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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:
Sadsiblingatsea · 31/01/2021 20:26

Maybe buy a cat

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 20:30

@Duvetdweller

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!!!
And your parents took no time off work to settle in your puppy? They brought it hone, popped it in a crate and went out for a full day at work?

I remember dogs in the 80s too. Mostly un neutered, roaming latchkey dogs kicked out in the morning and shitting everywhere.

As has already been said there are many types of dog owner. If you think the above is fine that's your opinion, but Animal welfare science has improved dramatically in the last 40 years. At the same time pet ownership (and abandonment, and behaviour problems) have increased massively. Would you still parent your child like in the 80s?

Surely knowing better means we should do better?

LaceyBetty · 31/01/2021 20:37

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

This is ridiculously dramatic. Absolutely not true. Leaving a dog alone for three hours is absolutely fine. Maybe not an 8-week-old, but the OP has a job pattern that is perfectly suited to dog ownership. If it were up to some posters, no one could ever enjoy dog ownership.

pinkprosseco · 31/01/2021 20:40

If you get the school summer holidays off then why not get one right at the beginning then you have 6 weeks with the puppy. Then get someone to pop in at first when you return to work. Make sure you're up early before and make sure you're home straight after work . Good luck and enjoy

userxx · 31/01/2021 20:42

Would you still parent your child like in the 80s?

Excellent point. All sorts of wrongness going on.

Wolfiefan · 31/01/2021 20:42

@pinkprosseco because you won’t buy a puppy from a decent breeder in a particular week. Decent breeders don’t have that many litters.

rookiemere · 31/01/2021 20:44

Absolutely fine to leave an older dog even puppy for that length of time, provided you've worked up to that. But you leave a puppy alone like that and it's a license for separation anxiety and a really unsettled pup. Please don't do that.

Duvetdweller · 31/01/2021 20:45

No the dogs never had crates. Most were rescue dogs - they just were there, taken out in the morning, evening etc. Also I would absolutely advocate being a kid of the 80’s, far less complicated

Haffiana · 31/01/2021 20:48

Would you still parent your child like in the 80s?

Extraordinary that it has become normal for people to imagine they have to 'parent' a dog.

Mind you, it is only on MN.

TheVolturi · 31/01/2021 21:03

I have to say I think most of the people replying to op have been quite rude and judgy. She's not done anything wrong she's asked for opinions on what's acceptable, which makes her a potential good dog owner, or she wouldn't care would she? Are people who have never had a dog before meant to just know these things or are they meant to ask and find out?

SatsumasOrClementines · 31/01/2021 21:06

Dachshund

I have a dachshund and am part of lots of dachshund groups. I’m happy to answer any questions if you PM me.

They are a notoriously anxious breed and many suffer with separation anxiety. It takes a long time, good training and a bit of luck to get a dachshund who is happy to be left. You won’t be able to leave it for three hours immediately but after some time may be able to. If yours turns out to be anxious at being left then I would recommend doggy day care instead of a dog walker.

It’s also worth noting that some dachshunds, mostly minis, take a long time to toilet train: months and months! So you won’t be able to leave it for a while anyway as you’ll need to be taking it out to the toilet every half hour/hour.

They’re not an easy choice by any means I wouldn’t be without mine for the world. If you want any more information feel free to ask.

Starsandsparkle01 · 31/01/2021 21:12

With our dog we built up the time over several months, it wasnt until she was a lot older she was left for 4 to 5 hours with noone checking in but we were an adult household with everyone working different hours so generally someone was about. If it were me getting a pup and still having full time work commitments, I'd take off a few weeks to build up her confidence and get used to you. Then get a dog walker or doggy day care until they're a about a year. Our family dog is now left regularly whilst we work normal 9 to 5 jobs and she is absolutely fine, she is also a lot older but I genuinely dont think she minds with wfh in lockdown shes still just sleeping or pottering about all day.

LaceyBetty · 31/01/2021 21:15

@bluebluezoo

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....

This is so rude and uncalled for. I have no words.
Veterinari · 31/01/2021 21:16

@Haffiana

Would you still parent your child like in the 80s?

Extraordinary that it has become normal for people to imagine they have to 'parent' a dog.

Mind you, it is only on MN.

@haffiana literally no one has suggested that you should parent your dog. You're being absurd.

The point is that cultural norms change over time. Responsible pet ownership norms have changed over the last 40 years just like parenting norms have.

