What to do with puppy while at work...

[Jamilupine]

Okay, background:
Lucy is almost 6 months old. Crate trained. I have two cats. I live in an apartment.

New situation:
I'm working now 5 hours a day twice a week. The drive is, combined, an hour and a half. So - I'm gone from home for 6 1/2 hours a day twice a week.

Problem:
I feel HORRIBLE leaving her crated for that much time each day! It literally is breaking my heart and I've only done it once. She did not have an accident, I left a marrow bone for her, she seemed sleepy when I got home, so I suppose she slept for most of the day. But, I don't know if I can do this every week! I got up an hour early and she got an hour walk before I even got ready for work. She was awake about 2 1/2 hours before I left.

I don't want to leave her out in the house because:
I doubt she'd hold it that long
She'll bother the cats
She might bark at the cats and bother people
She might chew stuff up
I'm afraid she'll chew a power cord or something else dangerous and get hurt while I'm gone.

I thought about leaving the slider open (I have a PRETTY well secured back yard/patio thingy), but then I'm afraid she'll dig around in the back yard and find a way out....

What else can I do?! Any suggestions? A friend of mine in the town I commute TO offered to let me leave the dog with her boyfriend. I'd do this since I trust them and they have a dog, but Lucy's such a pain in the butt sometime's! Plus, what happens if the boyfriend wants to go out and do something while I'm working? Another woman I work with just got a puppy who's destroying her house, we were pondering the option of leaving the two of them together all day....but I just met this woman and I don't know how serious she was, and we'd have to make sure the dogs get along well enough as there is quite a size difference (hers is a lab) and she was concerned her dog might hurt mine. (I think they would be alright since they are both young, 6 and 4 months.)

I'm going to look into boarding agian, but last time I looked I really couldn't afford it. I'm thinking of asking about a student discount... or some type of volunteer program so that I can get the dog there twice a week and I could volunteer there a few hours a week....not that I need MORE to do, but I'd do it to get free/discounted doggy care and a chance to be around other dogs!

Any suggestions will be much appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[shandoggy1]

Do you have a doggy daycare anywhere around you? or a dog walker? I have a dog walker in my neighborhood that will come to your house and take your dog for a walk about an hour for $10-$15 dollars a day. Look for someone who is insured and has refferals though.

[Kade]

What about an ex-pen or a small, secure room?

As long as she can "hold it" as long as you're gone, I wouldn't worry. It's only twice a week. The cats are another presence, which is a comfort to her.

I would just try making sure she's had a nice long walk before you leave, and giving her a puzzle toy to work on before you leave. If she doesn't start showing signs of separation anxiety, it's all good.

Although doggie daycare is super fun for pups, so that would be great, if you have time to work. Or maybe find a starving student who would walk your dog for $5 or something... depending on whether you're close to any starving students.

As for leaving her with someone else, I don't know... I would feel iffy for the same reasons you do.

[mrsgrubby]

I know it is hard to leave her, but I think she is probably fine. I think you are really smart to walk her before you leave, and then crate her. You are right, she probably slept most of the time you were gone. I too believe it is safer in the crate, and it is only twice a week.
Just walk her in the morning and when you get home.

[kazkirkpatrick]

I agree with mrsgrubby, your baby will be fine in a crate while you are gone, and more than likely just sleep the entire time.

[Pugdawg1]

I side with sticking to the crate. Twice a week is not bad!! She'll be fine. I used to leave either a radio or tv on when I was crating Winston and working.

[Jamilupine]

Sounds like maybe I over react a little?! Thanks for the support.

[sharona1973]

Jami, I've always thought that you were doing a wonderful job with Lucy and I don't doubt that you'll make a great decision about her now that you have to work more. Personally I may be a bad mommie, but unfortunately I do work at least 8 hours a day and I have to leave Mocha in a crate for that period of time. I know that most people say that is too long and it probably is, but there is no other option unfortunately.

I think Mocha is okay.....he loves it when we are home, but even on "school nights" he sleeps and plays etc. I'm sure he loves the weekends when he can be out longer during the day.

I know Lucy has a great home environment and she will do just fine with you at work. Also since Lucy seems to be doing well with her potty training, how about putting her in a small bathroom with a baby gate and her crate....giving her a little more room to run around and yet give her the sense that that is her space so she won't end up peeing?

