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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:

Dragongirl10 · 31/01/2021 16:12

Op it really is cruel to leave a vry young puppy for longer than a few minutes.
Pup will develop anxiety and bad habbits, but also it is unkind., and the pupp will be distressed every day, also you cannot toilet train that way.

Just because people do it doesn't make it right for the dog.

LittleBoPeep95 · 31/01/2021 16:12

My dog is happy to be left alone for a couple of hours, but it's rare I do actually leave him that long. Mostly its an hour while I do the food shopping, or 30 mins when I do school run (pre covid). I wouldn't dream of leaving him 3 hours a day, unless I could fit in a good 2 or 3 mile walk first. Or of course if you could afford a dog walker that's an option.

SirVixofVixHall · 31/01/2021 16:13

Agree you cannot leave a very small puppy. My current dog came to us at eight weeks, but my previous two were 12 weeks and 14 weeks, and 14 weeks was the most straightforward, but even so I didn’t leave any of them initially. Eight week old puppies are like tiny babies, they need a lot of attention , they need to go out to wee every hour, they really can’t be left alone.

bluebluezoo · 31/01/2021 16:14

I think you either need to get the breeder to hang on to the dog for a few more weeks until the summer holidays so you can be with the dog for the six weeks to build up the separation.

Unless you have a dh who can take some a/l?

Or do you have a relative who’ll come and dogsit in the morning for a few weeks?

It’s not so much the leaving the dog, it’s more a small puppy will need gradually introducing to it’s new routine. Just leaving it the first day for hours is not the best idea. By sept it will be nearly 6m and used to you and it’s environment.

Original poster

ree1805 · 31/01/2021 16:27

Thanks for the advice everyone

OP posts:

Lastbonestanding · 31/01/2021 17:54

I think if you only work 3 hours a day you could provide a much better home for a dog than a lot of current dog owners do. The first few months are a problem but there must be ways you can get round this. For example, a lot of dogs sleep in a different room to the owners overnight and are therefore alone and sleeping for hours. Could you have your pup sleep in with you, get up early and spend time with it and give it a walk when it is a bit older and then leave it for 3 hours with a licki mat, a filled Kong toy and puppy pads so it didn't have to hold on for longer than it would be comfortable holding on for. I disagree that this would be awful compared to prime who spend all day with their pup but leave it in a different room overnight.

Countrywalking · 31/01/2021 18:02

Get a cat. Or you need to work from home full time or be retired.

We have a 4 year old dog. My husband has always worked from home. We have a dog walker though who takes him 2 days a week for a lunchtime walk which he loves. He gets to socialise with his friends and loves to ride in her van.
He was used to being on his own for a couple of hours say on a Saturday night if we went to the cinema pre lock down but we realise when we're able to leave the house for an evening or something we will need to build up his time alone so it's not a massive shock to him.
We've also notice because we're now constantly at home our dog really clings to us on walks.
Animals are very sensitive and as a pack animal changes to their pack can really affect them.

Original poster

ree1805 · 31/01/2021 18:03

I will do all I can I dog walker, toys, mats, treats I didn't ever say I'd leave him and that was that. I did say I understand he will of left him mum I just asked the question greatful for any help. If I need to have a re think I will n leave it till another time. Don't want people to think bad if me before I even have him

OP posts:

Costacoffeeplease · 31/01/2021 18:14

Don’t get a pup unless you can devote a LOT of time to them and around their routine. They will need fed several times a day, toilet training which means taking them out every 20-30 mins and after eating and sleeping, and general training which starts with 10 minutes at a time up to several hours a day, for up to 18 months

Unsure33 · 31/01/2021 18:20

I agree with gradually extending the times you go out if you can . And make sure the room is very safe. You will be surprised what damage a small puppy will do . Chewing , biting , etc.

You could have a crate but not close the door , they do like to have a feel safe area .

Spodge · 31/01/2021 18:59

Taking time off to be with a pup 24/7 and then suddenly going back to a normal routine is a recipe for disaster even if that normal routine only involves leaving pup for an hour.

