Is 14 hours too long to leave dogs in the house?

I am faced with a dilemma. There are going to be some loggers coming tomorrow to harvest some trees on my property and the neighboring property. My dogs are the curious/friendly type that will inevitably want to hang out with the guys while they drop the trees. The only viable option is to keep them in the house while I am at work.
Do you think its too long to confine them? Any ideas that might help them make it through the day? I was thinking about getting some of those doggie pads that people use for puppies. I'm really not worried if they do poop or pee on the floor as it is all solid surface with no carpeting.
I hate having to do it to them but it is better than being crushed by a tree.

is a loooooooooong time.

You work 14 hours?

Can you come home for lunch?

Do you have a neighbor/friend who can let them out/take them for a walk?

Do they normally "run free" in the area? Do you have a FENCED in yard?

It is a rural area and I have no neighbors nearby. I have the invisible fence set up for them but the area includes the wooded area being thinned out.

They won't know to use the doggie pads unless you have trained them to do so. If nothing else, put them in the basement or garage in case they have an accident. Put down lots of newspapers or old pieces of cardboard. If you can mark the floor coverings with some of their own pee, they will get the idea.

It would be better if you or someone else could take them out mid-day, though.

or are they allowed to relieve themselves while in the house?

There was no choice. I worked a twelve hour shift with a half hour commute each way. Even though they were both paper trained, they rarely went to the bathroom. I always walked them for about twenty minutes before and after.

on a decently long line and with plently of water?

....not as long as infinity should something happen to your dogs while the loggers are on the site.

Better they suffer one day of boredom then a lifetime of death or disability

I would never forgive myself if one was injured or killed because I didn't want to have to clean up if they have an accident in the house.

and then have a wonderful time making it up to him when you get home that night

I hope they don't all decide to show their displeasure!

:hide:

They didn't have an accident and were extremely glad to see me. They didn't even go to pee until after ten minutes of jumping up greeting me. They don't seem mad and wanted back in after a half an hour of running around the yard. It was 102 degrees out today so I think they enjoyed the day inside in the cool air.

then no.

that is all they really need.

They have a natural aversion to soiling the "den" so they will struggle with that, as you discussed, but should be fine otherwise.

or worse because one of the loggers doesn't like dogs.

No carpet? No problem. Just make sure you use some kind of enzyme cleaner to make sure they don't continue to mark the same areas.

they should be OK. My dogs are in the house from 5:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., which is a long time.

A bonus for them is the fact its been getting up to 100 degrees lately every day and I know they don't really enjoy the heat.

It's about their safety (and the safety of the loggers). It's too long for them IF you expect to not come home to "accidents" and possibly some boredom damage if you don't leave extra toys and whatnot.

on a leash for you while you are at work?

I think you need to keep them inside for their own safety, but maybe if someone could let them out, it would ease your mind a bit.

I think it would be alright. Put the dogie pads by the door. Leave the TV on so they can hear some human voices. I would be afraid to tie them up. What if they got tangled up on something and had to stay that way for hours? What if they got loose somehow? Also, if they are like my dogs, they will sleep for most of that time.

I'd also set up an inside area fro peeing and pooping. Let us know how it all turns out.

It's certainly better than having them get into trouble with the loggers. None of them would jump through a window, would they? I had a Boxer who had that annoying habit when someone got too close to the house - the house itself was built in 1865 and had ancient sash windows with delicate wooden separaters that were pretty much impossible to replace. :eyes:

definitely safer than the alternative. Give them lots of safe chew toys and maybe a couple filled Kongs to play with. I'd leave on some music or the TV to keep them company and make sure there's plenty of water that they can't spill. I don't know if they'd understand the reason for the doggie pads but it might make them feel better if there was a spot they could use and not feel like they're fouling their den. Give them an extra scritch from me will ya?

This was taken the winter before last I believe.

would prefer to stay inside--for however long it takes!

They'll be fine, especially since they aren't alone, but have each other. Put down "puppy pads" (these are also helpful when beagles are absolutely insistent that they can't go out in the rain), and leave a few toys--maybe kongs with peanut butter, a beagle favorite--and they'll be fine.

I agree with all of those who've said a day of confinement beats the hell out of an accident with the loggers.

So, relax. You're being a good dog-mom!!

I usually have to "look around"
after a night of rain

we have a doggy door and they can go out whenever they want
but they hate the rain


lost

can you enlist a pet sitter to come by and walk them one at a time on a leash so they can go to the bathroom? They would probably have to come by and meet the dogs today. You are right that it is better to leave them in than have them be hit by a falling tree, that actually happened to my brother's dog. I guess if you can't enlist someone to come walk them then just be prepared to clean up messes.

... tell the logger guys that you'll pay one of them ten bucks to let the dogs outside (in the fenced-in part of the yard) on their break, and to make sure all the dogs are safely in the house before the logging starts again.


Otherwise, I think it will be fine to leave the doggies inside for the day. Better safe than sorry.


Good luck.

You could collect a little bit of dog urine and sprinkle the pad(s) with it.

One of the thousands of dog catalogs I get in the mail (I can't remember which one) features an indoor shallow boxed "grass patch"...fake grass...that drains into a tray and can be emptied.
With such a long working day and so many pups, you might consider investing in something like that for the next time you need it.

Still, you might be able to find a few minutes in there (lunch break maybe?) that you can bring the dogs out and let them do their business, then bring them back inside. Or find someone you trust with your keys to do it for you. I've stopped by my parents' house to let their dogs out a few times when they had to be gone all day.