What would you do - Puppy dilemma

[NameChangeDoggy]

Hi! Less an AIBU and more a what would you do ..

If you had a 20 week old puppy and the whole family had to go to an important event would you ..

1. Put puppy in a kennel overnight (you can't leave them evenings only here, has to be all night) that he's only been to once for a half day puppy morning.

1. Leave them at home by themself (would be from 6pm to 10:30pm)

1. Neither, you'll have to cancel the event or you or your DH will have to miss it.

??

(Please be kind, I'm new to the whole puppy thing and know I might be getting things wrong. That's why I'm asking!)

It completely depends on the dog, none of us will know how he will react. If he prone to chewing things he shouldn’t? Is he toilet trained and able to hold it for that long? Will he bark and cry? Our dog would not have coped for that long at that age, we would have had someone he knows (e.g. a dog sitter he has met before) stay with him.

Option 2 if they are crate trained. It's only 4.5 hrs, pup should be ok.
If not, I would ask a friend or use a dog sitting/walking company and ask them to check in.

This.

It is not fair to ask for 4 hours alone if he has not yet been built up to that. Plus, you risk him being so distressed he will panic if left alone again.

A sitter is nnot expensive and will give you peace of mind.

Three .Don't leave a puppy alone it's too long and will interfere with toilet training.
a strange kennel with lots of smells,barking dogs,will leave him scared.
a puppy is a big commitment and you will always have to put their best interests first.
try to look at it from the puppys point of view.🐶🐶

Puppy will be fine for that amount of time by themselves. Wear them out with a lot of play and a good brisk walk and they should sleep most of the time that you are gone.

Yes dogs do take some planning but they aren’t the same as leaving a 5 mo old baby home alone 😁

It depends how long they’re used to being left and if they’re comfortable being left. Mine really struggled to be on his own until well over 6 months, I used to pay a local teenager to come and sit with him if we went out for the evening.

3

He'll be fine at home for 5 hours, just make sure you walk him to tire him out during the day and whatever you do don't make a fuss when you leave! Between now and then try leaving him at home a few hours as much as poss so he knows you come back x

I'm confused is it 6pm until 10.30pm? I'd entertain the puppy all day so he was tired then leave him, loads of fuss when you get home. Or have you heard of rover? Maybe a dog sitter

Definitely at home, 4.5 hours is fine, give him a nice long walk beforehand and go.

It's much less stressful for him than all night in a kennel

I definitely wouldn't use the overnight kennel if your event is only 4.5 hours. What a silly rule they have!

My preference would be to get a dog sitter for the evening. Friend, neighbour, local dog walker who might do it as extra, local teenager looking to earn a bit of easy cash?

Failing that, I'd leave the puppy home but one of you return early, presuming there is more than one of you in your household. I don't think I'd be happy to leave it alone for 4.5 hours.

I think as long as the puppy has had plenty of exercise and stimulation during the day, has eaten, and has access to water, this is absolutely fine. The puppy and your house would probably be safest if you use a crate, or at least shut them in somewhere they can’t do too much damage to themselves or your house.

2 assuming they’ve been left before and they’re not too destructive. It’ll be the evening anyway so a couple of decent walks during the day, play time and tea and the puppy will probably sleep the whole time. It’s much better than a cold kennel!

I think it would be unusual for kennels to have reception service at 10.30 in the evening.

Option 4

Really long walk at 5pm, massive dinner, leave the radio or telly on, maybe even a little hot water bottle and leave them in a crate or small enclosed area.

In kennels the puppy would probably spend a large part of the evening alone anyway. Mine have the most amazing life with stimulation but are always left from a young age. I’d do some shorter practice runs before if you haven’t done this before (with a kong/some scattered food). Go for a good walk before you go out and dog will I’m sure be just fine. It’s an important life skill for them to learn to be left. People are likely misguided if they think there would be any less time alone in a kennel environment. If you don’t have time to practice then something like a dog sitter would be a better option. But I really wouldn’t overthink it!

It's 4.5 hours in the evening. Why are people saying it's overnight?

Dog boarder. We have a rescue pug so not comfortable leaving her in a kennel we have a handful of dog boarders we use from Rover website. It's good to get them used to other people too.

I’d leave him at home but not alone - I’d get someone to sit with him. He’ll need the toilet and he’s too little to be left that long. Do you know a teenager who will puppy sit in exchange for a few quid or a pizza? Dream job, surely?!

Putting a puppy that age in a kennel environment is totally unacceptable and could traumatise it for life. Please consider a pet sitter or leaving pup after food and a walk at home, lights and TV on.

We've been in this situation. Either asked a friend if he can go their house for the evening (we made friends with dogs in the local park, for an evening a family from DC's class also fine). Or I have asked someone to pop in hallway through, and take him out for a walk. As two lots of 1.5 hours on own at that age should be fine.
I'd pay a babysitter (pup-sitter!) before I would use a kennel at that age. My teenage DC are always happy to pup-sit and prefer it by far to babysitting

Absolutely fine, and in my opinion best, to leave at home.

Mine would never have coped for that length of time by himself at that age, so we'd have paid for a dog sitter or asked FIL to come and sit with him.

Only you know your dog. Will they be distressed? Cry? Have an accident?

It's a dog not a baby, and it's 4 hours, have you never left it at all in 5 months?! Don't you ever go out as family somewhere you can't take a dog? What about work/school etc. Christ this is why you get people carrying drugs in handbags or turning up to visit with a dog, because they'll get lonely (said in a ridiculously baby voice).
Take the dog food a run , toilet last thing before you go, leave some engaging activities/Kong etc, leave a radio on if you like. Don't make a rod for your own back.

Haha! Dogs not drugs