Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

It can work, but requires a clear plan to ensure that the puppy's needs are met. About 20 years ago we had a young lab/collie cross while we were working. My wife dropped to part time work so that Gypsy could have people around most of the day. Gypsy was quite an active and intelligent dog so she needed the stimulus of people around her so the only options were to rearrange our lives or re home her. It wasn't easy financially, but we made the right choice.

After Gypsy we made a conscious decision that I would work and OH would look after dogs. For about 5 years I was holding down two jobs, but now we can get by on one income. Holly has someone with her most of the day, and I get the most fantastic welcomes when I get home from work.

I've also seen it go very wrong. Our neighbours got a lovely choc lab from puppy. They both worked, so the dog was left alone most days. Unsurprisingly it got bored and destructive, and became overexcited when they came home so they had to clean up after it. They fell into the trap of blaming the dog for a situation that they had created. After a few years we moved house so I don't know how it ended, but that was a very unhappy dog.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

Possibly not Though a dog is probably not fussed when he sleeps or when he walks. The night shift owner presumably sleeps during the day though, so the net effect of reduced company would be the same.

Incidentally, if separation anxiety is linked to 'being left alone for longer' and we have not actually established that it is, then I wonder if the risk of separation anxiety would be reduced, if the dog were allowed to sleep alongside the owner at night.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=Tillydyes link=topic=4970.msg62166#msg62166 date=1395310506]
[quote author=editor link=topic=4970.msg62126#msg62126 date=1395303949]
When someone says that they leave a young puppy alone at home whilst they work all day, it often arouses strong feelings.[/quote]

I often wonder if it would arouse the same strong feelings if the person said they worked nightshift from 10.00pm to 6.00am and would be home all day ???
[/quote]

That depends on the circumstances, but if the dog is going to be left to it's own devices all day while the owner is asleep, then it provokes exactly the same response in me as if the owners were out of the house.

We have a couple in our street who think it's ok to shut their GSD and Yorkie in the garden all day, every day. They are inside the house while the dogs (both breeds which desire human company) bark and bark and bark and pace up and down constantly outside because they are lonely, bored and frustrated. A lonely dog is a lonely dog, regardless of where it's owners are.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=editor link=topic=4970.msg62162#msg62162 date=1395309394]

That would be really helpful Julie
[/quote]

Ok, I wouldn't normally do this, as expect "how much?!?!" type responses but have done so in the interests of contributing to good advice for people preparing for puppies who might need these services.

So just to remind you, this is central London where people are earning London wages and so the economics might be different in other areas.

Also, to put London prices in context, I paid nearly £10 in a pub in Wimbledon village for a double G&T the other night. I can forgo a trip to the pub to buy a round of drinks and save enough for a whole day of puppy care.

Independent (fully insured) dog sitters – usually one or two people running a small company
Day care: £25 (only £5 more to stay overnight – so £30 for 24 hours) – includes pick up and drop off
hour group walk £12
1 hour individual walk £15
2 walks per day £10 per walk
Puppy care drop ins £8 per half hour, £16 for 1 hour, £5 for 15 mins

Crèche style puppy care – professional facilities run by local pet training company

One off days:
Full day (8am – 6pm) £30
Half day (mornings 8am to 1pm or afternoons 1pm to 6pm – up to max of 5 hours) £20

Packages:
Buy 10 visits for £250 (additional 1 visit free)
Buy 20 visits for £450 (additional 2 visits free)

Gold Monthly Package:
Includes five days a week full time doggie daycare, walks, play, basic training, feeding on request and a shampoo and blow-dry once a month. £550 
a month by standing order.

Platinum Monthly Package:
Includes five days a week full time doggie daycare, walks, play, basic training, feeding on request, shampoo and blow dry once a month, and pick-up and drop-off service each day. £650 a month by standing order.

Prices include: Supervised play and games, walks and socialising in a safe environment.
Prices exclude: Food and transport.
If you need a drop-off or pick-up service for your dog we can arrange this in advance. A round trip is £6 for collection and drop-off per day. And a one-way collection or drop-off costs £4.

Free style running day care (not used by me) – in a large field outside London

Half Day - £16, Full day - £27. Includes pick up and drop off to own home.

