We typically leave Ruckus home alone for about 5 hours in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. One of us comes home during lunch to take him for a walk and spend some quality time playing with him. We tried a dog walker, but they just weren't taking him on the length of walks they promised (yet still charged the full price...) so he would be a little irritated or upset. While Ruckus loves it when someone comes home at lunch time, he would probably sleep all day if we didn't. He is normally asleep when we come in at lunch and after work. He loves to be awake and active when we're home, so he adopts our schedule and will even stay up late at night with us, then he sleeps all day and speckles in a little barking at the pigeons out back for fun. I will say, I'm overjoyed that he is done with his puppy chewing phase (he's 16 months old now) because for a long time it was like playing a guessing game as to whether or not he was an angel or chewed the couch while we were gone. Unless Dozer is acting out, he probably sleeps and lounges while you're gone.