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Original poster

New puppy

102 replies

ree1805 · 31/01/2021 10:48

Hi was wondering does anyone leave their puppy. I pick mine up end of May. I work in a school and worry about the morning time as I come home at lunch. The puppy would be on their own for 3 hrs I have lots of toys, bones, toys to make him find treat but I got to work and I'm sure I'm not the only one. Don't really want to put him in a crate but will if I have to. Just wondered if that time length is OK. Will get a dog walk for when he can go out but till then. Thanks for reading x

OP posts:

Frenchfancy · 31/01/2021 10:52

You would be better posting in the doghouse!

I work morning and my puppy was left from about 12 weeks old. She sleeps when I'm out, but it does mean an early morning to make sure she has stimulation first. Between 8 and 12 weeks would have been impossible. She needed to go out for a wee every hour.

EpochTime · 31/01/2021 14:47

Please don't get a dog then. A puppy should not be left alone for 3 hours.

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 14:49

@ree1805

I'm assuming you're taking annual leave for a few weeks to settle him?

If not then no, You can't take an 8 week old pup away from his mother/siblings and leave him caged alone for several hours and expect him not to develop developmental problems.

Mamagotskills · 31/01/2021 14:52

Until she was 12-14 weeks I don’t think we left her at all, we were crate training which helps but she needed toilet trips every 30mins or so all day. She would’ve been v distressed if we left her that long. Even at 5months we hadn’t left for 3hrs

If someone can’t be home for the first few weeks at least I’d really suggest not getting a pup

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 14:53

And when you say you'll be home at lunch. Does that mean you work 9-3 (or similar) so actually you'll be leaving him for 5 hours or so a day with no companionship or stimulation or toileting opportunities except during your lunch break?

You work in child development. How do you think that might affect a neonatal animal?

Imiss2019 · 31/01/2021 14:56

3 hours is to long to leave a new puppy.

Imiss2019 · 31/01/2021 14:57

Also if you work a full school day 6 hours with only a quick visit is really not good and you’ll be potentially setting yourself up for lots of issues

Santaiscovidfree · 31/01/2021 14:58

Dpuppy is 15 months and hasn't been alone as yet!!
Can't imagine working part time with a new dpuppy will work.

Original poster

ree1805 · 31/01/2021 15:20

Thanks for all the replies. People will dogs must not work then.
Lots of help thanks

OP posts:

TheChip · 31/01/2021 15:24

Just keep him in small confined room where he cant chew wires and shit. 3 hours is not going to do him any harm. You might have a few accidents since he is so young, but you will be having them anyway while training.

I crated mine when I had to leave when he was just a pup. He used that time to sleep.
I think even if you weren't going to work, it is important to make sure you do let your puppy know you do leave from an early age to help avoid separation anxiety

Original poster

ree1805 · 31/01/2021 15:28

I'm goin to maybe leave it a while longer or see if I can get family and friends to pop in as I understand he's goin to be young. People must have to leave them at some point to work I know lots of single mums who have dogs they have to work. X

OP posts:

Wolfiefan · 31/01/2021 15:32

You pick a pup up end of may?
No decent breeder would let you have a dig without discussing how long it would be left for.
You can’t leave a puppy. Even 10 minutes may mean it destroys the house, gets upset or messes all over the place.
Adult dogs may cope with daycare or a dog Walker. But no one should have a dog and leave it alone all day. Single parent or not.

NonagonInfinityOpensTheDoor · 31/01/2021 15:35

People must have to leave them at some point to work
People don’t or shouldn’t just leave a small puppy though. You need to gradually build up the time alone. And even then grown dogs shouldn’t be left for more than 4 hours in a day. Most responsible dog owners will send them to daycare.

I know lots of single mums who have dogs they have to work.
Just because you know people who leave their dogs for 8+ hours a day doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do.

Dpuppy is 15 months and hasn't been alone as yet!!
You’ve not left your 15 month old dog alone? Even for 10 mins? I hope he doesn’t get separation anxiety when you do need to leave him as he will be so attached to always being around humans.

