[BoxMeIn21]

I didn't vote, but I am gone up to 10 hours a day. Both my dogs are crated, but they get a break mid-day from a dog walker for 45 minutes. I didn't used to have a dog walker, but unfortunately Disco just can't hold it that long and I think it would be cruel to force her to sit in her own waste, hence the dogwalker.

[aokisweet]

I have 2 very small dogs that hold themselves sometime from 10pm to 7am.....I dont expect or train them to do that, its how it works for them. Mine are home maybe 4 - 6 because I have a 19 year old thats in and out. But the time periods for the poll are pretty far apart, because I would say 8 definalty not 12 because mine might mess byt then...hope you get the answer your looking for.

[KBLover]

On average, Wally is alone about 6 hours.

Longest is about 10 hours, and he was such a good boy. He was just lying by the door to my room waiting for me, and had fallen asleep.

Originally Posted by GatsbysMom

Would you feel comfortable holding your urination for six to eight straight hours?!

I "do my business" about once every 5 or 6 hours, so a couple more wouldn't be out of the question. Especially if I'm sleeping or doing something besides sitting around thinking I need to pee.

Besides, it's not like the dog is pacing around having to pee - and doing that for 8 hours.

There's a big difference between 8 hours between needing to pee and needing to pee and then being made to wait 8 hours AFTER that feeling strikes.

[Shell]

My dog is alone for the 8 hours I work plus 20 minutes each way drive time.
He has the run of the main rooms of the house (bedrooms and laundry closed off).
I would not want to leave him for more than those 9 hours or so but not because of SA or loneliness, simply his need to urinate. But when I get home from work, he is super ready to get outside and yet will often trot around, sniff etc before peeing.
He gets 30 mins walk in the morning, plus some time in the yard; then 30-45 minutes RUN in the afternoon 5 days a week (1.5 hrs walk on the other 2 days) plus yard time for his zoomies. Then a final 30 minute walk later in the evening if he seems to want it. Especially if we run hills I can tire him out on a run pretty well.
A dog walker is not an option, nor really I think, a need. I had a week when my work allowed me to come home at lunch and he mostly just acted like "Why are you waking me up?" I do have a friend who would come over if I had a work emergency and had to do a double shift, but that would be a rare situation.