If you know you will have to leave pup for 3 hours or so eventually then you need to be leaving pup for short periods from day 1. Pup needs to be in a safe environment with no access to things you don't want it to destroy or things that could harm it (electrical cords, for example). Some pups adjust better than others and this can depend on the breed.

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 19:01

@ree1805

In the first few weeks it's really not about having a dog Walker or someone who pops in. It is about building a secure attachment, paying attention to his needs (toileting every 30 mins, feeding 4x/day) training (a few minutes, multiple times a day) and social contact (dogs have been selected for 30,000 years to want to be with humans)

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/01/2021 19:05

Presumably this is a yet-to-be-born puppy?

We got a puppy last July. As others have said, you need to be with your puppy for the first few weeks/months. Our puppy is incredibly well socialised and goes to day care once a week which he loves. But he wasn't ready to do a whole day there until he was 5 months, and we built it up with shorter sessions.

Nanny0gg · 31/01/2021 19:12

@ree1805

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

Depends on the breed. Some really can't cope with being left.

And 'popping' in isn't the answer.

Please read up about what being a responsible dog owner entails

Xxxwhattodonextxxx · 31/01/2021 19:17

Grow up!!!

What a stupid thing to say. If you are concerned about leaving a puppy on its own why are you thinking about leaving it!!!

TriSeaSwim2021 · 31/01/2021 19:19

Please read the puppy threads in the dog section they will give you a real insight into the huge demands a puppy places on you for at least the first 3mths it’s really full on. Even with 2adults WFH and a responsible teenager we found it full on looking after a puppy.

category12 · 31/01/2021 19:35

Doggy daycare for the mornings?

Wouldn't it be better to consider a rescue dog anyway? There are so many dogs that need homes, and stops you adding to the demand for puppies.

Jericha · 31/01/2021 19:42

For the first couple of months between us we took annual leave, worked from home and my lovely mum and dad popped in so pup wasn't alone for more than an hour. I think this really helped getting him settled and toilet trained.

baileysisforme · 31/01/2021 19:56

If you work in a school can you not delay getting a puppy until the summer holidays then at least you can stay with a puppy for the first few weeks.

We have a ddog who is coming up to one and she has rarely been left alone due to corona. Although I did make a conscious effort to leave her for an hour here or there to avoid separation issues and she is fine now

NeilBuchananisBanksy · 31/01/2021 19:58

What is the breed op?

birdglasspen · 31/01/2021 20:00

Could you get a puppy when you have holiday time as it would be best in terms of house training if you are with it to begin with. You'll have time to take it for a walk each morning before leaving it? Of course lots of people have dogs that are left alone a lot. That doesn't mean that everyone who reads your post is going to agree it's a good idea. If you just leave puppy for hours at a time then it may will become destructive and not the sweet little dog you want? Will a family member/friend be happy to come every day to help out? That's quite a commitment. I only got a dog when I was able to take it to work with me, even then it was alone a bit, although with other dogs. I had time to walk before and after work and only left dog alone for short spells to begin with once it was older, I'm not sure it would be great for a puppy to left in a crate for 3 hours to be honest. An older dog might manage, they might also have really bad anxiety from being left alone......

bluebluezoo · 31/01/2021 20:03

What is the breed op?

Ooh can we do a poll?

My guess is a cockerpoo or other portmanteau breed, or a dachshund, pug or frenchie. Money is on a poo of some sort though....

Original poster

ree1805 · 31/01/2021 20:17

Dachshund

OP posts:

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 20:23

@ree1805

Dachshund

From a reputable breeder with health checked parents and no extreme conformation that will result in lifelong health and welfare issues?

Duvetdweller · 31/01/2021 20:23

Genuine question - when did it become so stressful to have a dog?!! We had dogs the whole time we were growing up, 80’s/90’s and they were just there!! Mum and dad went to work - we went to school?! When did it become normal to say you can’t leave a dog on it’s own for 10 minutes?!! I haven’t got a dog now, even thought the kids are desperate because it all sounds so stressful and consuming!!!

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