Newly arrived 5 month old cavalier… ok to be home alone for 3 hours?

Facem81 · 2023-04-12T07:34:35+00:00

I have just found out that I’ve managed to get a hospital cancellation app. we will pick up puppy on Saturday. My app will mean I’m out of the house 9-12.15 on Monday. she is toilet trained and a confident little pup. What do you think? Should I cancel app? Pretty keen on going! But not if unwise for pup. She will have a very comfy crate

Climbles · 12/04/2023 08:38

If you haven’t left her before you could cause issues by leaving her so long. Is there someone you could leave her with? Why is she being re-homed at 5 months?

RunningFromInsanity · 12/04/2023 08:38

It could go perfectly fine or you could be setting her(and yourself) up for a lifetime of separation anxiety.

Is there no one you can ask to dog sit?

MrsMitford3 · 12/04/2023 08:38

Is there someone who can sit with her in the house or pop in? A neighbour? An older student on break?

She is such a baby and you have no idea how she will be-she might howl the whole time?

Obviously hospital appointment impt but there is a middle ground between leaving her alone for 3 hours or not going-def try for that!

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/04/2023 08:38

I wouldn't leave a puppy that's not even been with you for 48 hours home alone for that long. Even at five months old she's still young and she'll be frightened and unsure.

I wouldn't cancel your appointment either though - see if you can find someone to pop in on her, or sit with her while you're gone.

Hoppinggreen · 12/04/2023 08:39

I wouldn’t
Why is she available? She could have separation anxiety or any other issues you have no idea about yet.
Someone needs to stay with her

Original poster

Facem81 · 12/04/2023 08:39

Ok thank you.

I have just messaged ex husband to see if he’d be here whilst I’m at the app!

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Original poster

Facem81 · 12/04/2023 08:41

Hooray!

He can.

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Original poster

Facem81 · 12/04/2023 08:42

I have booked the week off work

and then will be going in 3x a week mornings only.

Is a week enough?

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PinkFootstool · 12/04/2023 08:43

Absolutely not.

Maybe ask a friend to sit with her. I did that for my friends who needed someone to be with their pup on the second day due to an emergency visit to hospital for one of their children. I had lovely puppy cuddles for most of the day, it was fab.

Original poster

Facem81 · 12/04/2023 08:45

@PinkFootstool

sorted. Ex husband coming over.

I have booked first week off work and then 3 mornings a week thereon

is a week enough?

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coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/04/2023 08:47

How long is this puppy going to be left when you go back to work?

What if she has separation anxiety and howls whenever you leave house?

What if she hates her crate and becomes so distressed she's sick or injures herself trying to escape?

Have you at least organised a dog walker or some paid care for her while she's so young?

Chrispackhamspoodle · 12/04/2023 08:47

A week is not enough but you knew that before you took the pup?A morning at work is going to be more than 3 hours I expect.I used puppy day care when I went back to work part time.My puppy was probably 6 months old by then and I'd been at home with her up to that point leaving her for up to a couple of hours.

Original poster

Facem81 · 12/04/2023 08:50

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/04/2023 08:47

How long is this puppy going to be left when you go back to work?

What if she has separation anxiety and howls whenever you leave house?

What if she hates her crate and becomes so distressed she's sick or injures herself trying to escape?

Have you at least organised a dog walker or some paid care for her while she's so young?

3x a week until 9.15 to midday. And never ever longer.

So I would have in total 8 consecutive days with her. And then 3x a week 9.15-midday.

however - should I take extra holiday? It’s tricky as will eat in to annual leave that i generally save for school holidays but…. Children would understand!

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Newpeep · 12/04/2023 08:54

Not really.

Our pup has just reached 8 months. Independent breed. We've had her since 9 weeks and she is just now we feel ready to start being trained to be alone. She doesn't follow us around the house and is happy being left with family for a few hours (She wasn't until recently so we've minimised it as much as we can). That's after weeks of confidence games and letting her follow us and really just her growing up. She's in season at the moment which has set back her confidence.

It's hard work and very restrictive but it's hopefully not forever. OH WFH but does have to go into the office sometimes but I have negotiated time off to cover with my employer as I have semi flexible hours and often work evenings for them so it's give and take.

I know how hard separation anxiety is to deal with so we've taken every step we can to prevent it happening. Our last dog was left 5 hours a day, split in two so I am not anti leaving dogs, just you need to build them up to it and also make sure they are mature enough to cope.

Yes, some pups are left and yes, some get over it. But many don't.

