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The doghouse

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Original poster

What is the best way to leave a 12 week old puppy alone?

31 replies

ProofBy1nduction · 10/04/2021 08:13

Hello. I have recently picked up our first family dog, a Labrador puppy. He is now 10 weeks old and is gorgeous. He has been ridiculously easy to house train and although he has his expected puppy crazy times, the whole process has been tiring but brilliant. We have followed the advice in 'Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy' by Steve Mann and it has worked for us (so far, we are only 2 weeks in!).

Dh and I organised it so between us we would have 3 weeks off work to settle in new puppy. I am a teacher and go back to work on 19th April. We then have 6 weeks before my DD who is in Year 11 finishes school, and she will be at home with him then. I break up early July so will have 2 months off until September.

Anyway, there are 2 weeks before he is fully vaccinated and can go to daycare, so he will be left in the house between 8:30 and 3:30 when my DC come back from school.

I bought a crate and he does go in it to sleep, but I haven't ruthlessly done crate training. He has been left alone in the crate a few times for about an hour when we have popped out and has been fine. DD stayed in the house two of the times upstairs and said he barked a couple of times but then was quiet.

We have a play pen too but haven't put it up. I am worried about leaving him over the two weeks.

I have arranged a puppy visits twice a day at 10am and 1:30pm and my SIL who is on maternity leave is going to see him at 12 every day.
I feel bad leaving him in the crate, and especially him being out of the crate for the visits but having to go back in after half an hour of freedom.

Do you think the play pen would be better for him than the crate? The crate is extra large and he is happy in it, but I don't like the idea of him being locked up repeatedly. He is not used to the playpen but I still have all next week to get him happy with it.

It is only 2 weeks but I am massively over thinking it all. Any advice or experience would be very much appreciated.

OP posts:

FelicityPike · 10/04/2021 08:15

I wouldn’t. I know that’s not helpful, but your puppy is still a baby.
Good that you’ve people going in to check on him though.

Motorina · 10/04/2021 08:16

Pop the crate in the playpen, door open. Leave some newspaper/a puppy pad down in the pen. That way he has his den to curl up in, but he won’t be stuck in there distressed with a full bladder.

Original poster

ProofBy1nduction · 10/04/2021 08:21

FelicityPike - I know and I wish we didn't have to for those two weeks. Entirely my fault for not checking about the daycare and vaccinations. Very stupid of me.

Motorina - that is a great idea - thanks.

OP posts:

Einsteinsings · 10/04/2021 08:22

We put the crate in the pen and left door open as previous poster said.

I was wfh but still has to leave pup for a couple of hours at a time for meetings and he was fine. Although he’s never had any problems being left- we might just be lucky!

Original poster

ProofBy1nduction · 10/04/2021 08:27

Thanks Einsteinsings. Our pup is also very chilled a lot of the time. I think we will make a crate/pen area. The crate is massive so won't fit within the pen but i can dismantle the pen and sort some kind of enclosure out.

OP posts:

Happenchance · 10/04/2021 08:39

If I'm reading this correctly, he's going to be alone for 5.5 hours in total per day, which is too long for most adult dogs to be left, let alone a 12 week puppy. He's at greater risk of developing separation anxiety if you do this.

Just because he settles when someone is upstairs doesn't mean that he settles when there is no one in the house. Dogs can tell when there is someone home. Have you filmed him when he is left completely alone? Have you asked the neighbors if they can hear him when he's left?

Veterinari · 10/04/2021 08:48

Most pups are fully vaccinated by 12 weeks. Why was his so late? Did he need to restart?

Have you done much socialising with him?

Veterinari · 10/04/2021 08:49

But yes crate in the playpen will be fine. Don't lock him in the crate

www.apbc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/APBC-Advice-4-Using-an-Indoor-Kennel.pdf

Veterinari · 10/04/2021 08:51

Have you started separation training him already? That needs to be a priority. Start with short periods alone (a few minutes) and build up gradually ensuring he doesn't get stressed

Also might be worth getting a baby cam to monitor him

Allaboutthatbass · 10/04/2021 08:52

Would your SIL be willing to puppy-sit him rather than just check up? Or break up the time by spending a couple of hours with him in the middle of the day?

Mabelene · 10/04/2021 08:52

I’m afraid this is ridiculous for a 12 week pup, poor thing

BJHair · 10/04/2021 08:53

I would use crate and pen or a baby stairgate to section off an area.
Start now though by leaving him on his own
Start with 5 -10 mins each hour on his own in the kitchen or pen area and build it up to longer periods .
Make sure he’s got plenty of toys to play with maybe invest in a cheap pet camera
Dogs mainly spend there time chilling and sleeping
I watch mine on the pet camera when I’m not at home he sleeps eats and farts all day .
Also maybe join a few FB pages for your breed I’ve always found them really helpful as you have the same type of dog so can get advice particular to your breed

AaronPurr · 10/04/2021 08:54

@Allaboutthatbass

Would your SIL be willing to puppy-sit him rather than just check up? Or break up the time by spending a couple of hours with him in the middle of the day?

