Dog Community

first time puppy owners

Posted : 8/22/2006 4:25:10 PM

Just wondering if anyone can offer advice at all. . . Myself and my partner are looking to buy a puppy (we've both grown up with dogs and other animals) and can't decide whether it'd be fair to leave him/her on their own throughout the day. We both start work at around 9am, and I would be back home for around 3pm, we would definitely have a dog flap so that he would be able to get outside to do his business etc.
Has anyone else here been away from home for a few hours throughout the day whilst leaving their puppy at home? And have you had a lot of bad experiences with furniture etc being chewed/damaged?

Any help/advice would be much appreciated.

Thank you,
Emma

jones

Posted : 8/22/2006 4:47:34 PM

With a puppy home 9-3, initially your biggest problem is going to be housetraining rather than destruction. Puppies can be crated to keep them out of mischief but an 8 week old puppy needs to pee about every 3 hrs while crated (more often when uncrated). Even with the dog flap to let him go do his business, he isn't going to know he's supposed to use it. Even the smartest puppy doesn't really have full bladder control until they're a few months old. It can take months to housetrain in the best of circumstances, so without you being there all day housetraining could be further delayed. I'm not saying this can't be done, but just outlining some of the challenges. If you're going to get a really young puppy you'll probably have to go with some sort of Xpen setup with a potty area in the pen, and as he gets older try to transition him off the indoor potty area.

If you looked for an older puppy, closer to a year, you would still have a lot of work to do - and a lot of puppyhood - but then at least the pup would be physically able to hold it through your workday.

Susan Chandler

Posted : 8/23/2006 8:39:36 AM

I agree with Jones. When we got Dottie as a 10 week old baby, even tho DH was home many times during the day with his work schedule and mine being a constant 8-5, we actually hired a doggie sitter. We would take her over to the sitter (just like a child) and drop her off. I have to say I went thru similar emotions as I did with my kids... but soon Dottie was looking forward to getting to her puppysitter every day! They enjoy the interaction and it is a good socialization tool. Have you considered looking into puppysitters? They probably have a couple around your area. Google "dog sitting" and see what you can find. It can be a little costly but no more or less than babysitting. Perhaps you know someone who would come over to your place and interact or let your pupper out for a little to relieve him/herself? Just a thought. Good luck!

Melaney B.

Posted : 8/23/2006 10:11:30 AM

Maybe you could consider getting an older dog from your local shelter, say, 1 or 2 yrs old. It will be able to hold it better throughout the day and be more mature compaired to a 8 wk old puppy! You could check out petfinder and have it serch for "young" dogs.