Professional rehabilitation services – for injured dog
£75 per day (weekdays) and £100 (weekends)

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=Jules link=topic=4970.msg62171#msg62171 date=1395311182]
That depends on the circumstances, but if the dog is going to be left to it's own devices all day while the owner is asleep, then it provokes exactly the same response in me as if the owners were out of the house.
[/quote]

What if the pup/dog is allowed to sleep with the owner during the day.

My point is, there probably would not be as big an outcry with the nightshift worker as the dayshift worker because everyone automatically thinks the pup/dog would be asleep (just like their own dogs) at night.

The actual net effect is the same. Dayshift = Nightshift to the dog.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

Really glad we have started this thread. I know as a worker I (as I'm sure everyone on this forum who works does too) do my upmost to ensure my dogs have the best life I can give them. Forgive me while I digress a bit, I am going to give practical information on what I've done I promise, but because I'm an analyst and think in Logic Models, to me it would be good to think about what is a 'good' dogs life - for a dog, not from our perspective as humans, but what does a dog think is a 'good' life. What does (I) a puppy and (ii) an older dog, say over one year old, need to have a 'good' life - the doggy outcomes on the model if you like. And how do we get to these outcomes for our dogs, and what impact does working/home alone have on these outcomes. Sorry I'm such a geek, but I'm interested in this. For me the big ones are feeling part of stable pack (or family group-) which includes having someone to look out for them and make them feel safe (don't buy into dominance pack leader stuff, but more the happy coppoerative Team with a Team Leader (me) approach that I think Lochan mentioned once..), having rules and structures they understand, and consequences around these, having sufficient mental and physical exercise, and a 'job' if they need one, to suit their breed and the individual dog, and having fun and play, and being 'loved' - though do dogs 'love' - I guess that's more related to feeling part of a stable pack with bonds.

Ok, back to the practical information/view stuff (its all linked though!)

Crating when puppies - I had both my dogs from puppies. I didn't leave my two alone in a crate for more than four hours when I was at work, and this time was built up slowly. I chose the Day Care Option when they were little. It was pretty pricey - £500 a month for two of them, three days a week. The other two days I worked from home or had a half day. For that they got picked up in a plush van, transported there with minimal time spent in the van, a nursery when little and big staff/puppy ratio and sleeping times; then free running with a LOT of other dogs when older, brought back in a plush van, settled in crates, and left max of three hours till I got home from work.

this didn't work out for me, and here is the other thing that's important to think about I think - all dogs are different and my girl couldn't cope with the environment as she got older and was running with the big group. She started to get stressed about going, began to show signs of fear when she met groups of dogs she didn't know out and about, and I took both pups out, at nine months old and fifteen months old. As I hadn't really thought of that as a possibility (all dogs love day care right??!!) I had to really change things, and moved to part time work and using leave and working flexibly - I'm lucky in that my employer has flexible working so I work from home a fair bit now and work reduced hours. Didn't cost me much more than day care! but worth thinking about, look at the model your day care centre will run and think about your dog's personality, and the 'fit' - problem is when they are wee you don't know....

I looked at dog walkers but to be honest I was going to be forking out £20 for both of them to sit in a van for an hour while other dogs were picked up, have an hours walk then sit in a van for another while while everybody was dropped off. I can give them that myself for the same cost (reduced hours) and no van sitting. Anyway Cuillin wouldn't go with a dog walker (she is a sensitive girl!). And actually I don't trust other folk with my dogs. I live in a big city, and all the 'good' walkers are fully booked. Wouldn't trust the others with my two....

having read this back to myself, my main conclusion is a lot depends on the individual dog!

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=debsie link=topic=4970.msg62180#msg62180 date=1395313180]
all dogs are different and my girl couldn't cope with the environment as she got older and was running with the big group. She started to get stressed about going, began to show signs of fear when she met groups of dogs she didn't know out and about, and I took both pups out, at nine months old and fifteen months old. As I hadn't really thought of that as a possibility (all dogs love day care right??!!)

...

I live in a big city, and all the 'good' walkers are fully booked. Wouldn't trust the others with my two....

[/quote]

2 of my top tips align with Debsie's.

