Preparing early for work return

[Polkadotpjs]

How is everyone who will go out and leave a dog planning to phase in leaving their pups? My husband is now WFH until March earliest but I expect there to be odd days before then where he will go in. Plan is dog walker/ doggy day care for then but I'm very aware all this time we are here now, albeit working but "present" may set us up for a fall. I'm trying to be realistic here so don't flame me please.

Pressed to soon. I was going to say we have a plan for long term but don't want a shock transition. We've gone into this very much with our eyes opening after 2 years of discussion and know friends who have got a pup on the weekend and gone to work Monday and all has been fine making me wonder if I should hide from him in the house (ridiculous as it sounds )

The key is a very gradual build up - if your dog has never been left, you may need to start with just a few minutes. You are teaching your dog to be confident that if you go away, you will always come back, so if your dog starts to show anxiety, you're building up too fast and should step back to a level he is comfortable with.

It can help to make sure your dog is occupied - e.g. with puzzle toys and some dogs like to have the TV or radio on at a low volume in the background.

A crate or indoor kennel (left open) can help by giving your dog a 'safe space'.

It goes without saying that your dog should never be left too long - four hours is about the maximum, so bear this in mind when arranging your doggy day care.

Take it slowly. Start by getting him used to the area you want to leave him in - be that a crate, a pen or a just a certain room of the house.

Then, start leaving him there without you - it may be that he can only be left 30 seconds at first, but persevere and you'll be able to extend the time. Try leaving him with a nice tasty chew - a stuffed kong or similar to keep him distracted so he doesn't notice/mind that he's alone.

You should be able to keep extending the time so he can happily be left for a few hours. However, like a PP said, four hours really is the maximum they should be left each day (ignore your friend who left a puppy alone all day), so you're going to need a walker/daycare/a sitter on days you're both out of the house all day.

If I were you I would contact some walkers now and maybe see if they can take your pup out once or twice a week. That way, your puppy will be used to the walker and the routine of going out with them each week if that makes sense. Most walkers should do a meet and greet with you and your pup (I'm doing mine in people's gardens or at the local park for now) and then you can ask any questions you might have and see how they interact with your puppy.

Good luck!