How long can I leave my dog alone during the day?

PDSA advises not leaving most adult dogs for much longer than four hours at a time, and the RSPCA says never long enough for a dog to become distressed. In Indian summers, with heat and power cuts, plan for less, and arrange a dog walker or a drop-in visit to break up a long working day.

Can I leave my dog alone overnight?

No welfare body recommends it. Most dogs need a toilet break and food after about four hours, and a night alone means many hours with no one to notice a problem, a power cut or a frightened dog. For a night away, arrange an overnight sitter in your home or a stay in a trusted sitter's home.

Can I leave my dog alone for a week with an automatic feeder?

No. A feeder only handles food. Most dogs need one to two walks a day, toilet breaks every few hours and company, and the Animal Welfare Board of India says stopping a pet's toilet breaks and exercise is a part of an offence. For a week away, a sitter staying in your home is the usual answer.

Is a sitter or boarding better for my dog?

For most dogs, staying at home with a sitter is gentler because the home, smells and routine stay the same; the RSPCA says someone staying in your home usually works best. A sociable dog that copes well with change can do well in a sitter's home, especially on long trips. Visit any home before you choose.

How many walks does a sitter give my dog?

As many as your dog's plan says. PDSA says most dogs need at least one to two walks a day, and some breeds need one to two hours of exercise a day or more. In hot weather, walks happen only in the cooler hours at the start and end of the day, with water carried.

What does a sitter do in a heatwave?

Walks move to early morning and after sunset, water goes in shaded, stable bowls in two places, and the dog rests in the coolest room with fans on the inverter. If the dog pants heavily, drools or wobbles, the sitter cools it with cool tap water and calls the nearest vet straight away.

What happens if my dog falls ill while I am away?

A Petym sitter will call you and take your dog to the nearest 24-hour vet on the city's list. Every Petym sitter has pet first-aid training and a named 24-hour vet within reach before their first booking, and gives medicines only as you and your vet have written them in the plan.

Will my dog be scared of Diwali crackers without me?

Many dogs are scared with or without their owner. PDSA advises walking while it is still light, being home before dark, closing curtains, leaving lights on, playing background music and never punishing fear. Tell your sitter how your dog reacts, and ask your vet well before Diwali if the fear is severe.

What should my sitter know about ticks?

Indian studies found ticks on dogs most often in the monsoon months, but present all year. Write the date of the next tick prevention in the plan, and ask the sitter to check the head, neck, ears and under the tail after walks. Dullness, fever or not eating after a tick needs a vet the same day.

Pet care 16 min read

Caring for your dog while you are away

Updated October 2026By PetymFacts checked against official sources on 21 October 2026

Quick answer

Most adult dogs should not be left alone for much longer than four hours at a time, according to PDSA, and the RSPCA says never long enough for a dog to become distressed. In an Indian summer, with power cuts and hot flats, plan for less, and arrange a walker, visits or a sitter beyond that.

For anything longer than a working day, someone has to walk, feed and keep your dog company. For a night or more away, a sitter who stays in your home keeps your dog's own routine; for very long trips, a sociable dog can stay in a sitter's home instead.

Find a sitter for your dog

Meet your sitter first, free
PAN-checked, first-aid trained
A photo every day
Pay through Petym, never cash

Which sitter suits your trip with a dog?

From a day out to a fortnight away, the service that fits and why.

1 day
Dog walking
A midday walk breaks up a long day, so your dog is not alone much past the four hours PDSA suggests.
A weekend
Overnight pet sitting
Two nights is far too long for a dog to be alone, so a sitter who stays keeps the evening and morning walks on time.
4 days
Overnight pet sitting
Your dog stays in its own home and routine, with a sitter there overnight and a photo update every day.
1 week
Overnight pet sitting
A week is long enough for a change of home to unsettle many dogs, so keeping them at home with a sitter is usually gentler.
2 weeks or more
Pet boarding in a sitter's home
For a long trip, a sociable dog can live with a sitter whose home Petym has walked through on video and who has the society's permission to host.

What does a dog need every day?