Look very carefully at the model of daycare.

And you need a good dog walker. I took a chance on someone just starting up, with an empty book, and made a call that she would be one of the good ones. She was, and still is, and I make sure I remember her birthday, treat her well, pay her on time, and don't fuss if she needs a bit of flexibility - if you've got a good one, hang on to them.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=editor link=topic=4970.msg62170#msg62170 date=1395311044]
Incidentally, if separation anxiety is linked to 'being left alone for longer' and we have not actually established that it is, then I wonder if the risk of separation anxiety would be reduced, if the dog were allowed to sleep alongside the owner at night.
[/quote]

An interesting point, Pippa. I suspect that separation anxiety is separation anxiety, and that the time that the dog is left alone does not matter. I base this judgement on having a needy spaniel who craves company (mine in particular - if I go out and leave him with my OH, that's the same as being abandoned in his eyes) and who reacts in the same manner when I return from putting out the bins as when I come back from two hours out shopping.

I am not working, our dogs are either out walking with me or following me around the house. They come on holiday with us... If we need emergency cover, the fact that we live on an army patch helps. No one has family on tap, so people are much more prepared to help out if needed. Where we are currently actually has a residents list, which covers contact details, dog ownership and who would be prepared to dog-sit!

Years back, when I first got a dog, I bumped into another lady at the school gate busy with puppy socialisation for her Springer. She returned to work part-time shortly after, and at least three mornings a week I would collect her dog from his kennel and run in their garden and walk him with me. She was not in a position to return the favour, but I never minded, as Ruddles and her dog were the same age and he really benefitted from those opportunities to play.

Friends of ours who both work full-time built a kennel and run in their garden - various friends in the village have padlock keys, and will drop in and collect the dog. Some of them walk her, some take her back to their house for some company... These sort of informal and unpaid arrangements can work very well indeed, but they do have to co-ordinate it so they know that someone will be coming by. It works, because they live in a small village, know everyone, and their friends are happy to do it because they want the pleasure of a dog's company but not the responsibility of full-time ownership.

Planning is crucial - different budgets can be planned for, but it is never going to spontaneously just happen... And as Debs points out, individual dogs vary greatly in terms of what would be a good solution for them!
Clare

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I agree with your conclusion, Debsie!

We have used day care (all day - AU$40/20 pounds casual rate, less for 'packs' of 10 sessions), a dog playgroup (half a day - AU$77/40 pounds) and a dog walker (group walk for an hour - AU$40/20 pounds). At the moment (dog is 2 years of age) we use one of each one day a week.

Look for a day care that is run by people who have knowledge of dog behaviour, who insist on a behavioural assessment of all dogs before they come in, who have a reasonable staff to dog ratio (our day care has 2 people per 15 dogs, and I wouldn't want more dogs per person than that and ideally fewer) and who have a reasonable upper limit on the number of dogs attending. Ask them about their strategy for breaking up bad behaviour to make sure you find their methods acceptable. As Debsie said daycare is not for all dogs, so be sure to talk with the staff about how your dog is handling it and watch their behaviour when they arrive. They should be keen to go in the gate.

Once your dog is past the puppy stage they will not necessarily need stimulation all day every day that you are at work. There was a time when our dog was going to day care 5 days a week and it was too much for him. The day care owner said that she could see that he was not enjoying the last day (he was too tired and couldn't cope with it and became reluctant to go in the gate) so we cut back to 4 days and then 3 days. 3 days of activity has proved to be ideal. He is quiet at home but still has plenty of get up and go when we want him to. He is excited about his 'paid for' activities and trots off without a backward glance. So - observe your dog and adjust as needed.

With a dog walking place make sure they have public liability insurance. Make sure they have a way of securely attaching the dogs to themselves (ours have the dogs attached to a carabiner which is on a thick belt). Ask them what their method is of managing undesirable behaviours like pulling or managing the dogs around distractions like cyclists, joggers and other dogs. They should have answers to these questions. You need to feel comfortable and happy with putting your dog into their care.

