Feeling guilty

[HelgatheHairy]

Every second Friday I take my mum and aunt to town, pick them up, and DH and I do our grocery shopping.

This all means that my puppy(10 month golden) gets left 3 times on a Friday. He's fine generally and gets lots of exercise so he'll sleep mostly while I'm out but I still feel guilty.

I can't take him with me as I have a saloon car and he's in the back seat but we are changing to a doggy friendly car soon (as I'm pregnant and we need to be able to carry Ddog and DC)

Justa bit of a moan cause, like I said, I'm feeling guilty.

[Floralnomad]

I really wouldn't worry about it and if you would need to leave him alone in the car he is much safer at home .

[digerd]

Dogs should be left at home while you go out in the car to do shopping. Much better than being left in the car, especially a big dog.
Our first fog was a Dachshund and my baby and did take her with us and left her in the car while at the supermarket. But in the hot summer that was definitley not on, and left her at home lying on the cool kitchen tiles. And the bonus was the lovely greeting when we got home.
She is 9 months and now sexually mature if not already spayed. Most people don't notice the first season.

[pigsDOfly]

I know what you mean Helga, I always feel horribly guilty when I leave my dog but I am getting better at it as she's nearly 2 years old now.

If you leave him with something to occupy him, a stuffed Kong or something similar, he will be fine. My dog has a ball that she has to roll around with her nose in order to get the treats out. I throw this to her as I leave the house, and when she realizes I'm going out without her she will sit by the door with a 'hurry up and go so I can have my ball' expression on her face.

[Sulawesi]

My puppy is 10 months old too and he's rarely on his own for long but if we do have to leave him for any length of time I just make sure he has had a good walk and play before I go. He just curls up and goes to sleep in front of the radiator then so I don't feel guilty. Yes and a bone or stag bar to chew when he does wake up .

[Grunzlewheek]

So you go home and see him, let him out in between ? if so he's probably pleased to have a bit of a rest

[HotPinkWeaselWearingLederhosen]

I have a 10 month old. Any time I put my coat on to go out after she has had her morning walk she goes off to fetch her Kong for me to fill

I think she quite likes the house to herself

[nevermindthecrocodiles]

Ikea are selling massive stuffed dog teddies at the moment - around £15 I think. I bought one for my jack Russell pup who was very anxious about the prospect of separation - it's at least six times bigger than her but she loves it & goes straight to it for a snuggle when we get ready to go out. Best thing I've ever bought!

[HelgatheHairy]

All home and all good. He's always good when I'm out, he's confined to the kitchen and mostly sleeps, it's just the look on his face when he realises I'm going!

The first out was about 45 mins, home then long walk. It was about 4 hours till I had to go again, that was about an hour. Home for bout 30/45 mins then out for about 1.5 hours.

He's now sitting on DH looking very comfy!

Must try the kong, he has one somewhere!