To think it's going to be impossible to work with a young puppy?

[uhohhereweego]

I am a single mum to an 8 year old DD. We brought home a 10 week Labrador puppy around 10 days ago. I wfh however took 2 weeks annual leave to help settle her in so I had plenty of time. It's been great, we've spent lots of time with her. Lots of playing, training, cuddling, bonding, and lots of headway on potty training.

I'm due back at work on Monday however, and I just don't see how it's going to work. She hates her crate, even though I have followed all the advice. She cries and whimpers if I'm out of sight just to go to the bathroom, or if I'm on the sofa and she is on the floor. Never mind sitting up at the kitchen island with her running around.

Is this just something dogs get used to and I need to just accept for a little while?

What do others do? I mean it would be great if I could take 6 months off but obviously that's not possible and I don't believe any other dog owners do that either. So practically what do you do when you have to go to work but have a puppy that needs your attention also?

I can attend to her needs as in, can feed her (obviously), take her out every hour for the toilet. I could play maybe 5/10 mins morning and afternoon and then lots more at nighttime once work is done. But what about her whimpering whilst I am in meetings?

On top of that, I feel guilt and as if she's being neglected if not getting my 24/7 attention.

You seriously thought 2 weeks was 'plenty of time' to settle a puppy? 🤦‍♀️

Yes to help her settle in. No need for your snarky comment. How long would you recommend someone take off work for a puppy?

Why even comment? So rude

YANBU and should have thought about that before getting a puppy

shes not wrong though

Well can someone answer my question - how long does the average person take off work when they get a puppy?

How about getting some games/puzzles for her like a snuffle mat or stuffed kong. When our lab was that young he slept for a couple of hours at a time but he's settled into wfh well. You could use the 10 minutes you've got for some training as that'll keep her mind occupied.

The early months with a puppy are hard work but it's worth it when they're a bit older

If you work from home it will be fine. She won’t be on her own. I would give her things to keep her occupied when you’re in meetings like stuffed kongs, snuffle mats etc. my lab is 1.5 now and was obsessed with chewing as a pup so give her lots of things to chew. It definitely gets easier and she will settle. I also worked from home with mine and she was fine. It will get easier don’t worry

Yes got her a kong today actually! I should mention I only work 3 days per week so it's not full time so will have my full attention the other 4 days! Oh and dd will be back at 3.30 to play

@uhohhereweego ignore the stupid comments. Ofcourse people don’t take months of work when they get a new puppy. I think you have done well having two weeks off! I can’t give you any tips on how to manage both (I don’t know much about dogs) but I am sure you will both find a routine.

I’m surprised you thought 2 weeks would be plenty of time.

ours was a few weeks older than that when he came home. It was over Christmas so DH and I took leave (3 weeks each but overlapping so pup got 4 weeks with at least one of us available). We were aware this was a very short timeframe for pup to settle but it worked out in the end.

during these four weeks we ensured we didn’t overwhelm pup with constant attention. Ww gave him calm time as well as play time. We left him alone in the room for short periods, gradually increasing the time before returning to him.

I sat my office in the room the puppy was confined to (conservatory) and made excellent use of the mute button and wireless headphones. I planned in puppy training slots before important meetings to tire out puppy. It was a struggle for about 3 or 4 months and he did once crap in the middle of the floor in my office ( once we’d moved into the wider house) whilst I was on the phone. He’s 4 now and so used to the wfh vibe. He does still seem to woof at the postman at exactly the wrong moment.

The ‘average person’ doesn’t get a puppy if work means they can’t give it the proper amount of attention.

when our lab was a puppy she could only be left from 3 months and for no longer than an hour. By the time she was 9 months old we could leave her for half a day. If it’s any longer we get our dog walker to take her out for the afternoon.

You've been unrealistic about the reality of puppies. Working from home rather than outside the home isn't enough. You're going to have months of this, then when you think things are settling down the dog will hit adolescence and will be testing boundaries etc, much like a human would.
Dogs are considered puppies until age 2. Some breeds become placid, some don't.
Your best bet is to look for doggy daycare.

We had a puppy during WFH and it was fine. Snuffle mats, kongs, loads of enrichment games (Google them), set up bed in corner of the room puppy is in.

They should be sleeping for about 18/20 hours a day at that age so I’d enforce nap times. This is what the crate was really useful for. Give it a go, and try the flitting game for easing the puppy’s separation anxiety.

Also don your hard hat for the comments here!

OP, I was you two years ago except I had teens on summer holidays. As soon as they went back to school I organised a dog walker to come every day to take the mutt out for 1-2 hours. We did playtime in the morning, dog walker midday and then the kids entertained her when they came in from school. An evening walk sometimes for good measure.

My dog is a lab mix, and there are labs in my park. It does get easier. They are sedate dogs, and calm once they get their exercise. Throw money at the problem for now, and once she is out of the crazy puppy stage it will get a lot easier. Mine can mooch around the house with minimal grumbling if I have a buy work day, and is happy with a walk or half an hour of fetch morning and afternoon as long as she gets a walk later.

Don’t worry, this is manageable. Enjoy the lovely puppy days!

Just to say also - it really depends on your puppy but ours didn’t chew anything, slept through from the first night, was really easy to potty train, didn’t have any separation anxiety and we could leave her for progressively longer periods of time almost right away.

Youll get loads of comments saying that puppies chew the furniture / poo everywhere but that isn’t the case for every puppy, it really depends on the personality and temperament of yours.

Why are you even mentioning her crate if you're home all day? Crating her would be cruel.

Put her bed in the room you're in.

I can’t give you any tips on how to manage both (I don’t know much about dogs)

Well that much is clear...

OP, what people tend to do is make sure a puppy wouldn't be left to whine and fret, while their owner is at work. This is why rescue centers for example, make sure a puppy will have someone there to give it attention and take care of its needs until it becomes more independent.

It saves people returning them when the bored puppy has chewed the furniture.

Stuff the kong with his food (assuming it’s wet food) and freeze it. More challenging and takes longer to finish.

when you have time (ie not at work) continue to work on separation. Leave pup alone for a few minutes and return only when he’s not whining. If whining is continuous, just try to go back during a brief pause. Never make a big fuss of pup upon your return. Just re-enter the room and ignore him for a few minutes. Then go over to give him a little attention.

Labradors are notoriously high maintenance as puppies— later not so much. ( long standing Lab owner)
As pups they need lots of interaction, constant reinforcement in training. It’s like they forget a command immediately if not rewarded. They’re not great at being alone. Give the dog a couple of years of exercise and training and you’ll have a brilliant dog. They’re loyal and great fun.
At 10 weeks he/she’s too young for long walks so that’s where they need the constant interaction.
Kongs, as near indestructible toys as you can find. Talk to your vet, they’ll have lots of puppy advice.

Please don't crate her whilst you're home all day - she's way too little to understand why she is in a crate when you're right there.

Can you really not give her lots of little bits of attention throughout the day? Just 5-10 mins morning and afternoon? If your work is so full on and inflexible then she needs to go to puppy daycare or something really. You can't expect a 10-week-old puppy to go hours without attention.

In terms of what most people do, we got a puppy when our work schedules meant someone would always be around and available. Maybe an older dog would have been a better idea, but not much use now of course!