Keeping a dog in a room

Question
Dear Sir(s):

I need some advice. I have a dog which is a part rottweiler and part shepherd. I have to work sometimes for 6 - 8 hours. Sometimes I take the dog to work with me because I can tie her out however, sometimes I have to keep the dog at home. I have to put her in a small room in my basement.
I feel so badly about having to put her in the basement and not have her run around the yard. I cannot put her in the yard when I am gone because I don't want anything to happen when I am gone. However, I don't know if it the right thing to put her in a room alone by herself. Please let me know.

Thank you,

J.Lorenzo

Answer
Hi Joanne,

Thanks for writing to me about your Rottie/Shepherd mix.

When we bring a dog into our busy lives we often run into dilemas such as you've described.  We want the best for our dogs but don't always know how to fit them into our busy schedules.

Is there any chance that you could build a fence in the yard for your dog?  That way she could roam and no one could come in and do harm to her.  The best kind would be a 6 ft stockade fence.  It wouldn't even have to be that large, just enough for her to walk around and relax in the shade when the sun is strong. She would of course need shelter in the form of a dog house.

Another possibility would be doggie daycare.

Is there some reason that she is forced into a small room in the basement?  Why can't she be in the main part of the house, say your bedroom?

What about finding a senior citizen that would love to have her company during the daytime?

Try to think of alternatives for her as she must be terribly lonely and feeling isolated, bored and unwanted with the present situation. Dogs are pack animals and they suffer when removed from the pack, especially to a small room in the basement.  There must be a better solution.

Best of luck,
Shelley Davis