Is Lucy still ringing her bell everytime she wants to go out? I don't know if you read my post, but Mocha seems to not be ringing the bell for me, but for my SO! Oh well.....maybe he knows I'll always be on the lookout for him.

Good luck with Lucy. I know she'll do fine.

[Dopey]

I bet Lucy likes her time alone while you go to work! Everyone (including pets) needs their own quite time.


My husband & I both work for 8-9 hours a day. We are lucky as my husband works 5 minutes away so he can come home on his lunch break. I want him to set up a web cam on the crate so that while I am at work I can check in on Yoshi! (yes we are both geeks!)

[Jamilupine]

Sharona -
Thanks for the kind words, I appreciate them more than i can say!

Lucy didn't seem any different than normal today after I came home. I think I anticipated something worse behaviorally when I got home, but she just ran out into the livingroom with her bone and started working on it! (after a few kisses from me of course.) After about 5 minutes she went out to potty - all good I suppose! I tend to over react....

Edit to add:
Dopey - the picture of your Yoshi is WAY too cute!

[gilda25]

I recently got a 3-month old Malti Poo. My husband and I both work 8 hours a day but once we're home we keep an eye on his routine as far as timing how long after he eats or naps does he potty etc etc. And so far he's been pottying in the designated area in his pen.
However he does not have that supervision when we're at work. Everyone and everything i've read say to keep him in his pen all day (his crate is inside his pen) but i talked to a dog trainer and she said that leaving a 3-month old puppy for that long is just not right for the dog. It'll be traumatizing and i definitely dont want him associating his pen with isolation. Plus he cries a lot after about 10 minutes in his pen.
What should i do? People say its bad to let him wander the house, but keeping him locked up in his crate for that long doesnt sound right either? Please help!!

[Tiffany0204]

I have this problem as well, I wish I could stay home with Gizmo 24/7 but it's just not feasable for me.

I too find it mean to keep a dog in a crate for 8+ hours every day. What I did was blocked off my kitchen (it's small) with a baby gate. I have his crate in the kitchen, but the door is always open so he can come and go as he pleases.

I give him his toys, and he's got food and water, and the puppy pads if he has to go to the bathroom. It may not be the greatest setup, but he's still young (11weeks) and I can't expect him to hold his bladder/bowels for that long.

He noramlly sleeps in his crate and whatnnot. I also play with him ALOT before I go to work, and by the time I'm ready to leave he's normally already wanting to go in the kitchen and lay down.

it's not much, but I hope it helps.

[Jamilupine]

Yeah, it can be a little heart breaking to work huh?! I think, with a pup that young (3mo) you should leave them in a puppy proofed room...perhaps the pen, but I don't know how big that is or what the set up is like. Just make sure the area is safe. If you can get home on lunch breaks, that's ideal. On thrusdays I come home between classes (which adds about an hour to my daily drive) just to take Lucy out for a walk, some love, and dinner. Before I leave I always make sure lucy is walked and tired out. When I get home, I expect her to be hyper and in need of attention. I walk Lucy twice a day, about 45 minutes to an hour. Some days I substitue one of my walks with play time with other dogs at the park. Lucy, being a beagle, is very high energy, so this is important for her. Good luck!

[flyndog]

Jami, I definately wouldn't put a beagle out on her own in the back yard for fear of her digging out. I lost a beagle puppy that way (hit by a car) when I was about 6 years old.
I agree, she's safer in her crate and sounds like she will be more likely to sleep instead of vocalize.

[Jamilupine]

yeah, I hardly trust her out there when I'm here! I live in an apartment, and the patio/yard area has a space between the ground and the bottom of the wooden fence that is about a foot an a half - very easy for her to get out! So, some friends helped me put chicken wire up with wooden stakes every foot or so...not exactly bullet proof! I'm doing alright with the crate. It's hard to leave her when she gives me those puppy eyes, but since she's been sleeping outside the crate now, I don't feel so bad, she's only crated 6 hours a day this way, and only when I'm not around to watch her! I'd hate to have her hit by a car, or even just lost somewhere. Ugh.