Puppy being left alone the majority of the day...

[Puppyproblem123]

My fiancé and I don't live together, and at the beginning of the lockdown (before it was announced) he decided to get a puppy. We are planning to buy a house together. I have a cat and 2 DC. When lockdown was announced he came to live with us, bringing along the puppy. Puppy is now 5 months old.

I am very concerned about the puppy as it gets very little interaction throughout the day and I have no experience with dogs, only my cat. DP gets up in the morning to walk the puppy, then we walk him again in the mid-afternoon around 4pm. We are both working from home and I am also juggling the 2 DC, so the puppy is left on its own for hours in the conservatory with access to the garden. For example, this morning DP took the puppy for a walk (7am - 9am) and the puppy has been on its own since. DP has been playing playstation and I have been working, the puppy has been barking and crying. Occasionally DP will go in when the puppy is barking and put him in the crate so he can go back to playing playstation. It seems cruel to me. I am concerned that the puppy will end up with issues or badly socialised. I have never had dogs before so I don't know if this is normal or how you are supposed to care for a puppy.

I never agreed to this puppy, and I cannot have the puppy running free roam in the house whilst juggling the 2 DC, working, trying to maintain an orderly home and with my cat who doesn't like the puppy and constantly hisses or tries to attack the dog. Hence why the puppy is contained to the conservatory with access to the garden.

Your puppy is not being socialised, if it ends up in the pound it will be listed as a dog that has been neglected as a pup, has separation issues and is not used to cats, all making it harder to find a home for it.
Do the dog a favour and persuade your partner to rehome it sooner rather than later

I echo all the other posters sentiments

All I can say is I would really question the character of someone who would rather play on a playstation all day over playing with a beautiful puppy

No he shouldn't have got a puppy, he has no clue how to look after it and no you shouldn't be both going to work and leaving the poor thing at home.

Needs re-homing ASAP if not hopefully your neighbours report you

have no idea how to care for

FFS. OP are you actually an idiot? Presuming you're not, it's really not difficult. You learned how to look after your children didn't you? You evidently have enough awareness to realise the dog is suffering in its current environment. So you either tell your partner you don't agree with what's happening and the puppy needs to go, for it's own sake, or you accept that you absolutely are part of the problem.

Dogs don't always show distress by being destructive, your DP clearly had no clue about dogs and is a selfish twat. At a young age, socialisation with people and dogs is of huge importance, you both shutting him away and not interacting with him is cruel beyond belief. You may not have wanted the puppy but how are you so ok with knowing you're contributing to this cruelty??
Either rehome or step up because what you're doing at the moment is disgusting.

This is no way to treat a puppy.

How can you think your DP is a nice man when he treats an animal this way?

I haven't read all the comments but my husband and I got a puppy about six weeks ago and have a strict schedule for her. We already have one dog. Dogs need exercise, intellectual stimulation and routine. Without exercise they get physically unhealthy, without intellectual stimulation they get bored (and therefore frustrated, disobedient and destructive), without routine the get anxious (and therefore aggressive and stand-offish).
We do one walk 7-9, then feed the dogs. 10-11 the dogs are shut away with stimulation toys so they learn to occupy themselves, 11-12 we train both dogs together (like sit, stay, lie down etc). 12-30-1 we train our older dog whilst the puppy is shut out with stimulation toys, 1-1.30 we train the puppy whilst the older dog is shut out with stimulation toys. Then the dogs usually just chill for a while, take a nap etc. At 3 the puppy eats again but not the older dog. Then we do another walk 4-5.45, then groom the dogs afterwards (the puppy is a sproodle so needs a lot of grooming). Then we focus on my son's bedtime routine. After he's in bed, we go out to the garden and throw tennis balls for the dogs. They get fed again at 9pm, then they have dentastix and settle to sleep.
It sounds like the entire day resolves around the dogs but it really doesn't. When they're playing with stimulation toys, we don't have to do anything. The walks give us exercise too so they aren't much hassle - children should be going out for walks at the moment anyway. Our son is with us when we do the training. So, essentially, what's needed is one walk before work, one walk after work, feeding that takes literally two minutes to do and training that could be done during a lunch break.
Hopefully you'll be able to sort something because it's not fair for the dog to be shut out all the time and ignored.

Why is the puppy shut way on its own when you are all there? It's a dog, let it in the house with you.

Your partner doesn't seem responsible enough to have a puppy. I am also doubting your choice in men.

Rehome the poor thing ffs

He doesn't sound as though he has the first clue how to look after a dog.

Did he really walk a puppy for 2 hours? What breed is the dog?

