Hi there, Sorry if this is not the correct page for this question but what I am looking for is some general guidance. Have bought the book and found it really helpful. My wife and I are first time puppy owners and went into it with our eyes open! We knew it isn't easy but think we have been doing an OK job. What I am after is any feedback on if we are doing right by our pup (especially when it comes to leaving her on her own). Some key points to note that might give you some context for feedback: Got her at 8 weeks, saw both parents she is going to be a big dog . She is now 12 weeks Pretty much already house trained. We only need to get up once now during the night to let her out of crate. Two weeks without an accident, she lets us know when wants out. My wife is a nurse and is gone to work from Mon - Thu 8am - 4 pm. I work from home. However, as I am often in calls etc a typical day would involve - wife gets up around 7am, let Roxy out of crate, have a bit of a play and feed her. I get up before wife leaves and work downstairs for breakfast so Roxy can come inside and out to back garden (walled in and safe, only friendly dog lovers as neighbours one side of us) Here is what I am wondering though - at around 9am I have to go upstairs to work from office (bigger screens etc) and as she can be destructive at the moment I can't have her upstairs. As a result I put her out back with some toys. She has a good sized kennel that with bed/blankets and she seems to like it. Only ever outside for 1.5 or 2 hours at a time before I break it and have a bit of a play with her and bring her for a walk......it OK leaving her outside on own where I can see her at all times (she does sometimes look miserable on own when not asleep and loves to see me coming to play or let her in!) We have house trained her, she is walking on a leash and she has been trained to sit and retrieve. She has NOT been taught to not bite us and it's driving us a bit nuts since it can be painful! Any advice on how to stop this or does it fade naturally as she stops teething?! Any advice on the above would be appreciated. Weekends we are out to beach and we are socialising her lots with kids and other dogs so she's a happy puppy I think....just curious about leaving her for couple hours twice a day on her own and how to stop her biting us!! Thanks all! BigMc
Hi and welcome to the forum I think that what you're doing sounds fine. She's not left alone for a long stretch (a couple of hours twice a day is fine) and you're including a number of sessions of games, walks and training into each day. When you leave her I'd add a nice treat into the equation - like a Kong with something tasty inside - so your departure is always linked to something really nice. It is important that pups and dogs gradually learn to be left alone for periods of time without becoming anxious. I'm not sure where you live but in different countries there are different beliefs about leaving a puppy (or even an adult dog) alone in a back yard. In Australia where I live it is considered normal for a dog to have periods of time alone in the yard/garden while in some places it's not common - so you might find different views on this Personally I think it's totally fine as long as your yard is secure (locked gate) and you're home. In your case you can actually see her so that's really good. I wouldn't leave her there if you are not home though. When we go out we leave our dog in the house (crated while young and when trustworthy at about 14 months (this will depend on the dog) given free run of the house). When she's older you will most likely find that she'll be able to settle in your office with you on a mat (which you can train her to do). An intermediate step might be having a crate or play pen in your office. As for the biting - it's totally normal for her age You'll find that it'll improve with time. You may have read all these articles but here's a link to a lot of info on biting: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/your-...-puppy-biting/ It's kind of something you just manage as best you can and endure. It'll pass
Hi BigMac and welcome to the forum. Sounds like you are doing well, and I agree with Rachael. It is a lot less common in the UK to leave dogs out for too long although there are a couple of member that use outdoor kennels during the day. I think the important bit is the socialisation part. Outside she might get into bother, chew stuff up etc. Inside in a crate she might be more likely to settle to sleep. Swings and roundabouts really. Where about are you based? jac
Hello, a very warm welcome. It sounds like she is doing really well! Lots of lovely stuff in her life, and I bet she turns out to be a lovely dog. Yes, leaving a dog alone outside is not something I would do - but that's because people that I know (and my family etc) just do not do it rather than I think there is anything very wrong with it. I suppose it might be because in the UK houses are very close together and the weather isn't great, so it's just not a usual thing to do. My dog just stays with me - if I'm in the house he is too, and he is only in the garden if I'm out there with him. If I leave the door open, he won't go out alone.
I live in Canada with a large yard that backs onto a neighbour's yard. I don't have any problem leaving my pooch for an hour or so when I'm home and even when I'm not (ducking as all the rotten tomatoes are thrown my way). However that has been a gradual thing, certainly when he was younger and chewing everything and digging up things and being a usual puppy I would not have done that. Now, however, he sniffs around the yard, has a zoom or two, snaps at some flies, and snoozes in the sun.
