Leaving her alone....

    • Gold Top Dog

    Leaving her alone....

    I currently work midnights and DH works days (at the same place).  I have a possible chance to go to days, and DH wants me to do it.  However, I am worried about Sally.  She sleeps most of the day anyway, but this means that she would be in a crate for a little over 8 hours.
     
    What I could do is make her a frozen treat ball full of her breakfast the night before, take her for a walk in the mornings, and give her the treatball right before we leave and hope she sleeps the rest of the day.  Plus, she would get a long walk when we got home.
     
    I just worry about her.  Is this too long for her to be crated?  I can't do doggie daycare because she is a bully breed.  She's been crated that long before, but not for a while.
     
    I really could use some help and imput....[:(]
    • Gold Top Dog
    How old is she?  You could try leaving her free in the house and see how that goes... maybe go to a movie or something and if she does good then try it for a day while your at work. 
     
    If you just want to crate her I dont know really I guess it depends on how she deals with being in her crate.  If she doesnt mind it then go ahead.  But I do know a lot of people who work long days evetually graduate their dogs to being free in the house instead.
    • Gold Top Dog
    She's 2 yrs.  The only time she gets upset in her crate is if we put her in it and keep going in and out of the apartment, then she will yelp for a minute or two, but if we just put her in and leave, she seems to be fine.  I do not feel comfortable leaving her in the house loose, and I don't think she likes it either.  If we put her in the crate to take out the garbage, she is OK.  If we leave her loose, she has actually torn apart a set of blinds in an effort to see out the front window.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I think she will be OK.  I would start desensitizing her to it now though if you are worried about it.  I crate Izzy every day while we are at work.  Harley gets to stay out but I used to crate him too when he was younger and less trust worthy.  I think the Frozen treat ball is a good idea.  I give Izzy her breakfast first thing in the morning and then give her a treat ball with a few small treats when she gets into her crate.  As soon as I pull out a treat she now runs to her crate.  She knows the drill and doesn't seem to mind it.  I think Sally will adjust just fine.  I would also put some toys that she can play with unsupervised in case she gets bored.
     
    Is there any chance someone can come home or a neighbor can let her out at lunch time?  That might ease some of your worries, but if not, I am sure she will be fine.  Even when I come home in the middle of the day, there are a lot of times Harley won't go out.   
    • Gold Top Dog
    Until Tonka was about 5, DH and I worked full-time, days.  Tonka had a HUGE crate that was 4 feet high, 5 feet long (big enough that he could stand fully upright, lie down on his side, etc.).  We had a special cushion that fit in it, and blankets depending on the season.  It also had a big water bottle that was strapped to it (a big version of the hamster kind). 
     
    We could leave Tonka loose in the house and he wouldn't bother anything, but we worried about him hurting himself.  We had a large window that was nearly floor to ceiling, and it was right at the front door.  He would bound straight at it if he saw someone unfamiliar outside or if a delivery person came right up to it.  For his own safety (we had visions of him accidentally breaking through the glass), we crated him during the day (for some reason, at night, with curtains drawn, he didn't go near the window).
     
    We left a radio on for him, and lights were on timers during the winter months so he'd not be in the dark at 4PM.  We never had a problem with his bladder (he could go 9 hours or so overnight without asking to go out).  He liked his crate - and would go in there on his own when he saw me get me keys and my coat in the morning.  We always gave him treats upon going in, so that helped.
     
    All that being said, we felt terrible about the arrangement, and as he aged and had more health issues, I cut back to half-days so he was only crated for 4-5 hours.  I know he was given loads of love and attention every other hour of the day when we were home, but it's still one of the many things that I regret now that he's gone.   I wish he could've enjoyed more freedom.  BUT, I know lots of people who crate their dogs for hours on end, only letting them out for meals and exercise, or short breaks when the family is home.  Otherwise, they're crated.  So, I guess we weren't that bad.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Zoe gets left that long some days... depends on what time my bf leaves in the morning.  MANY people leave their dogs that long.  We tried leaving Zoe out, but she wouldn't eat, play or anything, just slept.  Also, we tried a bigger crate and she ended up hating that.  We went back to the smaller crate and she is happy as can be and goes in no problem.  She eats before we put her in and just sleeps in there.  Make sure if you give Sally her breakfast in there, that she won't need to go potty soon after, when you'll be unable to let her out.  Also, that she will eat in her crate... Zoe won't.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I've left Rory alone that long but she was gated off in the kitchen and had more space, is something like that possible for you?
    The walks would have to be your number one priority since she would be waking up from a full nights rest but kudos to you for caring about your dog the proper way. So many people wouldnt even consider the dog's needs over their own, I knew you were a great mom, ha ha!
    You know as well as I do that this breed can get a lil stir crazy, its not unheard of, I think you know whats best for your girl!
    • Gold Top Dog
    Boomer won't eat in his crate either. Every morning I throw a couple of treats in there and every evening after he comes out and does his stretching routine he goes right back in and brings his treats out to eat.