4Mongrels · 31/01/2021 15:37

You will definitely need a few weeks at home with him before considering leaving him for this long.

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 15:41

@ree1805

Thanks for all the replies. People will dogs must not work then. Lots of help thanks

Why do you want a dog?

Is it because you want what's best for the dog? Or because you fancy a puppy?

There are plenty of crap dog owners about. It's why behavioural and psychological problems in dogs are on the rise, and the biggest killer of dogs in the UK is behavioural problems.

It really depends what kind of life you can offer a dog. Do you genuinely think leaving an 8 week old puppy alone in a crate for 5-6 hours each day plus another 6-9 hours overnight will be good for behaviour and development?

hiredandsqueak · 31/01/2021 15:42

You have to teach a dog to be happy to be left alone. We started once he was house trained so at about twelve weeks for just five minutes to start with. Once he'd mastered five minutes happily we increased it to ten minutes and so on. As an adult he is happy enough to be left for a couple of hours but exh and I have a dog share agreement where I have his dog and he has mine if we need to leave them alone for any length of time. It works well for us as the dogs like each other and get to play and go walking together.

sapnupuas · 31/01/2021 15:46

@ree1805

Thanks for all the replies. People will dogs must not work then. Lots of help thanks

Just because it's not what you wanted to hear doesn't mean it's not helpful.

Santaiscovidfree · 31/01/2021 15:48

Got dpuppy last Feb. Covid hit. Schools shut.. Not much work. Dpuppy and other ddogs are so happy!! No anxiety now... Can actually leave the room and she doesn't follow!! Been no need or opportunity to leave her alone!

Hoppinggreen · 31/01/2021 15:49

I virtually 3 months off when we got our dog. I understand that it’s not an option for most people but I was working freelance so did some wfh and when I had to go to see a client I paid a local dog sitter to come and spend the time I was out here with him.
He wasn’t left alone part from for school run and the odd hour until he was about 4 months old and then we gradually built it up. I dint leave him longer than 4 hours now or he goes to daycare and I won’t do 4 hours then pop back and go out again either
Lots of people probably do leave their dogs for longer but it’s not what you should be doing and as a homechecker for a dog charity I would probably not pass someone who said they were going to do that

ChippyDucks150 · 31/01/2021 15:52

I work 9-3 and my dog gets picked up by his walker at 830 and I go get him on my way back from work. Dogs are sociable wee things.
You really really can't leave a puppy alone in your home for hours as soon as you get him. Either take annual leave, or if you're term time, wait and get a dog when it's the summer holidays. You'll need to crate train him, and train him to gradually be left alone, you can't just abandon him for hours and expect him to be ok??

bitliketonyhares · 31/01/2021 15:56

You need to take annual leave to settle the pup. If you're going to be working in the first couple weeks, you shouldn't be having one. People popping in to check isn't good enough.

Tellto · 31/01/2021 15:57

you don't leave them at all for a month or so and then start to build up like 5 -10 minutes at a time, but it takes about 6 months before you can leave them for an hour or two. if you're doing it longer he needs to be in daycare for the time u are at work. its only fully grown adult dogs that can be left for 3-4 hours (per day)

LaceyBetty · 31/01/2021 16:04

"Why do you want a dog?

Is it because you want what's best for the dog? Or because you fancy a puppy?"

I agree with not leaving a puppy for extended periods, but some of these responses are OTT. Of course she fancies a puppy. Nobody gets a puppy because it's the best thing for the puppy, it because they want a puppy.

userxx · 31/01/2021 16:07

Dogs are hard work, especially pups. You treat a puppy like you would a baby, so no, please don't leave it alone.

Toolonglurking · 31/01/2021 16:08

Everyone i know with a dog either doesn't work or takes their dog to work with them.

Don't get a dog if you can't look after it. Just because other people are shitty dog owners it doesn't mean you should set your bar that low too.
Get a cat.

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