Dog owners who also work full-time could be counting the cost if they wish to have their pet well looked after.
Many families welcomed dogs into their homes during the lockdowns but with the world opening back up and people returning to work, people are dubious about leaving their pups home alone.
They need a lot of looking after, you need to feed them, walk them, clean up after them and of course shower them with love.
But who can do all this if you need to leave the house for work?
One option is putting enrolling them in doggy day care but it comes at a cost.
Admiral Pet Insurance claims that the average yearly cost of putting your dog in day care is around £3,456 per year - but this depends on where you live.
This would only cover you using the services just three times a week, meaning it would set you back £288 per month.
If you live in London you could find yourself spending £225 per week on day care for your dog if you work and use the service full-time. That’s a whopping £11,700 over the span of a year.
A cheaper option is getting a dog walker, which would cost you £17 per day for an hour-long walk if you live in the capital. However, it’s still expensive in comparison to someone in Glasgow, where it would cost just £10.33 - which is much more affordable.
Below is a breakdown of how much day care and dog walking costs across different UK cities.
However, if leaving your dog in day care or a walker is not a luxury you can afford here’s some top tips on dealing with separation anxiety from pet behaviour expert and TV presenter, Leon Towers.
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Don’t let your puppy follow you around everywhere in the home as this could potentially create a dog who is unable to cope when they can’t see you.
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Try crate training a dog as this provides a safe space for a dog where they feel most secure when left alone.
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Practise leaving the house without your dog and don’t make a fuss when you leave the house as this can feed a dog’s anxiety.
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When you leave your dog alone, leave them with a suitable chew toy to keep them occupied.
Leon also advises planning any doggy day care in advance, he said: “Visit your chosen doggy day care provider before booking and ensure it is insured and that the staff are all trained in dog behaviour and first aid.
"A good day care facility should have access to a large open space indoors OR outdoors (or both) for a dog to run around, have fresh water available and resting facility with clean beds and bedding.”
Leon adds “If a dog is staying at home alone for more than five hours a day, then it should be taken for a one-hour dog walk by a dog walker to split the day.
"When leaving your dog alone, ensure that they have enough fresh drinking water, comfortable bedding and a calm smaller room to make them feel as safe as possible. The more space that a dog has to pace, the more stressful the area will become.”
