Hello, we’re going to pick up our first puppy in 3 weeks and have a question about where to place the puppy pen. We’ve only ever adopted previously so our dogs have always had full run of the house from day 1 but I can’t do that with an 8 week pup. My husband and I alternate working from home which is great for company for our dogs, but means we can’t supervise 24/7 so for when working so we’ve bought a puppy pen for the first few months. Should the puppy pen be next to my office so she can see and hear me? I don’t want to create separation anxiety in her, so if we had this set up and just had brief periods where I left for a couple of minutes would that be ok? Alternatively I can put the pen in the living room but that’s away from my office and she wouldn’t be able to see me at all. Thanks
Welcome to you. You need to very gradually build up the time that the pup is in the pen during the day. Whether it’s in the same room or not. Start with a minute or two with a little soaked food in a Kong so that staying alone is a pleasant experience for her. Pups don’t play alone, they play with people or with other dogs so you will need to interact a lot with your pup during the day for the first few months. Carrying her to the outside world for outside for socialising. Toilet training, playing and training. Don’t expect to get much work done! I have a puppy every year (I raise pups for Guide Dogs) and I only expect to get anything done while the pup is asleep for the first few weeks. Here is are two really good articles - https://www.thelabradorsite.com/8-week-old-puppy/ https://www.thelabradorsite.com/9-week-old-puppy/
I agree with @Boogie, you really won't get much work done! Of course pups sleep so use that time to work work work, but when they're awake, forget it! My pup was so demanding of my time when she was awake, and I had not expected it, my work definitely suffered for a few weeks.