I was wondering the same thing. It's too long for a puppy to be left. If your SIL is able to puppy sit for the 2 weeks it would be a lot kinder on the dog.

FAQs · 10/04/2021 08:56

So the max he is going to be left is two hours, that should be fine, I leave the TV on for our dog so she isn’t in silence.

DinosaurDiana · 10/04/2021 08:59

Do not leave him in a crate that long, it’s cruel.
The crate should be open so he can go in and out of it.
I got rid of the crate as it wasn’t necessary for mine, we made the area he was in puppy proof instead.

LeaveMyDamnJam · 10/04/2021 09:00

You can’t leave a puppy that long. Completely unacceptable. You will end up with an anxious dog.

Carouselfish · 10/04/2021 09:10

I wouldn't cage him. Have always given our dog run of the kitchen. Just make sure dangerous things out of reach like wires and bin. Leave cage open so he can sleep in it if he likes. I'd also leave radio on as that's always been soothing to our dogs. Human voices and music. Entertain and make fuss of him before and after. Otherwise sounds like you've got it covered op. It's only temporary after all,not his life.

glasshalfsomething · 10/04/2021 09:13

I think people are missing the fact there will be puppy visits and the OP’s SIL popping in within the 5.5 hours.

I think it fine to do the pen and open crate set up.

If you need reassurance look at a puppy cam (or old baby monitor) you can use to check in on him. Whenever we done this pip was snoozing away

Enidblyton1 · 10/04/2021 09:16

If you can I’d get someone to house sit for 2 weeks during the daytime so you aren’t worrying.
When your Y11 child breaks up will she be expected to stay at home every day with the puppy? That will be restrictive for a 16 year old - but maybe she’s happy about that? You may need to consider some longer term dog care arrangements when you’re working. Even as the pup gets older, you won’t be able to leave it home alone during the school day. Our neighbours (both teachers) used to leave their golden retriever at home every day, and pop back for half an hour at lunchtime. It wasn’t enough and they ended up having to rehome the dog when it was about 4.
At our school (private prep) so many teachers take their dogs to school. Is this an option at your school when the dog is a bit older?

FAQs · 10/04/2021 09:17

@Carouselfish

^this is great advice.

@LeaveMyDamnJam what are you going in about, if the dog can’t be left for a couple of hours it’ll end up with separation anxiety!

The dog and their lives will be miserable. @ProofBy1nductionspunds as though she has everything in hand and considering everything the dog needs. (Although I’ve never used a crate, a safe space for the dog is a positive - I wouldn’t lock it)

Happenchance · 10/04/2021 09:19

@glasshalfsomething

I think people are missing the fact there will be puppy visits and the OP’s SIL popping in within the 5.5 hours.

I think it fine to do the pen and open crate set up.

If you need reassurance look at a puppy cam (or old baby monitor) you can use to check in on him. Whenever we done this pip was snoozing away

The way I interpret it, he is going to be alone for 7 hours (8.30 to 15.30) broken up with 3 half hour visits, i.e. he will be alone for 5.5 hours in total.

@ProofBy1nduction do you have a back up plan for if he hates day care?

Brewdoggydog · 10/04/2021 09:20

It's not ideal, but life doesn't always line up perfectly and it's only temporary. Either make a pen/ enclosure with the crate inside (door open) or use a baby/dog gate to section off a puppy safe room (kitchen?) I would start him getting used to it now, starting with just a few minutes then gradually increase. Make sure you leave the house, not just go upstairs. Also, if you can get a video baby monitor, that would be great.

Original poster

ProofBy1nduction · 10/04/2021 09:29

Hi thank you for all your replies. My SIL can sit with him for an hour or so but it is a bit much to ask too much of her as she has a newborn baby.

He has his second vaccination in two weeks time but the vet said we have to wait another week after this before taking him out for proper walks etc. so he will be 13 weeks by then.

There used to be many dogs roaming the halls of my school but unfortunately this is not allowed anymore.

We won't be leaving him alone all day in September either but will use the daycare again.

DD is happy to be with pup, but obviously I won't be expecting her to do it 100% and can use daycare aswell.

The point is that after these two initial weeks we have many options open regarding his care, and he won't be left alone after that.

I am just trying to find the best way to manage these two weeks.

OP posts:

Veterinari · 10/04/2021 09:38

@ProofBy1nduction

It's really important that you start socialisation activities if you haven't already

Are you carrying him out, getting him used to a range of people, other animals, safe vaccinated dogs, traffic etc?
This checklist is helpful

drsophiayin.com/app/uploads/2015/12/Socialization_Checklist.pdf

Veterinari · 10/04/2021 09:39

Proper socialisation now will help him to develop confidence, otherwise he's going to find day care totally overwhelming

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