A healthy adult dog's daily needs, and what a sitter covers
What	The rule	Source
Food	Adult dogs over 12 months eat one or two meals a day of adult food. A sitter feeds the same food, at the same times, in the amounts you write down.	Merck Veterinary Manual
Water	Clean, fresh water, topped up through the day, in shaded bowls that cannot easily be tipped over. On hot days a wide earthen pot or a heavy steel bowl suits.	Animal Welfare Board of India
Walks	Most dogs need at least one to two walks a day, unless your vet says otherwise. Some breeds need at least one to two hours of exercise a day, and working breeds need much more.	PDSA
Walk timing	In hot weather, exercise only in the cooler hours at the start and end of the day, and carry water on walks.	PDSA
Toilet	After about four hours on their own, many dogs are getting hungry or need a toilet break.	PDSA
Toilet and the law	The Animal Welfare Board of India says most pets have small bladders not made to hold urine and faeces for long, and that stopping a pet's toilet breaks and exercise is a part of an offence.	Animal Welfare Board of India
Company	Dogs are sociable and enjoy company: they need enough time with people or other animals so they do not get lonely or bored.	RSPCA
Coat and tick check	Some ticks feed mainly on the head, neck and shoulders; others prefer the ears, around the anus and under the tail. A sitter runs hands over these spots after walks.	Merck Veterinary Manual

How long can a dog be left alone?

For a healthy adult dog, about four hours at a time is the limit UK welfare charities give. Age, health, breed and the weather in your city can make that shorter.

PDSA advises avoiding leaving a dog for more than four hours at a time, and its vets add that how long a dog copes depends on its personality, its usual routine and its home. The RSPCA does not give a number: it says never to leave a dog alone long enough for it to become distressed. Those are guides for a normal day, not for a trip. No welfare body suggests leaving a dog alone overnight.

In India, the heat changes the answer. A closed flat on a top floor can get very hot by afternoon, and a power cut stops the fan or cooler. A dog that copes with four hours in December may not cope with four hours in May. Petym's advice: in the hot months, shorten time alone, leave the dog in the coolest room with water in two places, and do not rely on an air-conditioner that will stop when the power goes.

How long alone, by dog (a guide, not a rule; your vet knows your dog)
What	The rule	Source
Healthy adult dog	Not much longer than four hours at a time.	PDSA
Puppy	Much shorter. Puppies need taking outside several times a day while they learn where to go.	Merck Veterinary Manual
Older dog	Shorter. Older dogs may need the toilet more often and should have regular access to their toilet area.	RSPCA
Dog with separation problems	Not alone until a vet or behaviourist has a plan. Separation-related problems are extremely common.	PDSA
Flat-faced, overweight, giant or thick-coated dog in summer	These dogs, with very old and very young dogs, are most at risk of heatstroke: keep them cool and never alone in the heat without a plan.	PDSA
Any dog on a heatwave day	IMD declares a heatwave on the plains when the maximum reaches at least 40 °C and is 4.5 °C or more above normal, or 45 °C or more outright.	India Meteorological Department

Can I leave my dog alone for a weekend with an automatic feeder?

No. A feeder deals with food, which is the smallest part of a dog's day. Walks, toilet breaks, water, company and someone noticing a problem matter more.

You may have read
An automatic feeder and a full water bowl will see my dog through two nights.
Myth
What the sources say
After about four hours alone many dogs need a toilet break, and most dogs need one to two walks a day. A feeder cannot do either. PDSA
You may have read
A camera means someone is keeping an eye on my dog.
Myth
What the sources say
A camera shows you a problem but cannot open a door, refill a tipped bowl, or take a dog to the vet. Someone still has to be in the home or within reach. (Petym's advice.)
You may have read
A dog that barks or chews when alone is being naughty.
Myth
What the sources say
Barking, howling, chewing, drooling, panting and toileting indoors are signs of separation anxiety, not bad manners. Contact your vet if you think your dog has it. PDSA
You may have read
Indie dogs are tough and do not mind being left.
Myth
What the sources say
All dogs are sociable animals who enjoy company and need chances to spend time with people or other animals. Being native to India does not change that. RSPCA

What are the signs of stress while you are away, and how does a sitter handle them?

Most dogs settle within a day or two with a calm sitter and their normal routine. Some show stress, and a good sitter notices early and tells you.

