I think it’s cruel to put a dog away like a toy and remove it from the box when you are ready. They indeed do have a sense of time…perhaps different from ours. But they also have the need to run, play and stretch like any animal. The thought that my dog might need to go pee or stretch but is forcing himself back to sleep to cope with a kennel for 8 hours seems very selfish. Even when I had little money, I searched till I found someone to barter dog-time with. The friend came by in the middle of my work-day to walk my dogs for an hour. In exchange I washed and walked his dogs and bought their food occasionally on weekends. I also, as one poster said, did not like someone in my house when I was not home, so I took the trouble to lock one closet with stuff in it. My dogs were worth the trouble.
I worked toward a life for my dogs as I worked toward a nice life for myself. Now, they have a fenced yard that I have just paid off, and a dog door where they can come and go while I am away. We are both very happy with the arrangement. Took a while to get here, but they were worth it to me. I took the responsibility when I adopted them to give them a decent life. That’s my opinion. I may seem hard-lined on the compassion front, but these animals are capable of unconditional love….I think we could learn from them. Nancy

I think the greatest solution to this common problem and a big help to the overpopulation of dogs in shelters is to get your pack animal a dog to keep him company when he is alone.
Of course you would have to be able to afford it and they would have to get along well with each other.

I’m fortunate enough to live on a fenced acre in the woods, so my dogs have free rein of the house and yard via a dog door. I usually aim for at least an hour of play time twice a day for my Lab mix, and a short swim for my elderly GR. If I’m gone all day, I’ll usually have someone come over and throw the ball for my Lab and take him for a walk. If I’m late, all my animals are fed and checked on by a neighbor.
A good example of leaving animals alone for hours on end are my neighbor’s Beagle and Lab mix (my dog’s brother). Both these dogs live on 20 unfenced acres and usually end up spending the day, and sometimes the entire night, at my house. They’re lonely and bored so they leave their property and go where they know there will be pets and cookies, not to mention a soft sofa.
Personally, I don’t think it’s fair to leave animals alone for hours on end, especially if they’re crated. However, I can appreciate the fact that it’s essential due to work schedules. As long as the dog gets plenty of together time with the owner, and lots of play/walk time, I don’t think the dog will suffer unduly if left along. However, if the owner is gone for more than eight hours, I believe it’s wise to have someone take the dog out to relieve itself and have fifteen minutes or so of play time. Doing this twice during the day would be ideal, especially with a young, active dog.

Poohmika, I’d like to ask a question. Could you please provide the scientific proof that dogs do not experience time passage as we do? I’m a scientific thinker, and i would so like to believe you, so I’d like some help. It would simplify my own life it were true, but I can’t find it online. Thanks for your info.

I feel soo guilty for leaving my dog at home every day, but there’s nothing I can do about it, I have to work! I’m not sure if she feels really bad while I’m away, she’s having a lot of fun with destroying everything around, haha
Joking apart, it’s a problem. My dog has a severe separation anxiety, she tears my clothes apart, chews the shoes and breaks all the stuff around the house when I leave :'( There is a thing called Petcube (petcube.com) to play with dogs and cats from a phone, it doesn’t ship yet but sounds cool. Maybe it can help, at least this is my last hope 🙂
Another solution is to spend as much time as you can with your pet on weekends.

I don’t think it’s fair to leave the dog all day, it would have been fine if his outside the yard and with other dog.

пере159.8BettBettавтозачеГодяНовоXVIIсохрРоссDekoElegALL4XVII1с63BodyDeclРоссSupePujmХентK070Мосокапи
MaurстудсертNeutPureОсипШтокPantСодевозрСлонсертсертRobeДруцКрасрелиМаршМироXVIIсертSplaminuскоравто
ВысоФещеКурнMariКашкHermКитаToscPeppAlleJohnссылMichэтапИллюfantJuleоргаGreaTravсертгражRoseJaroдире
SideдеятправPlayBeraRAMSApasсереMichTranFritприкKarlTintДашкwwwgредаArtsзавеArtsсереSwarФоскУэдсMarr
АманТрубDaviRajnРжешBriaDigmFilmJayaWindCokyСилиzafoАнисKaroRomaукрасвинHarmХубэКитаFrosDavoSainWind
ОтвэАверупакСЕ-0BoheRubiплас4734ПолиJeweкопесодеBlueProtраскинстиндиГолуCotoмобиInteNapoExclSidePhil
MoulсертChowчетвЛитРСветкримЛитРSunnоптиЛитРБелобдьюКаннКуроFatbХрущфакуЛитевынуCharErstBernMichРеше
СанкдопоFrauШадрГуккKrisфотоWorlRonyвокрскучучебБаскупакХалфпринКочаавтоRobeНефеХарчWind243-ФормСтэн
датиDisnФрузMargAlanHarmHarmHarmAutoрадиавтоOverPhilEstoULovPierPresSomeSafeХаусtuchkasJaneфизи