When we got Obi at 9 months we wanted a dog (had just lost our old boy) but did not feel that we had the time for a puppy - that is why we got an older dog. We both had 4 weeks off work and crate trained him and started daycare in that time. In hindsight, he has been as much work as a puppy (he has the attention span of a small gnat and had a few issues with it) so we might as well have got a puppy anyway ;D (we do love him...). Our day care takes puppies so we would have just done exactly what we did with Obi - take 4 weeks off work, do crate training (gradually building up as the bladder allowed) and then using daycare up to 5 days a week and gradually reducing this as the pup got older.

If you work full time my personal view is that it is helpful to your dog if you:
- allow your dog to be in the house during the day when you are gone, so they feel included and safe
- allow your dog to sleep in your bedroom at night (crated or otherwise) for the same reason as above
- take your dog with you as many places as possible to maximise the time that you are at home
- do some kind of training class with them so you have some training goals that will encourage regular one-on-one time with your dog, learning and having fun together
- walk your (adult) dog every single day, rain hail or shine

Re. separation anxiety - the worst separation anxiety I have seen has been in two dogs (separate, unrelated situations) that came from breeders and were rehomed as adults. At the breeders they had had 24/7 human and dog contact. In their new homes when left alone for any length of time they destroyed everything in sight. Repeatedly. I believe that it is imperative that all dogs are gradually taught to be able to comfortably spend a few hours alone without ending up in a state.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I think with all these daycare plans, especially dog creche type arrangements, owners must have thought of Plan B in advance of any problems. If you get a pup with kennel cough that can be up to three weeks when the creche won't accept them, pups with chronic diarrhoea may also be banned from creche in case they are infectious. And the majority of dog walkers who walk multiple dogs won't want an infectious pup with them either. So having a backup care plan for the unexpected can be vital.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

Well I dont work, Im with Otis nearly all the time, if I need to leave him for a weekend, he goes to my parents which he loves, and they love him, theres a big garden and its in the countryside. However i wanted Otis to have a bit of variety with his dog walking, and also he has got to the stage he needs two walks a day. I found this excellent site, Borrow My Doggy. Its a site that has lots of people on it, who do work etc, so cant have dogs, but love dogs and will walk your dog for free. I have a lovely couple who walk Otis for a couple of hours a week now, two evenings a week, they have him on Saturdays too, and have offerd to take him at the weekend if needs be. There are more people on there wanting to walk the dogs than there are dogs, they are vetted, and you are shown a list and you can choose who you contact. Its £20 to join, but thats it. When you look at the list, of people, they have a little intro, saying about themselves, and why they like dogs. Also there availability for walking and sitting. I think it could be a great soloution if you are short of money, like me, but need extra help. Maggie x

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I have to say I do struggle with puppies and dogs being left for many hours a day. I also don't know why owners use puppy pads or newspaper when leaving their dog, you are trying to train a puppy not to toilet in his crate/pen then leave the resources for it to do so sending mixed messages, this must, in my opinion delay house training. Absolutely do not agree with puppies or dogs being crated for any more than 4 hours.

I never leave my dogs for more than 4 hours and if there is any chance I could be delayed I pre-arrange with my friend next door who has a key and make sure she will be around to feed, replenish water, let Hattie and Charlie out for toilet breaks and she sits with them for some company. This is a mutual arrangement and has worked really well for over 6 years. There is also a dog walker/sitter in the village in the case of a real emergency, I can but would not pay for it unless it was absolutely necessary.

My concern is the socialisation and anxiety caused to a puppy or dog if alone for long periods. I wonder if anyone remembers a programe that was on a while ago that set up cameras in dog owners houses to view how anxious and stressed their dogs were when they left the house whether it was for a short or long periods of time also multiple dog households which in some cases made no difference to the dogs stress levels. It made difficult viewing for the owners and it was very difficult to watch :'( I can't remember the figures but there were thousands of dogs spending a very long time feeling anxious and stressed whilst their owners are at work :'(

It must come down to the individuals budget how they manage a puppy/dog if working full time. Be-friend people with dogs and you will quickly find they will be only too pleased to help out as dog lovers themselves

My own thoughts and feelings and I have absolutely no intention to uspet anyone. xx

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

Re. what Lochan said about planning for a contagious illness.... We had to deal with kennel cough (caught at our dog obedience club) within the first few months. We had previously built up to being able to leave Obi alone for a few hours in his crate so we were able to get through it by both coming home at different points during the work day. Had to do that for two weeks.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I work 29 hours a week, but flexible hours to suit me mainly. There are some hours that I cannot be flexible with though.

