Maui and Cali are left home alone for 3.5 hours Monday thru Friday while
I work. When I get home, they go outside and then eat some lunch. We play
and I am home with them for the rest of the day. On 2-3 afternoons I go to
work again and they are left alone for a few minutes (literally) before my
mom gets home from work. So, they are and have never been home alone more
than a few hours (kinda spoiled in that sense because my work schedule is
usually very flexible). On very rare occasions, they get left alone 5-6
hours. So, they really aren't use to being left alone for long hours.

In September, my work schedule will change and I will be gone from
8:30am to 3:30pm. I will not be able to come home at all in between to let
them out or feed them. I do not get a lunch break or any other break for
that matter. There's no one who could let them have a break in the day.
What can I do in the time I have before my schedule changes that will help
them adapt to the new schedule better? Usually when I am gone, they just
sleep. Will they still do that if it is so long and each day (M-F)? Will I
need to buy special toys or things to keep them entertained? I usually
don't let them have bones, rawhide, treats while I am gone. Are there any
really safe ones (like Kongs filled with frozen peanut butter)? So far, I
am thinking I should wake up a lot earlier so they can get some good
exercise before I leave. What can I do on days when that won't work as
well? Thanks for any help, this is all new territory for me as my work
schedule was always much more flexible then it is about to become.

~Jenny, Maui and Cali