Dog Community

What to do

Posted : 3/7/2006 9:34:25 AM

Okay, on Friday we are leaving for vacation and Riley will be staying with my sister and brother in law. I am not sure what to do about keeping Riley in his crate while she is gone. Since we are always home, Riley is rarely in his crate during the day unless we go somewhere. We have had him two months, and he is now pretty good about being quiet when he is in there. Also, he is only 5 months old, so we are still taking him out about every hour.

So, I am wondering what we should do with him while he is at my sisters since she may be gone for 8 hours while at work. She lets her dog roam in the house with all the doors shut, but I would prefer he not do that since I dont know how they will act together, and because he is still a baby and may have accidents all over the house. I was wondering if it would be better to keep in the crate while she is gone or to confine him to a room with some pee pads and his toys and crate.

If we do this will it interfere with his potty and crate training. My boyfriend thinks he needs to stay in the crate or it will ruin everything, but Im not sure. What does everyone suggest we do?

forpaws

Posted : 3/7/2006 9:39:04 AM

I agree with your b/f. In that keeping with the routine of crating when you are not there. It will not hurt him any and will only reinforce his potty training. Using a pee pad will break that cycle and give him the idea it is ok to potty inside the house.

Is there a way your sister or someone can come home for lunch to allow him to go out to do his business?

alicia quinones

Posted : 3/7/2006 9:41:23 AM

How long will you be gone on vacation? I definitely wouldn't let him roam the house especially with another dog loose. If it were me I would put him in the crate and just made sure that my sister knows to take him out often and a walk when she gets home to stretch out his legs. Hope this helps and have a fun and safe vacation.[

]

Tara M.

Posted : 3/7/2006 9:50:22 AM

We're leaving for 9 days. If he weren't in the crate he would still be confined to a room by himself. I know she cant come home on her lunch break, and her schedule is different everyday so he wouldnt always be home alone. I was just worrried about him being in there for 8 hours with a puppy bladder.

lalana reed

Posted : 3/7/2006 10:02:24 AM

What I have done is get a baby playpen and put the crate inside of it. Put a pad in the playpen outside of the crate. The puppy should come out of his crate to use the pad (I put two pads for that long of a day) and go back in the crate to sleep or play. He will still want to keep his crate clean and will be able to. That is the point of crate training, so it should not cause a set back (in my opinion).

probe1957

Posted : 3/7/2006 11:25:12 AM

Tara, I don't like the idea of expecting him to go 8 hours without a potty break. I know I wouldn't like to do that. Is it possible for you to board him? Frankly, it sounds to me like your sister, God bless her for being willing, just can't be a good dog sitter in this case.

Tara M.

Posted : 3/7/2006 1:54:43 PM

Well we were going to board him, but we thought he would be safer with someone we know, and we didnt want him to be in a crate all day. My sister takes night classes but her husband is home then, and I dont think it will be more than 1 or 2 days that she will be gone more than 8 hrs.

probe1957

Posted : 3/7/2006 3:26:00 PM

If money is no object, and it doesn't sound like it is, which would be better for Riley, boarding him or leaving him with your sister? Which would put you more at ease?

When we go out of town, we board Odie at a vet who does boarding. I like not having to worry about him. When I go on vacation, I don't want to have worry about anything, and I am willing to pay a little for that.

Tara M.

Posted : 3/7/2006 5:24:24 PM

Well, money is not an issue, but now it is too late to board him since many school districts have spring break the week we are going, so the respectable ones are booked up now.