PDSA lists these as signs of separation anxiety. A dog missing its owner on a trip can show a milder version, often worst on the first evening and at the times you usually come home. A sitter keeps meals and walks to your times, keeps arrivals and departures low-key, and gives the dog something to do, such as a feeding puzzle, before leaving it even for a short while.

A Petym sitter will log meals, walks and toilet in your dog's plan as they happen, and send a photo update every day, so you can see how your dog is eating and settling. If a dog stops eating for more than a meal or two, or is distressed, the sitter calls you first, and calls your vet if you agree or cannot be reached. Contact your vet if you think your dog has separation anxiety: the best help is a professional plan, and recovery takes time.

Barking, whining or howling, especially at the door you left by.
Peeing or pooing in the house when the dog is normally clean.
Chewing, ripping, biting or digging at doors, cushions and furniture.
Panting, trembling or heavy drooling when nothing is hot or frightening.
Low energy and looking depressed. Most dogs in distress will not eat or play with toys.

What health problems should a dog sitter watch for?

These are the problems that are most likely, or most dangerous, while a dog is in someone else's care in India. For any of them, the sitter calls the vet and then the owner. A sitter never gives medicine that is not in the plan.

If Heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, foaming at the mouth, weakness, wobbliness or collapse in the heat.
Move the dog to shade or a cool room, gently pour cool tap water over the whole body away from the nose and mouth, create airflow, and call the nearest vet straight away. PDSA
If Signs of heat stress on a hot day: excessive panting, lethargy, drooling, a rapid heartbeat.
Seek a vet at once if a dog shows distress. Dehydration, heatstroke and burns from hot surfaces are the heat illnesses the Animal Welfare Board of India warns about. Animal Welfare Board of India
If Bloat (gastric dilatation and volvulus): retching that brings nothing up, drooling, restlessness, a swelling belly. Large and giant deep-chested breeds are most at risk.
This needs immediate treatment. Go to the 24-hour vet now and call the owner on the way. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Tick fever: babesiosis is spread by ticks, and its first signs are lethargy, weakness, low mood and fever, followed by loss of appetite, anaemia and jaundice. Ticks also spread ehrlichiosis.
Note any tick found and where. If the dog is dull, off food or feverish, call the vet the same day. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Leptospirosis after floodwater: lethargy, vomiting, yellow gums or eyes, drinking or peeing much more or less than usual.
Call the vet urgently. Wear gloves to clean up urine, because leptospirosis can spread to people. Merck Veterinary Manual
If Noise phobia at Diwali or a wedding: hiding, trembling, trying to escape, not eating.
Keep the dog indoors with curtains shut and lights on, keep it on a lead outside, never punish fear, and call the owner if the dog is not settling. PDSA
If Separation distress that does not ease: not eating, constant howling, damage to doors or self-injury.
Call the owner, and the vet if the dog is not eating or is hurting itself. PDSA

What should a sitter know about Indian heat, monsoon and festivals?

India's seasons shape a dog's day more than any rule of thumb. Write your city's season into the plan.

Summer. IMD declares a heatwave on the plains when the maximum temperature reaches at least 40 °C, and on the coast when it reaches 37 °C and is well above normal. The Animal Welfare Board of India asks everyone in charge of an animal for shade all day and fresh water topped up in stable bowls, and reminds owners that under Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the person in charge of an animal must take all reasonable measures for its well-being. That duty sits with your sitter while you are away. Petym's advice: walks before about 8 am and after sunset in summer, a hand on the road surface before setting off, and no fetch games at midday.

Power cuts and flats. Tell the sitter where the inverter or the backup switch is, which fans run on it, and which room stays coolest. In a high-rise, note whether the dog uses the service lift, the rules your housing society has on lifts and common areas, and where in the compound dogs may relieve themselves.

Monsoon. Studies of dogs in Chennai, Bhubaneswar and Tripura found ticks most often in the monsoon months, although ticks were present all year, so keep tick prevention going and write its next due date in the plan. Leptospirosis spreads through the urine of infected animals such as rats, so a sitter steers clear of floodwater and puddles where possible and dries paws, ears and skin folds after wet walks.

Diwali and fireworks. PDSA advises walking while it is still light and being home well before dark, closing curtains and leaving lights on to hide flashes, playing background music, keeping the dog on a lead outdoors and never letting it out alone during fireworks season. Check that the microchip and tag details are up to date before you leave, and ask your vet well before Diwali if your dog's fear is severe.