Hope that's clear enough for you Hmm

Veterinari · 31/01/2021 21:20

@TheVolturi

I have to say I think most of the people replying to op have been quite rude and judgy. She's not done anything wrong she's asked for opinions on what's acceptable, which makes her a potential good dog owner, or she wouldn't care would she? Are people who have never had a dog before meant to just know these things or are they meant to ask and find out?
No she's said that she can't take time off work and is planning on getting an anxious, difficult to toilet train breed that is prone to significant health problems and backyard breeding and then leaving it alone in a crate all days from the age of 8 weeks.

She's asked for no advice and barely engaged at all with any advice on this thread.

But I suspect that we have different expectations of what constitutes responsible pet ownership

LaceyBetty · 31/01/2021 21:22

@Veterinari she literally said she might leave the puppy alone for three hours, not all day, and literally asked if that was ok. Not agreeing that is it ok to leave the pup, but your are completely making stuff up.

Helenluvsrob · 31/01/2021 21:24

Dog minder. The sort that has them in own home with own dogs. Like a child minder.

Don’t even think of leaving a tiny puppy.

Yes some dogs are fine alone for max 4 hrs when they’ve grown up .... but some aren’t and definitely not new pups

Haffiana · 31/01/2021 21:24

40 years ago people were not so anxious. They were not anxious parents, they didn't have anxious children and their dogs were dogs and fitted in with family life.

Nowadays there is the rulez book and The One Way it must be done, and anxiety if it isn't done the same as everyone else.

As you correctly say it is merely a cultural 'norm'. Not necessarily right, and not necessarily better.

Original poster
ree1805 · 31/01/2021 21:28

I haven't answered as not many have been very helpful just making their own minds up did I say I can't take time off did I say I was gonna crate him. Alot of people on here have been very aggressive, some find it funny doin polls. My post was for advice and despite me saying I'll wait or do what ever I can them posts where blanked. Being told to get a cat or retire or not work helps heaps. So sorry I haven't replied, iv been nice about all comments thanked people but no iv not replied

OP posts:
ladybee28 · 31/01/2021 21:30

@Haffiana

40 years ago people were not so anxious. They were not anxious parents, they didn't have anxious children and their dogs were dogs and fitted in with family life.

Nowadays there is the rulez book and The One Way it must be done, and anxiety if it isn't done the same as everyone else.

As you correctly say it is merely a cultural 'norm'. Not necessarily right, and not necessarily better.

40 years ago people smoked on planes, lay in the sun covered in olive oil, and used arsenic in buildings.

Some things are most definitely better, and understanding and responding responsibly to animal behaviour is one of them.

category12 · 31/01/2021 21:34

I think another thing that has changed since the '80s is the prevalence of buying specific fashionable breeds etc and paying out stupid money for dogs that have had health problems bred into the poor little buggers.

bluebluezoo · 31/01/2021 21:36

They are a notoriously anxious breed and many suffer with separation anxiety. It takes a long time, good training and a bit of luck to get a dachshund who is happy to be left

This.

Dachshunds are notorious for separation anxiety. My friend got one recently, they cannot leave it. It currently goes everywhere with them, even short trips, while they work with a behaviourist. Fortunately the mum is retired so it is manageable for them.

You need to take this into account- again either rethink the date of arrival, find a dogsitter for at least the first 6 months, or rethink the breed for something less known for separation anxiety.

Of course nothing is guaranteed and you may get the easiest dog ever, but probably best for your sanity, neighbours and home furnishings if you have a plan B...

Haffiana · 31/01/2021 21:41

Some things are most definitely better, and understanding and responding responsibly to animal behaviour is one of them.

No, it is just what you have been told is responsible and normal. It has no objective reality. In 10 years time the advice will all be different. Trust me on this - I have owned dogs all my life.

Meanwhile in the rest of the world, different things are normal, different ways of looking after dogs are advised, and dogs are perfectly happy. They adapt. They have been living with Man for thousands of years.

Haffiana · 31/01/2021 21:43

On the other hand I agree that Dachshunds are an anxious breed, and I do wonder at a breeder that is allowing a pup to go to an owner without experience...

Flatcokeisnojoke · 31/01/2021 21:47

MN is bonkers about dogs Grin

Not even leaving a 15 month old dog alone

Also, rescues are NOT easy to come by, barely available and you can’t get one if you don’t have a garden with a 6ft fence, no kids, a job

Fwiw I got my rescue at 5 months and left her alone for 1-2 hrs a day from day 1, then later up to 5hrs a day

But maybe for a brand new pup taking time off work for a week at least is a good idea OP

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