Welcome. In almost the same boat as you as Brody is 16 weeks old. We both work but have had essentially helpers who have taken holidays and on the last part of the help now and by August he will be left for around 4hours. For us we have left the door open in the garden and left him lying or playing there, while both in the living room. Same as you, garden is secure and both neighbours dog-friendly and love him. Me personally we don't leave him for long periods out there, but I guess it is whatever your comfortable with. As you can guess from the replies, its a personal choice. We have a play pen in the living room he goes in to when we go out of the room for long periods, say for cooking, showers, work etc, but this took some real training as he would howl and just didn't like it. All great now and maybe something to consider if you are uncomfortable with the garden option. We use Kongs like others suggested and these are a real life-saver for when we disappear for an hour or so. He loves them and will keep him occupied for around 30-40 mins, so think about two maybe. I use his main allowance of kibble, with banana or something soft and then freeze it. If you search you will find some good recipes on it. They will keep him entertain for a good period. I should add that the leaving him we built up to and now we are around 1-2 hours. As for biting, believe it is normal for his age and Brody was the same and has got less. If it hurts, make sure you have a loud "ouch", and that will let him know it was too hard. Enjoy the forum, it is a great resource with great people. Oh and you need to post pictures
Hi and welcome I agree with everyone else, it is personal choice and each country seems to have different 'normal procedure'. I live in the UK and when I'm home and it's nice weather, my back door is open to the garden which is very secure. Harley comes and goes as she wants. We used to watch her constantly when she was younger as she liked to dig . Nowadays - at 22 months- this isn't a problem (touch wood!). we all love puppy pictures
Hi and welcome to the forum! Just wanted to say that my OH works from home, and although at first he found it a bit difficult with Poppy, as she constantly wanted to play with him, she now just curls up under his desk and sleeps most of the time he is working! Sometimes when the weather is good he leaves the front door open so she can go in and out as she likes - but we padlock the front gate in that case, as it is my personal nightmare that someone might steal her.
Hey all, Too many to name individually but really appreciate all the comments, thanks for all of them! And for the friendly welcome! I'm glad to hear that it sounds like we are pretty well on track. Working now and looking out to back garden can see Roxy has headed into kennel. Has been out there for about 2 hours now so it's probably bad timing to be going down now playing with her but I don't like letting it go longer than 2 hours. Always careful to have a good long play with her in the morning though and took the good advice on giving her a treat when was leaving her outside. We have a kong toy that you can put food in so will freeze that overnight for use tomorrow. She did cry a bit initially but then goes and has a bit of a play and rest (thankfully it's sunny out). Sounds like I'll keep doing what we are doing then thanks again for all the feedback on this. To answer what couple folks have asked, we are in Ireland. So a similar setup in terms of climate and housing (close to each other). We have a walled in back garden though and a side gate with a big padlock! Nothing but fields out back of our house and our dog friendly neighbours are gone during day so I feel pretty comfortable leaving out there and checking every 15 mins or so (I'm also paranoid about dog thieves...can't be too careful !) Thanks as well for advice on the biting, good to hear that it will settle naturally overtime! We are doing what we can, ending playtime when she does it temporarily etc. and she does stop for a while but starts up again soon after! As an aside, should playtime be perpetual?! I read that playtime should be a defined parts of the day to get them into a routine. Since we have had her, playtime has basically been anytime she's not asleep and we are with her! We aren't always on the floor playing with her at this time of course...but the kitchen/sitting room she spends most of time in we are either playing or she's running around playing by herself. Is this OK?! Thanks again all, Sean PS - do you know why it would say I'm not approved to upload or amend attachments?
A belated "Welcome" from 21 moth old Molly and me. We live in the UK. You are certainly putting time and effort into raising your puppy and it will be rewarded....eventually. Personally I wouldn't leave a young puppy alone in the garden, their capacity for mischeif is boundless and their common sense in short supply. There are a frightening number of plants that are toxic to dogs. The biting will vanish. Molly drove me nuts with it. I couldn't believe that a breed with such a reputation for gentleness could be so vicious, I had to be doing something wrong. Then one wonderful day I realised that I was fondeling a silky ear and not getting eaten. Your day will come
You clearly love your puppy, Bigmac, and she'll bring you much joy. I'm in the camp of not leaving a puppy unattended unless she's secure in her crate (with things to chew). There's too much that can go wrong. Dogs need to sleep for about 17 hours a day - puppies longer, of course. You can have another crate (perhaps a smaller one) in your office. So Roxy will be sleeping in her crate while you work, then when you both need a break it's time to head to the garden for some companionable mooching, exploring, playing, and a cup of something for you!
