If you normally hear your dog snoring away at the foot of the bed all night, you might wonder if they’d be alright having the house to themselves for the night on an upcoming trip. After all, won’t they be sleeping anyways? Do you really neeeed a pet sitter?
Just for one night?
Maybe. Let’s take a look.
Can you leave a dog alone overnight?
The safest answer is typically: no. Leaving your pets unattended for long periods of time isn’t recommended.
Even if your dog typically sleeps through the night, evenings are a time to rest and recharge, so a change in routine might be distressing for them. Leaving them alone all night can also trigger stress behaviors that put them in danger or damage your home. Your dog could start to act out from stress or anxiety or get into mischief that could be harmful to them, exhibiting behaviors such as:
Pacing
Scratching or chewing
Barking or crying
Going potty indoors
Trying to escape
Getting into the pantry
Eating toilet paper, plastic, or trash
However, just because it’s night, that doesn’t make it magically more dangerous to leave a dog alone. If you work a late or early shift, it’s not unsafe to leave your dog alone for part of the night — the issue is leaving them for an extended period (beyond 4-6 hours) when you would typically be home. You just want to make sure your dog is still able to get regular bathroom breaks.
Getting an in-home dog sitter is the best option if you need to be away for the whole night.
How long is it acceptable to leave a dog alone?
The usual rule of thumb is that dogs shouldn’t be left alone for more than 4-6 hours, but there are a lot of variables that affect that timeline. Your dog may need more frequent bathroom breaks or other concerns that need to be taken care of more frequently.
Your vet is going to have the best information for you, and they’ll also have a lot of questions about your dog’s routines as well. Senior dogs and puppies especially will often need more frequent or constant supervision.
Variables to consider:
The age of the dog.
Medical conditions, like diabetes, or any medication schedule.
Usual bathroom schedule and routine.
How often do they need a middle-of-the-night bathroom break?
Their history of anxiety or stress behaviors when alone.
How dog-safe is your home?
If you have multiple dogs or pets, do they get along well?
Is there a history of acting out or stress-induced behaviors that could be harmful?
Can you leave a dog alone the night before the sitter arrives?
If you’ve hired a dog sitter for an upcoming trip, there might be some situations where you would consider leaving the dog alone for the night before the sitting starts. For example, if you have a red-eye flight and it would be too late for the sitter to arrive that day.
In some situations this might work out, and in others, it can make for a rough start to the sitting. If your dog isn’t used to being alone and just watched you pack a suitcase, they’re likely to have an even harder time with the transition. Your sitter might arrive to an exhausted pup, shredded furniture, and an accident to clean up.
The key is to talk with your sitter.
If your dog is more anxious, always be upfront with your sitter about how you are thinking about care before they arrive, and your sitter may be able to suggest accommodations like an earlier arrival time to help the dog adjust.
What are alternatives to leaving a dog alone?
The main options for dog care are:
Drop-in Care: Asking a friend or someone on Rover to stop in a few times during the gap to allow your dog to stay at home where they’re comfortable, but it doesn’t provide adequate supervision to guarantee safety and comfort. This is only suitable for less than 24 hours of care
Dog Boarding: Boarders provide round-the-clock care, but on their schedule, not your dog's. They also usually require your dog to stay in a kennel or pen.
In-Home Pet Sitting: This gives you the best of both worlds, allowing your dog to stay at home where they’re comfortable and receive the same level of care as when you’re there.
Never used a pet sitter before? We’ve got you. Check out this guide to essential questions you should ask your pet sitter to get the best match. And for residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, Grand & Graham Pets can connect you to the most experienced sitters in the neighborhood. Use the buttons below to learn more about our services or check out the currently available sitters and find the right one for you and your dog!
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