual. Probably slept most of the night while I worried about him lol. During the day we leave him on average for at least 8 hours while we're at work, sometimes more. I don't think it would make much difference that he's just been rehomed to you, he should be fine so go and have a good time I think

Sure he will be fine, we do worry more than them tbh. et a kon stuff it with banana or meat layer it if you like and pop it in the freezer. Give him that and it will keep him occupied

I've had mine for the same amount of time, she is fine to be left, I leave some treats in her basket and also fill a kong with peanut butter. She also seems to like Jazz which I leave on the radio.

Saying this, I did come back yesterday to find she had re designed the shoe rack.

http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/medium-senior-dog-toy
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/merch-groups/merch-groups/mg-119/medium-extreme-dog-toy

Thank you all for the suggestions. Came back after a lovely evening out with the family and all was well.

Glad to hear it i was same first time i left Iza.