Hi all, i am now at the point when I am trying to resume normal life (after Charlie's first week at home with us) and wondering when I can leave him and for how long? He is happy in his crate overnight (I take him for a wee about 2am then put him back) but he usually is with me all day wherever I go (I am carrying him at the moment as he hasn't had his jabs). I work in a church so puppy's are not practical to have with you (although there was a caretaker there once who had a pet pig who used to go with him ) I only need to be there for 3 hours 3 times a week so 9 hours out of any one week but I am so worried about leaving him even for an hour let alone 3! Is 3 hours too long and has anyone any tips?
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Hi Emma, When I got Harley I would leave her for 2 hours in the morning, come home for an hour of so then go back for about 2 hours. This has upped since week 3 as I have to go back to my normal hours (25). I'm lucky that I am able to take her with me for approx 5 hours per week. I work with young people and she has been very therapeutic for them and has got another out of her house which. Hasn't happened in 6 months When I leave in the morning Harley is always so tired as she is up at 6.30/7am. In the afternoon I always leave her with a stuffed kong which she loves. For the first few weeks I got my neighbour to pop in and check on her. Only once did she seem unsettled so my neighbour took her out if her crate and played with her. My neighbour still comes over just to listen and have a peek through the window. She says Harley is usually asleep or chewing her kong Do you have a neighbour or friend who could pop in? They usually adapt well. Good luck Ternaya and Harley (14 weeks old)
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Hi Emma, When Hattie was 13 weeks I would leave her in her crate for 4 hours while I went to work, she was more than happy and we didn't have any issues. I never leave my dogs for any longer than 4 hours and if I have to I get my neighbour to pop over and let them outside. If someone could pop over to check on Charlie it would put your mind at rest.
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Thanks guys, I think I will just have to keep popping home after an hour or so. Thankfully I live literally just up the same road so it's not far! My meetings are usually flexible but never predictable and so I will have to try it and see I think. Unfortunately I can't pop home in the middle of a sermon though! I might just check the diocesan rules on dogs on the premises...you never know they probably haven't updated them since 1800s!
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Hi Emma, we stretched out the time Lilly was in her crate quite slowly but managed 4 hours no problem quite quickly - happy with a kong or just snoozing. I am a bad parent and Lilly is a home alone girl - four days a week she is content snoozing on my bed for up to 8 hours. Watching the world go by outside the window by all accounts, knows the rhythm of our village better than me I think. Now I am not saying that is right or wrong, and I know a lot of other on the forum think this is TOO long, but needs must, and it works for us. Its all about doing it slowly and sensibly I think. Not sure which church you belong to but a friend of mine usually takes her collie to services and her choral groups and no-one bats an eye. He's obviously quite well behaved (no mud or water he can reach). Might be worth exploring that.
Re: How long can I leave Him for? That Charlie might have his eye on the font when he is a bit bigger! ;D I've never left Dexter for more than 3 hours ...but we built up from that from him being 5 months when we got him.He would probably be grand to be honest,we have only suffered minimal chewing( of house and contraband items) and he has always been happy to be in his crate (max he was ever shut in for in the day was 2 hours.....he was locked in all night though up until 10 months) or we had a secure area behind a child gate he could hang out in......I've just looked at the clock now and it's nearly 4 pm here, his last wee was 10.30!He didn't want to go at 1.30 and he's been asleep,ever since!!!i think he's getting Lilly's camel bladder,there's been a few long stretches recently
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Lilly really DOES have the bladder of a camel. She will go a good 12 hours believe it or not She is really bad at drinking though, rarely drinks during the day from her bowl even though it has fresh water in it 2 or 3 times a day. I always mix plenty of water in with her kibble - carried on from when she was a puppy - to try and compensate. I do worry a bit with her being on NSAIDs. Outside however, show her a dirty puddle, a pond or a river, you would think I had offered her the best champagne. :
Re: How long can I leave Him for? I try not to leave Riley more than four hours without someone popping in even for 15 mins company. He has been left longer though when we got stuck in traffic and he seemed to be none the worse
Re: How long can I leave Him for? I started leaving Charlie after he had been with us for about 10 days - I started off by just leaving for a few minutes (he got a small kong or chew when I left) and I did this a lot (looked a bit silly stood in the street!). Then 20 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour. Then I left him up to 1.5 hours from about 3.5 months with puppy care popping in for 30 minutes after 1.5 hours. Then puppy care went to 30 mins every 2 hours, then 1 hour every 3 hours. Now, at 8 months, I'll leave him for 4 hours. He can easily manage 4 hours without going to the loo, he is ok up to 6 or 7 hours without a pee (eg when we've been stuck in traffic with him in the car) but I think 4 hours without a walk or other company is what I'm comfortable with. On the worst days for him being on his own, not often at all, I leave at 8am, he goes out with a dog walker 10am-11am (usually to play with other dogs on the common), then is left alone with a pile of kongs until 3pm, when he gets another 30 min walk with dog walker plus a play and a cuddle for 30 mins, and we're home at 6pm. So in total, that's 8 hours alone, but split up by two walks and a playtime.
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Like Lilly, Obi has days home alone and can be by himself in the house for an 8-9 hour stretch. He is often asleep when we get home. Then he goes outside, wanders round, and eventually has a pee. When we leave him he always gets a stuffed Kong or pig's ear or similar treat so our departure is associated with a good thing. He often gets those things when we are at home too so the appearance of the Kong doesn't mean 'they're leaving again'.
Re: How long can I leave Him for? When Lilly was a bit younger (probably about 4-5 months) she got left with a frozen stuffed kong, but now she doesn't get anything and we know she will be perfectly fine. When we are getting ready to go in the morning (8am), she takes up her position on mums bed and I am pretty sure that she stays on there the whole day - till 4pm when I get in. She plays around a bit and I take her for a walk, then almost straight away goes back on the bed, the cheeky monkey that she is!
Re: How long can I leave Him for? Thanks all, I think the general consensus I'm getting is that all dogs are different and so are the work circumstances for their mummy's and daddy's. I think I should be able to build up to the 3 hours over time. I left him for a short time today and rushed home all concerned he missed me but the cheeky monkey was fast asleep! On an off topic what is your advice on biting feet...and I mean a proper bite blood drawn...he has done it to my 2 eldest children and now they are very wary. I think he's just got over excited but I don't want it to be a habit. :'(
Re: How long can I leave Him for? [quote author=Emma link=topic=3238.msg35015#msg35015 date=1384206176] On an off topic what is your advice on biting feet...and I mean a proper bite blood drawn...he has done it to my 2 eldest children and now they are very wary. I think he's just got over excited but I don't want it to be a habit. :'( [/quote] Hi Emma, There's lots of great advice on puppy biting / bite inhibition on the main site... Do your two eldest wear slippers or shoes in the house - and if not, can they start??! Don't know why bare feet are so much more appealing, they just are - their attraction seems to diminish no end once they are covered up. Clare
Re: How long can I leave Him for? That's a really good idea...he is fine when they have socks on so maybe I can buy them some thick socks to wear with their pyjamas! Its not a problem with my other 2 children as they are still refusing to be in the same room as him, God forbid he came anywhere near their feet!