We got Harley at 7 weeks old. We collected her on a Saturday morning and I had the following week off work. The week I was off we crate trained her and left her in there for short periods, slowly building up the time. When I went back to work, I worked half time hours for the next 2 weeks. I worked 2 hours in the morning....home for an hour....back to work for 2 hours. During me being at work, my neighbour would look in on Harley......nearly every time, she was fast asleep. There were 2 occasions in the first month that my neighbour came in a took her into the garden to play.

After this, I went back to work normal hours. Generally 3-4 hours in the morning.....home for a min of an hour....back for 2/4 hours. Again, for the first month if this, my neighbour would pop by every 2 hours. Harley was always asleep or munching on her kongs. She is now 7.5 months old, does not whine or get distressed when left (I have videoed her a few times). She is in her crate (it is an XXL one) and she seems happy there. I have used a dog walker a few times, sometimes once a week, or like yesterday, she went to my friends for the day. She sleeps upstairs in our room (usually on our bed) every night

Harley is generally a happy playful puppy who is a pleasure to train (well, most of the time ). As soon as I'm home, she is my total focus, we go for walks, to the woods, to the shops and everywhere! She's coming on holiday with us this year too. We are going away for a short break without her, but my daughter who is in uni will be back for 3 months in the summer. Harley loves my daughter and vice versa

My neighbour has a lab the same age as Harley (born on the same day, but different litters). Her story is different.......for the first 3 months she was at home with her pup (this was good for me and Harley), but just over a month ago she got a job teaching.....her pup whines and barks when she leaves him even for short periods. During the day he goes to the in-laws who have a year old lab and they an in an outside kennel and run together. They get walked together in the morning and around 3/4pm. In between he is starting to settle a bit now, but is unhappy. He comes home around 6/7pm and settles down for the night around 9pm in his crate in the living room. My neighbours spend a lot of time with him on weekends and he is a different pup then.

Another dog I know was with a family who didn't work. They had young children so was put in their 'utility room' a lot. She only got walked on lead attached to a pram to school and back every day. She doesn't know how to play, is not socialised at all, and fears other dogs. She was given up and a older lady took her in. Slowly things are changing for the better and she is getting walked, socialised and attention.

I think what I'm trying to say is that everyone's life's are different, their finances are different and their pups are different. What suits one doesn't suit the other. Whether you work or not (some people can't afford not to!), it's about planning and ensuring the best for your pup.

Hope this makes sense

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I'm afraid I haven't had chance to read all the posts thoroughly yet so sorry if I repeat anything.

I have had a foot in both camps and from my experience the dog who was left alone when a pup for long periods during the day had no separation anxiety all his life. The dogs who had much more attention as pups get some separation anxiety if left in an unusual place i.e. inside rather than in their pen.

Murphy was my first dog and my first lab. My dad got him me not long after I qualified as a teacher. I did supply teaching so he was not left every day. Also he was 12 weeks when we got him so not a tiny puppy and it was two weeks before he was left alone in which time I'd built up the time I'd leave him so he was more used to it.

Murphy had an outdoor pen and kennel. The pen was much bigger than RSPCA reccomened. He had a lot of room and was left with kongs etc. Also being on a farm there was always coming and going, voices, people walking passed saying 'alright murph' so it wasn't quite like leaving a pup home alone.

Murphy was a very well adjusted dog. He had no behaviour issues, I could take him anywhere, he wasn't the bravest but he didn't make a big fuss, he never minded being left and was quite happy in any bodies company.

Scott and scout are a different story.

I have done everything with them the same as I did with Murphy with one difference. They have never been left in their pen for more than a max of 2 hours at a time. About 15 years ago I stopped teaching to help on the farm (I did teaching to try and avoid it but I guess it's in the blood :) I'm very lucky I can fit my jobs around my dogs so Murphy spent most of his life with my undivided attention it was only the first two/three years and Scott and scout have always had it.