What should you leave for your dog's sitter?

The RSPCA's list starts with your vet's name and number, an emergency contact and your dog's usual routine. In India, add the things that let a sitter actually get in, out and to a vet at night.

Your vet's name and number, and an emergency contact other than you. RSPCA
Your dog's usual routine written out, with the importance of sticking to it: meal times, walk times, bedtime. RSPCA
The vaccination card, showing the DHPPi and rabies dates, and the deworming and tick prevention dates.
The nearest 24-hour vet and how to get there at night. A Petym sitter has a named 24-hour vet within reach before listing.
Enough of your dog's usual food for the whole trip plus a few days, the measuring cup, and the treats allowed.
Any medicine in its original box, with the vet's written instructions. A sitter gives it exactly as written and logs each one.
The society gate pass or a note to security, and the watchman's number.
Who else has keys: the maid, cook or driver, their days and times, and whether they may open the door to the dog.
Where the inverter or backup switch is, and which fans and lights run on it.
Lead, harness, collar with an ID tag, poop bags, towels for monsoon walks.
Where your dog is allowed to go: sofas, beds, balcony, terrace, the society garden.
Anything your dog fears or guards: crackers, the pressure cooker whistle, other dogs, a favourite toy.

What does a sitter's day with your dog look like?

Petym’s working from the official rules, no government publishes a total.

An example of a summer day with an overnight sitter, built from the care rules above. Your dog's plan sets the real times.

6:00 am
First toilet break and the long walk of the day, before the roads heat up. Check paws, ears and coat for ticks on return.
7:30 am
Breakfast in the usual bowl and amount, any morning medicine as written, fresh water in two bowls.
9:00 am
Photo update to the owner, and meals, walk and medicine logged in the plan.
Midday
A short toilet break in shade, then a feeding puzzle or snuffle mat indoors in the coolest room.
Afternoon
Rest. Fans or cooler on, curtains drawn on the sunny side, water topped up. If the power goes, the sitter switches to the inverter fans.
After sunset
Second walk, and dinner at the usual time.
Night
Last toilet break, doors and windows checked, the sitter sleeps in the home.

What are your options while you are away?

The right care depends mostly on how long you are away and how your dog copes with change. The trip table on this page gives Petym's pick for each length of trip.

A few hours
A dog walker
A walk in the middle of a long day, so time alone stays near the four-hour guide.
A day
Drop-in visits
Short visits for food, water, a toilet break and company. Fine for a day, not a substitute for someone at night.
Nights away
An overnight sitter
Someone staying in your home usually works best, the RSPCA says, because the dog keeps its own home and routine. RSPCA
Long trips
Boarding in a sitter's home
A dog that enjoys company and copes with change can stay in a sitter's home. Visit before you choose, as the RSPCA advises. RSPCA
Family help
A friend or neighbour
Works when they can really come several times a day and know what to do in an emergency.

How do you prepare your dog before you leave?

Most of the work is done the week before. These are the habits that make the first night easier.

Do

Book a meet and greet, free with Petym, and walk your dog together with the sitter so the dog sees you trust them.
Keep departures and returns calm and low-key in the days before, so leaving is not a big event. PDSA
Check the microchip and tag details are up to date, especially before Diwali. PDSA
Write the plan: food, walks, medicines, fears, the vet, the society rules. The sitter follows it as written.
Top up tick prevention and deworming if they fall due while you are away, and note it on the plan.

Don’t

Do not switch food in the week before you go: a new diet and a new carer together can upset a dog's stomach. (Petym's advice.)
Do not punish a frightened dog, before or after the trip. It only scares them more. PDSA
Do not leave a dog outside alone during fireworks season; frightened dogs often bolt. PDSA
Do not leave a dog shut in for a day or more with no one coming. Stopping a dog's toilet breaks and exercise is a part of an offence, the Animal Welfare Board of India says. Animal Welfare Board of India

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Going away soon? Tell us your dates.

A checked local sitter feeds, walks and keeps your pet company at home, follows your care sheet to the letter and sends a photo every day. Petym is opening city by city: send your dates and we will tell you when a sitter can take them.

