Scheduling Visits with Your Dogs

Let’s talk about health, well-being and emotions when it comes to your canine friends, time away, and scheduling visits with them.

Most veterinarians and the American Kennel Club state that the most a dog is to be left alone at any one time without an opportunity to relieve themselves is 6 hours with a maximum of 8 hours. This is due to the fact they can develop feelings of anxiousness, being scared or unappreciated behaviors like destroying things because of boredom, being left alone, or no stimulation.  Potty breaks are more than releasing waste or urine, these can be as much about releasing stress.

When it comes to the number of visits, it is often thought of from the standpoint of the basic physical needs: food, water, or relieving themselves. And those are important, yet the emotional reasons are just as important and need not be overlooked.

Emotional support such as companionship, interaction, play, movement, and presence are important to address social or separation anxieties, boredom, and the like.

The rule of thumb in my business is that dogs within a 24-hour period have:

·         at least 2 visits when a working dog door is present and

For those without a dog door, depending on the situation, I would suggest a couple of options:

·         at least three individual visits per day

·         doing an overnight with a midday visit or

·         doing an overnight with two visits spaced 3-4 hours apart

These offer your dogs or your multi crew homes the most consistent and similar experience to you being home:

·         they receive 13 to 14 hours with someone on the premises

·         Enjoy that coveted early morning walk or an evening walk

·         Play time, Connection and Companionship

·         Get fed, fresh water throughout, and your treats (as permitted)

·         Inside time and outside time

You may have experienced the 8-hour overnight when looking around or doing your research. I created the 12-hour for two reasons. It permits me to take care of my sleep health by getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night so that I can be at my best to take care of your crew plus your crew gets four hours of dedicated connection, play, walk, and presence with them every night/early morning while you are away.

Your dog(s) and/or dogs and cats get the best experience I can offer as I truly believe that presence, mutual respect and love is the key that opens the door to trust and building healthy relationships with them.