The Walking ClubShort answer: for most healthy adult dogs, about four hours is the longest a routine stretch alone should run, and plenty of dogs need less. Puppies, seniors, and dogs who panic when you leave need far shorter stretches.
PDSA says four hours is the longest dogs should routinely be left alone, and adds that every dog is different. Age and what a dog is used to both matter. A very active young puppy cannot manage four hours. A dog who has never practiced being alone may struggle after ten minutes. For more on this, see Dog Barks When You Leave.
Dogs are social animals. Being comfortable alone is something they learn in small steps, not something they are born knowing. PDSA describes the same pattern for puppies: step away, come back while your puppy is still calm, reward, then slowly lengthen the gap. First inside the house, then out the door.
Keep arrivals and departures quiet. A calm coming and going teaches your dog that it is normal and nothing to get worked up about.
If your dog barks, paces, drools, or tries to escape within minutes of you leaving, this is not a matter of hours. That can be real distress, and the number of hours you can leave them is whatever they can handle without panic, which may be very short. Do not use a camera to test how long they last. Each panicked stretch is practice at panicking. Start from the length of time they stay calm and build in small steps. If it looks like panic, ask your vet to check for a health cause and ask for a referral to a qualified behavior professional.
If your workday is longer than your dog can handle, plan the gap before it becomes a problem: a midday visit from a trusted walker or sitter, a family member, or a day with a friend. Give a toilet break and a short, calm sniff before you leave, and leave something to do that is not exciting enough to wind them up.
If you are leaving a young puppy, a senior, or a dog with a health condition, ask your vet how long they can safely wait for a toilet break. Panic when you leave is a case for a qualified behavior professional.
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