I know dogs are all different and the behaviour problems scott and scout have are nothing to do with being left or not but they are deffinitely more attached to me than Murphy ever was.

While I don't like the idea of a dog/puppy being home alone for long periods and I would not do it again it did not do my dog any harm at all. Perhaps I was lucky. Actually I was lucky you couldn't get a better dog than murphy

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=Lochan link=topic=4970.msg62189#msg62189 date=1395316838]
I think with all these daycare plans, especially dog creche type arrangements, owners must have thought of Plan B in advance of any problems. If you get a pup with kennel cough that can be up to three weeks when the creche won't accept them, pups with chronic diarrhoea may also be banned from creche in case they are infectious. And the majority of dog walkers who walk multiple dogs won't want an infectious pup with them either. So having a backup care plan for the unexpected can be vital.
[/quote]

The impact of this is similar to a sick child that can't go to school or daycare. You have to take time off work, or get family or friends to help. Although there is the option of doggy sitting in your own home, which in London is actually slightly cheaper than the puppy crèche. You do have to register and arrange this in advance, you can't arrange it at short notice. So it's still all in the planning.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

Actually, that's something I left out of my first post, the illness thing. Again, maybe depends on the dog but my little sensitive ginger dog picked up a whole HEAP of stuff at crèche when she was a puppy... She often had upset tummies, got kennel cough, Giardia, etc etc. Had to call on family who live quite far away but very nicely came to stay for a while, and my day care folk also offered a service for sick pups, they would come and visit them during the day but I didn't use that, took time off work. I girded my loins for another few months of moonlight upset tummy garden trips when Brodick started crèche as a wee one, but nothing, not a tummy upset, not a splutter, nothing!

It is all about planning and preparation when you work and have a dog, still is even though they are older. My social life revolves around the dogs, if they have been home alone for part of the day and I get an invite to go out later I don't go unless they can come with me, or I can get friends to babysit. Luckily they pretty much always can come as I live in a dog friendly city and all my pals love the pups...Impromptu nights out are a thing of the past (I'm getting on now so don't mind )

also , my two thrive on routines they understand, and a big lead in time to establishing new routines, again some dogs will no doubt swing into a new routine without a murmur but I've found my two like their routines and if they change then 'cold turkey' doesn't work for them...I stick to the same routine for them most days, down to having a cup of coffee and a pack cuddle on the sofa with them before I head out to work, and they like this, I guess they know what's happening when....

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I'm the same with Scott and scout and I was with Murphy when it comes to routine.

Any major deviation from their routine Scott and scout don't like it which is why even if the OH is home they still go in their pen when I go out. That is their space, they feel safe there and they know I'm coming back because it happens every day.

Murphy wasn't quite as bothered about routine change but I still did it.

Like dogs though I'm also a creature of habit and like a routine.

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

I've not had the chance to keep up with all that's been written here, but I just wanted to add a few interesting links I found whilst having lunch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyl...at-home-alone-as-traumatised-as-children.html

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/az/factsheetsanddownloads/factsheettimeforadog05.pdf

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/get...-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/puppy-environment/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2396570/Pets-depressed-left-home-day-working-owners.html

This one is about why dogs develop Separation Anxiety and is written by a friend of mine who is a qualified canine psychologist.

http://liziangel.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/pleeeeease-dont-leave-me.html

I've got to pop out now for a couple of hours (dogs walked and settled) but I'm sure I could find loads about the effects leaving dogs alone for hours every day has on them. There may even be a few studies I haven't unearthed yet (I shall pick Lizi's brain on that one).

 

Re: Labrador Puppies Home Alone - your thoughts

[quote author=Oberon link=topic=4970.msg62188#msg62188 date=1395315546]
I believe that it is imperative that all dogs are gradually taught to be able to comfortably spend a few hours alone without ending up in a state.
[/quote]

Very much agree with this.

The only problem I ever had with leaving Charlie alone was after the summer holidays when I'd spent 24/7 with him - I had to go back over old ground to make sure he was ok again to be without me. Thank my lucky stars that I did. After he injured himself, it would have added considerably to the nightmare to have had a clingy, over dependent, dog that wasn't able to settle calmly away from home or on his own.