Swedish dog owner questions Americans who work full-time and leave their pets alone at home

Dogs are not just pets—they are soul companions, best friends and above all, they are family. But when left alone for hours, these furballs often feel lonely, anxious and even depressed. Needless to say, since their world revolves around their owners, being separated for a long time can leave them feeling abandoned and uncertain. A Swedish dog owner, Freya (@yakutianfreya), highlighted this profound truth through a viral TikTok video, questioning how Americans manage owning dogs while working full-time and leaving their pets home alone.

In the viral video featuring their adorable Husky on a stroll, the Swedish dog owner posed a thought-provoking question: "Are American dog owners doing alright?" The text overlay continued, "Several of them told me that leaving a dog alone for 12 hours daily while they're at work is perfectly fine." The individual seemed concerned and highlighted a stark cultural difference in how dogs are treated in different parts of the world. While some may view long hours of solitude as acceptable and not stressful, others worry about the emotional and physical well-being of dogs left alone for such long stretches.

"I am beyond shocked by this," the dog owner said. "In Sweden, for example, it's illegal to leave a dog alone for more than six hours." Notably, Sweden is known for its strict animal welfare laws. Pet owners there must walk their dogs at least once every six hours and provide proper food, water and living conditions. Tethering a dog for more than an hour is also prohibited. These regulations aim to protect animals from neglect, disease and unnecessary suffering, with regular health checks and preventive care being standard practice.

"Obviously people from other countries claim this too it's just people from the US I have talked to," the individual captioned the TikTok video. It quickly gained popularity online and received an overwhelming response on the platform. The video also resonated with many dog owners who shared how they treat their dogs. For instance, @caaceli wrote, "12 hours? I have someone walking my dogs​ when I go to work, a minimum of three walks a day. No crating, illegal in Finland." @benjiandollie0 commented, "I posted asking people how long they leave dogs in the UK and got a lot of abuse from people who think 12 hours is fine."

@cassidi300 wrote, "I think my dog would rather sleep for the eight-ten hours I’m gone in a comfy house with her toys and food than be in a shelter scared." @soxsappho commented, "I was shocked when US people said they walk their dogs once or twice a week, because 'He pulls too much, it's exhausting.' Of course, he does! You don't exercise him." Meanwhile, @silva_usva wrote, "My dog is alone from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm maximum. So nine hours of course I can also work remotely so that helps and he gets lots of cuddles and love after my workday and on the weekends." @lostandstray commented, "I'm in Australia and I have a dog who is crated at maximum up to eight-ten hours a day for two days a week because of work, she always gets walks and training before and after going into the crate."

You can follow Freya(@yakutianfreya) on TikTok for more dog-related videos.