Find a sitter for your dog How it works

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A photo every day
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Questions owners ask

How long can I leave my dog alone during the day?: PDSA advises not leaving most adult dogs for much longer than four hours at a time, and the RSPCA says never long enough for a dog to become distressed. In Indian summers, with heat and power cuts, plan for less, and arrange a dog walker or a drop-in visit to break up a long working day.
Can I leave my dog alone overnight?: No welfare body recommends it. Most dogs need a toilet break and food after about four hours, and a night alone means many hours with no one to notice a problem, a power cut or a frightened dog. For a night away, arrange an overnight sitter in your home or a stay in a trusted sitter's home.
Can I leave my dog alone for a week with an automatic feeder?: No. A feeder only handles food. Most dogs need one to two walks a day, toilet breaks every few hours and company, and the Animal Welfare Board of India says stopping a pet's toilet breaks and exercise is a part of an offence. For a week away, a sitter staying in your home is the usual answer.
Is a sitter or boarding better for my dog?: For most dogs, staying at home with a sitter is gentler because the home, smells and routine stay the same; the RSPCA says someone staying in your home usually works best. A sociable dog that copes well with change can do well in a sitter's home, especially on long trips. Visit any home before you choose.
How many walks does a sitter give my dog?: As many as your dog's plan says. PDSA says most dogs need at least one to two walks a day, and some breeds need one to two hours of exercise a day or more. In hot weather, walks happen only in the cooler hours at the start and end of the day, with water carried.
What does a sitter do in a heatwave?: Walks move to early morning and after sunset, water goes in shaded, stable bowls in two places, and the dog rests in the coolest room with fans on the inverter. If the dog pants heavily, drools or wobbles, the sitter cools it with cool tap water and calls the nearest vet straight away.
What happens if my dog falls ill while I am away?: A Petym sitter will call you and take your dog to the nearest 24-hour vet on the city's list. Every Petym sitter has pet first-aid training and a named 24-hour vet within reach before their first booking, and gives medicines only as you and your vet have written them in the plan.
Will my dog be scared of Diwali crackers without me?: Many dogs are scared with or without their owner. PDSA advises walking while it is still light, being home before dark, closing curtains, leaving lights on, playing background music and never punishing fear. Tell your sitter how your dog reacts, and ask your vet well before Diwali if the fear is severe.
What should my sitter know about ticks?: Indian studies found ticks on dogs most often in the monsoon months, but present all year. Write the date of the next tick prevention in the plan, and ask the sitter to check the head, neck, ears and under the tail after walks. Dullness, fever or not eating after a tick needs a vet the same day.

Keep reading

How long can you leave a dog alone?
Leaving your dog for a week
What to leave for your pet sitter
Separation anxiety in dogs
Heatstroke in dogsSigns, first aid and prevention.
Ticks and tick fever
Diwali and fireworks
Pet sitter or boarding?

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Sources

Each source was opened and read on the date shown. How Petym checks its sources

PDSA: How to help your dog be comfortable with time alone (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Vet Q&A: How can I make sure my dog is safe and secure? (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Dog companionship (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Exploring pet sitting options (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Separation anxiety in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: How much exercise does your dog need? (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026

Show all 20 sourcesShow fewer

Animal Welfare Board of India: Circular and guidelines for pet owners (1 June 2020) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Animal Welfare Board of India: Request to ensure care and protection of animals from direct heat during extreme hot weather (4 May 2026) (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
India Meteorological Department: FAQ on heat wave (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Heatstroke in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
PDSA: Dogs and fireworks (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Leptospirosis in dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Babesiosis in animals (opens in a new tab)checked 17 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Ticks of dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Puppy care (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
RSPCA: Caring for older dogs (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Merck Veterinary Manual: Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals (opens in a new tab)checked 21 October 2026
Journal of Veterinary Parasitology (2016), Madras Veterinary College: Prevalence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus on dogs in Chennai (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 17 October 2026
Veterinary World (2013): Prevalence of tick infestation in dogs in and around Bhubaneswar (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 17 October 2026
Indian Journal of Animal Sciences (2024): Prevalence and molecular characterization of ticks infesting dogs in Agartala, Tripura (abstract read) (opens in a new tab)Peer-reviewed study · checked 17 October 2026