HappyBirthdayLydia · 12/04/2023 08:55

Establish that routine from day 1, so make sure Pup is up, exercised, played with, cuddled etc, then in crate, blankets over the top and stay out of the room but nearby whilst pup sleeps- radio on low.

By the time you need to actually leave the house, the puppy should be used to it and not be upset.

If you notice them stressed or upset, you can look up the steps to crate train more effectively but things like lick mats, kongs, puzzle mats can help to settle them before they rest.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 12/04/2023 08:55

It could be fine but the problem is that you won't know until your puppy arrives.

At five months I could probably leave mine for about 15 minutes before he absolutely panicked and howled himself sick (literally) - but I know other dogs who would just curl up and sleep.

If she turns out to have separation anxiety or other issues being left, you're not going to solve it in a week or two - it takes months of repetition and training.

Why is she being rehomed? Are you getting her from a proper rescue?

Newpeep · 12/04/2023 08:58

Another thing to factor in is that puppies are inconsistent. So one day they may be ok with x time but the next no way. They need to even out a bit. Our pup is more FOMO than anxiety as she's that type of dog but it's the same issue. We've worked hard to make us going out without her boring and she is getting there. FOMO is easier to deal with than anxiety.

Sapin · 12/04/2023 08:59

I’ve raised two puppies in two years - both completely different temperaments and there’s absolutely no way a week of settling in would have been enough before I left them for the time you’ve described at that age. It can take a really long time to get a puppy used to a crate during the day and even then a good behaviourist would not suggest crating whilst left (it can make separation much worse). I mean this kindly but I don’t think you’ve given this enough thought.

rookiemere · 12/04/2023 09:05

It's a short time for puppy to get used to such a long solo stretch.

When we got rookiepuppy we started from 5 minutes and built up gradually to a couple of hours over a period of weeks.

The fact ddog is 5 months old is older than normal for puppy to be sold. What's the background? if there already has been a failed ownership, then no I don't think being off for 8 days is long enough at all.

Newpeep · 12/04/2023 09:06

Sapin · 12/04/2023 08:59

I’ve raised two puppies in two years - both completely different temperaments and there’s absolutely no way a week of settling in would have been enough before I left them for the time you’ve described at that age. It can take a really long time to get a puppy used to a crate during the day and even then a good behaviourist would not suggest crating whilst left (it can make separation much worse). I mean this kindly but I don’t think you’ve given this enough thought.

We're experienced dog owners but never a puppy. We were taken aback by how needy a pup was and how long they need to grow up. Luckily we have been in a situation when we never have to leave her until she is ready but it did come as a shock as to how long until you can even just pop out to the car or have a shower without them losing it! I managed to do some DIY in the kitchen yesterday whilst pup stayed in the living room (I was keeping an eye through a room divider and she just slept) and that would have been unthinkable even a few weeks ago.

It is a shock and I don't think a lot of people realise.

bunnygeek · 12/04/2023 09:46

I privately adopted a Pomchi in December, she's 7 years old and loses her s--- when I'm in another room, she can't be left alone at all without barking herself hoarse. She's clearly never had any separation anxiety work done with her in young life and just been left, or dumped on neighbours until the owners came home.

Some dogs take to being left alone and are fine, some do not, it's entirely down to the individual dog. The most important thing is to take it slow, as in minute by minute, suddenly vanishing for 3 hours can be very stressful.

Costacoffeeplease · 12/04/2023 10:08

No, a week is nowhere near long enough. What on earth made you think it would be?

Floralnomad · 12/04/2023 10:13

Where is this pup coming from , is she used to being alone , is she already crate trained etc

DogDream · 12/04/2023 10:18

The answer to whether a week is enough depends entirely on the pup. For mine it wouldn’t have been.

As she’s five months do you know anything about her? Ie What length of time is she currently used to being left for? Any separation anxiety?

Start by leaving her with a short amount of time and see whether she can settle.

If I were you I’d be looking for a small, puppy suitable, doggy day care as a back up plan.

RunningFromInsanity · 12/04/2023 14:47

HappyBirthdayLydia · 12/04/2023 08:55

Establish that routine from day 1, so make sure Pup is up, exercised, played with, cuddled etc, then in crate, blankets over the top and stay out of the room but nearby whilst pup sleeps- radio on low.

By the time you need to actually leave the house, the puppy should be used to it and not be upset.

If you notice them stressed or upset, you can look up the steps to crate train more effectively but things like lick mats, kongs, puzzle mats can help to settle them before they rest.

This.

It also depends on where the puppy is coming from. A 5month pup that has been brought up correctly in a nice stable home is likely to be more well adjusted than a puppy that has already been passed from pillar to post.