Thanks so much for the responses! Today is Murph's third day home alone. The first two days have gone very well--no accidents at all! You're right...he's probably snoozing. We take him out at 6:45 am and then again at 7:45 am for a nice walk. Then right when we come home, after dinner, and before bed. But I can't shake this guilty feeling that I shouldn't leave him alone for nine hours. Apparently he can hold it, but is it hurting him? We could afford a dogwalker maybe twice a week...but would that "confuse his bladder"?

As soon as I get some emailable pics, I'll post them here! He really is a unique-looking little mutt...black and white, skinny, short-haired, with floppy ears and a long tail...and only 30 lbs, so he's small!