Your DP needs to educate himself (fast) about what a dog needs or alternatively find him a home with someone who is capable of caring for a dog. The fact he's willing to let his Aunt & Uncle have the dog suggests he's not that attached to him. Poor puppy.

Whilst separation anxiety is an issue that lots of puppy-owners are going to have to address, when things eventually go back to normal, your partner is going about this the wrong way.

Crate training is not supposed to be used as a punishment. The crate is supposed to be a safe place for the puppy to retreat to - and when used correctly it will help with house training.

But putting the puppy in its crate when it's been crying and barking is cruel. The puppy will associate the crate with being punished. The puppy's only way of communicating is to be vocal - by barking and crying he (or she) is telling you that he's lonely, or frightened, or bored, or wants some company and something to do.

Your partner sounds like a lazy dog-owner who wants the benefits of a dog with none of the responsibilities. Which is not fair to the dog or you.

I'd suggest telling your partner that he has three choices. He either steps up and starts looking after the dog properly - which means really doing it, not just the half-arsed job that he's doing now. Or he re-homes the puppy with people who care enough to look after it properly, or he moves out.

And that if he wants to carry on living with you then treating animals kindly - which also means being fully responsible for them - is non-negotiable.

PS. Very long walks are not recommended for young puppies as it can damage their bones - which are still developing. Little and often is better.

www.thekennelclub.org.uk/getting-a-dog-or-puppy/general-advice-about-caring-for-your-new-puppy-or-dog/puppy-and-dog-walking/#:~:text=A%20good%20rule%20of%20thumb,go%20out%20for%20much%20longer.

I didn't agree to getting a dog and I never would have

Sorry to sound like I’m saying it’s all your fault OP and I agree your DP sounds a less than suitable dog owner, but you had the choice to say no about him moving in if it meant he was bringing puppy - so you do have to bear some responsibility now. You can’t just see it whimpering in the conservatory and ignore it because it’s his dog and you don’t know anything about dogs. You either have to be much firmer with your DP or yes rehome.

I can’t understand this at all tbh. Your DP sounds like a knob end.

NB I meant rehome the dog not your DP. But actually....

Virtually all dogs I’ve ever known and I’m on my 4th and 5th, prefer to be with their owners. Sticking it in the conservatory won’t help. Mine want me to be in the garden with them, cuddle them etc.

As a pp said, a 2 hour walk for a 5 month old puppy will fuck it’s joints.

Yet another dickhead buying a puppy without wanting to look after it. I'd have to dump him for his cruelty and stupidity to be honest. Puppies need interaction, they are babies, they are learning, they need reassurance and companionship. I feel so sad for that poor pup.

he reckons that the puppy needs to get used to being on it's own for when we go back to work and need to leave it

Your DP is an idiot.

This is awful to read, you can’t keep the puppy locked away because of the cat, the poor baby needs training, love and affection.

What breed is the puppy? How young are your children? Are they comfortable around the puppy?

I know you were forced into this situation, your DP really needs to step up and take some responsibility, also the pup only needs short walks, 25 mins max on hard surface, on lead but can be a bit longer off lead on grassy areas etc.

If you’re not willing to get let the puppy and cat get used to each other then you need to rehome to a family who will give the pup unconditional love and the right amount of attention, this is cruel.

Send him back to his own house with his dog. What an awful time to move a man into your DC home never mind bringing his dog. he sounds like a shite owner too

Shocking behaviour
Your "D"P is not a good dog owner and should rehome ASAP

My jaw was open at 2 hour walk let alone the rest of your DP's puppy parenting skills. You've had good advice on this thread, take it.

Oh my fucking god op. That's no life for a puppy. You are destroying it mentally. Why can't it wander round the house if youre home? Poor thing! It cries and then gets put it a cage. I want to shove your stupid partner in a cage.

What a prize twat he is. Take the dog to his relatives, if they are not also twats, and never get another dog. And boot him out while you’re at it, selfish, cruel git

@Puppyproblem123 why isn’t the puppy allowed to roam down stairs? Play with the kids to use up his energy? Pup wants company and crying cause it’s lonely.

I'm sat here with my 8 month old dog on my lap and thought about this thread and cried.

I can't imagine her locked out of our lives, but close enough to hear us all and cry for attention, whilst being ignored :(

Would you do that to a child?

Quite part from all the other comments your puppy will get heatstroke and die if you leave it in the conservatory.

Please rehome him or re-think your strategy. Your puppy and cat will learn to get along together if they have to. Please do not leave him to die in a hot conservatory.