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Call me crazy, but before I leave for work, I workout, feed the dogs, give the dogs a very brief walk(30 minutes) and leave them with bones/toys and television until I come home, feed them and give them their longer walk(1 hr) for the day.
Do dogs really watch television? I know my fiance thinks I am nuts, but I leave it on Animal Planet for their amusement when I am not there! Any thoughts on this?
Location: Montreal -> CT -> MA -> Montreal -> Ottawa
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You're not crazy -- you're sweet.
I know that some dogs watch TV or at least enjoy the sounds. I've read it on this forum, although I don't remember which posters said their dogs watch TV.
Mine doesn't. I think he prefers to read, just like his Mama.
Keep turning the TV on when you leave. If they watch it, great. If they don't watch it, no harm. You're a good doggie-Mama.
You're not crazy..I do the same thing..when I leave for work, the tv goes on. Sydney definitely watches tv..so far I think his favorite movie is Shrek..he sat through almost the whole movie with his head cocked to the side staring at the screen, even started whimpering at the screen at one point.
You are absolutely not crazy, you are just trying to entertain them when you cannot stay home.
Not only the tv, but all other things you described show you are a great dog mom. My compliments.
With the advent of HDTV and high refresh rates, dogs can actually see what's happening on the screen.
So my older dog has no interest in tv (presumably because she couldn't see it when she was a pup and isn't the habit of watching), but my younger one clearly does watch.
In the beginning, she would see other dogs on tv, bark, jump off the couch, and run behind the big screen trying to find them. Her doing that exclusively with other dogs on the screen (sound or no sound) confirmed that she could see what was going on. She still ***** her head interestedly now when she sees them...or if she sees someone running. Lots of dialogue bores her.
I don't leave the tv on all day because of the electric bill - I hate wasting energy.
I think it is a great idea. Just think how quiet it becomes in your house when the power goes off - no TV, appliances humming, etc. You notice the difference so your dogs probably notice the difference when everyone leaves the house and it is quiet all day long.
I used to leave the TV on but now I leave the radio on for my 2 pups. I think it helps mask the other tenants' noises.
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Call me crazy, but before I leave for work, I workout, feed the dogs, give the dogs a very brief walk(30 minutes) and leave them with bones/toys and television until I come home, feed them and give them their longer walk(1 hr) for the day. 
