LONG: walking dogs mid-day?

[incognitotoday]

If you have a dog walker: how long do they spend (or at least to your knowledge do they spend with your dog)?

If you go home and walk your dog, how long are you spending with them?

I recently started a new job. Beforehand, they "held" it from 7:15-5:45. Now with this job, I have technically an hour lunch and my office is less than 2 miles from my house; however there is this unspoken expectation of coming in early leaving late (as the new girl) and not fully taking the whole hr lunch (more/less eating/working simultaneously).

I explained that I have no issues accommodating expectations, but will have to take the lunch time to walk my dogs if I come to work earlier/stay later as it would be unfair to make them "hold" it any longer.

My hours are 9-6. I got to work at 8:45 and left at 6:35 today, and left at 1:00-1:35 to take dogs for a short walk; as to not get the side eye for taking the whole lunch.

I just never went home mid day so I'm wondering to just go home, walk Luci and Linus quickly to get relief and turn around and walk back out - is that ok? There really isn't time to play, take long walk, etc. Mornings/evenings they always get 20 min+ walks.

Sorry so long. Just trying to get used to something I've never done before. For 5 yrs they've just "held it.". My dogs looked so confused as to why I came/went so fast.

Side note: a dog walker for me is not an option (for financially reasons).

[incognitotoday]

*financial

[sandollar1010]

Our walker comes over for about an hour 5 days a week. We have a large fenced in yard and she lets the 2 dogs out to play and take care of business. She brings one or two additional dogs over about 3 days a week to run and play in the yard too. I asked her to since it wears my pups out, plus the other dog owners love it too. A quick walk is better than having them hold it. They will get used to the new routine after a week or so, and they'll love that they get to see you for a break.

[roadstar]

MY H comes home at lunch to let the dogs out. He lets them run in the backyard for about 15 minutes then back in the house they go. They get a morning and an after work walk and know that lunch time is just a pee break. Your guys will get used to the new schedule pretty quickly.

[dirtyred]

I work 12 hour shifts, and when you take into account travel time, I'm gone for 14 hours and the dog has no trouble being continent. Perhaps you underestimate them.

You could try seeing how long they can go on the weekend if you don't want to risk an accident right now.

[darkling_glory]

My hubs comes home at lunch (it only takes him 3 minutes to get from work to home) and he stays for pretty much an hour. Dozer goes out for a pee and then hangs out with hubby while he eats lunch.

That said, he *can* hold it the whole day, though I hate making him do that. Hubby had jury duty yesterday and Dozer went all day just fine.

I think if all you can manage is an "out and pee" then that's more than enough on the days you have to work longer. It probably matters more to us than the dogs. Ha!

[mrsd2006]

When we had one dog, he held it all day- around ten hours. We got a puppy a few weeks ago so I have been coming home at lunch every day to let her out and feed her. I am usually home around 20 minutes, they go outside to pee/poop, have lunch, go back out to play a little bit. No walks.

I think 14 hours is too long without a potty break.

[jdbyogi]

Mine "hold it" for 9-10 hours week days, and I can usually call my neighbor to let them out if I'm going to be really late. After Heidi came to us, I came home daily to let them out, usually just 15-20 minutes. I think they liked getting a break to pee and run in the yard for a minute, but they are now so used to sleeping through the day that they may pee, then just lay down outside. Last summer I had great neighbors who worked an opposite schedule from me and they would let the girls out 1-2 times daily. They said that they might pee, but again, usually just laid around. Lazy dogs.