Puppy + Job = ?

Locke

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#1
So I'm trying to write up a "puppy plan" to give to my boyfriend to make the whole "I will be getting a puppy this summer/fall" easier to digest.

The main issue he has, and it is my main concern as well, is it fair to have a puppy if we are not home for 6+ hours a day?

For those of you that were not able to bring your puppy to work with you, did you have someone/yourself come mid-day to take puppy out?

I wouldn't really think twice about leaving an adult dog that long, but it seems kind of cruel to leave a puppy that long without any interaction.

My hope is to be able to work part time during the first month of puppy's arrival, which would either enable me to leave work around noon each day, or have a few days off each week. That way we can get into a routine, puppy will have a bit more bladder control, and we can see how puppy copes while left alone.

Is it unreasonable to leave a puppy (as young as 2-3 months) in an x-pen for 6+ hours a day without a mid-day break?
 

JessLough

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#2
Many, many people do it. Luckily, when we got Rosey, my mom was still a SAHM, but if she wasn't, Rosey would have been left alone roughly 8 hours a day. I wouldn't think twice about it.
 

MisssAshby

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#3
When we brought Cali home, we worked it so that for the first two weeks she was home, someone was always home. This allowed her to settle in without the stress of being alone, and gave us the opportunity to crate train her. During this time we would leave and would increase it little by little. By the time we both went back to work she could care less that we were leaving.

At the time my husband worked less than 4 miles from home so he would come home for lunch. She would get out to potty, play, and eat (when she was eating three times a day). By the time he left she was ready for nap time again, and was usually still asleep when we arrived home from work.

She was the easiest puppy we have raised to date, so that helped in many ways. If there is no way for you to come home half way through the day to let her out I would consider setting up and ex-pen. Doing the ex-pen set up would allow space to play, the crate for nap time, and you could have an area for a potty pad. This way any confusion of going potty in the crate could be avoided.

Good Luck! :)

ETA: I failed at reading the entire post. Your plan sounds very similar to what we did.
 

JacksonsMom

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#4
Well, I do not think very young puppies should be left alone for 8 hours a day. I think that's somewhat cruel. I wouldn't make a young dog hold it's bladder that long, not to mention the lack of interaction etc. I think early on, it is important to find someone to let the pup out and play at least once, and once they get older transition them to the 6-8 hour a day schedule.
 

Locke

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When we brought Cali home, we worked it so that for the first two weeks she was home, someone was always home. This allowed her to settle in without the stress of being alone, and gave us the opportunity to crate train her. During this time we would leave and would increase it little by little. By the time we both went back to work she could care less that we were leaving.

At the time my husband worked less than 4 miles from home so he would come home for lunch. She would get out to potty, play, and eat (when she was eating three times a day). By the time he left she was ready for nap time again, and was usually still asleep when we arrived home from work.

She was the easiest puppy we have raised to date, so that helped in many ways. If there is no way for you to come home half way through the day to let her out I would consider setting up and ex-pen. Doing the ex-pen set up would allow space to play, the crate for nap time, and you could have an area for a potty pad. This way any confusion of going potty in the crate could be avoided.

Good Luck! :)

ETA: I failed at reading the entire post. Your plan sounds very similar to what we did.
How old was Cali when you started leaving her for a full work day?

Even if we can come home mid-day or have someone come, the puppy will be in an x-pen with a crate/bed, stuffed kong/toys, and a pee pad. I don't like the idea of being confined in a crate for hours and hours.

Well, I do not think very young puppies should be left alone for 8 hours a day. I think that's somewhat cruel. I wouldn't make a young dog hold it's bladder that long, not to mention the lack of interaction etc. I think early on, it is important to find someone to let the pup out and play at least once, and once they get older transition them to the 6-8 hour a day schedule.
That's my feeling too.
 

Cali Mae

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#6
We got Cali at nine weeks, she was staying in her crate for four hour intervals the next day, simply because my mom was working ten minutes a day. Although, I think by six months (and at 3.5 or less pounds), she was staying in her crate for eight hours a day. She's never seemed to mind it and has no difficulty holding her bladder/bowel that long. If we go shopping though, we usually get my dad or the pet sitter to come up around noon to play with her and let her use the bathroom.

ETA: And her 'crate' is a larger crate meant for a full grown, large dog with some toys and blankets and she has her regular crate inside.. although I think she sleeps through the day with no issues.
 

Grab

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#7
I've never had a puppy and not worked. Most days I was able to get home for lunch. But, with Jules..as a small breed, if I knew I wouldn't be able to, I'd set him up in a bathroom with his crate and then a separate paper/pad potty area, so that he could, if needed, soil away from his sleeping area. With the Chows, I didn't bother, as no matter what they'd not have soiled in the house, even as young pups. Most days, when I did come home, I had to wake them. They certainly were not up and pining.
 

Maxy24

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#8
Tucker was left for 7 hours a day starting at about 12 weeks of age (we got him when he was 10 weeks, summer vacation was almost over). We put him in a play pen with toys, bed, and a pee pad. He used the pad for a few days and then starter holding it. As long as you remember thst when you come home from work tired the pup is going to be rearing to go and will need your attention you should be fine. The pup will most likely learn to sleep when you are gone, some morning play before work and a walk to empty him would be ideal.
 
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#9
We brought Hudson home at around 9 weeks. The first day I was able to work from home and then my husband and I tried to work from home a half day the rest of the week. The hurricane changed our plans because we lost power and had to go in. But, he was put in a large crate, I think it's a 36 long, with toys and pee pads.

Our leave for work and come home times are also staggered. My husband leaves about an hour after I do and I get home a few hours before he does. We make it work and I don't think Hudson has suffered for it.
 

milos_mommy

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#10
I'd worry about leaving an 8, 10, 12 week old puppy alone for that long, definitely.

At 4 or 5 months, it seems much more doable. In the beginning I would try to come home at lunch or see about getting a puppy walker or sitter to stop in midday, at least to change the puppy's messy pads (a young pup can't hold it that long in a crate). And maybe provide a mid-day meal.
 

AdrianneIsabel

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#11
People do it all of the time, don't worry. Normal people can own dogs, too. I would make a potty pad available as well as an area to get away from the potty. Think xpen not crate.
 

noludoru

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#12
So I'm trying to write up a "puppy plan" to give to my boyfriend to make the whole "I will be getting a puppy this summer/fall" easier to digest.

The main issue he has, and it is my main concern as well, is it fair to have a puppy if we are not home for 6+ hours a day?
Yes. It's six hours. Puppies sleep way more than that. Your puppy will learn that during the day it's time to snooze or nom on a toy or kong you've left for him. I'm not sure why that's considered cruel?

Is your BF not okay with adding a puppy?

People do it all of the time, don't worry. Normal people can own dogs, too. I would make a potty pad available as well as an area to get away from the potty. Think xpen not crate.
Exactly.
 

Fran101

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#13
I wouldn't worry.. you can make it work :) use an ex-pen

and instead of potty pads.. perhaps try one of these things? Squares of grass are cheap at any local homedepot kind of thing.. and then a large litter box.
It would help to make it easier to transition to outside..
 

stafinois

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#14


I have a patio kennel in my laundry room for Stannis. When he was little I put newspaper in it. He made a horrible mess, but stopped after a couple of months. He has kept it totally clean for at least six months, and it gives him a little more room to stretch out.
 

MisssAshby

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#15
How old was Cali when you started leaving her for a full work day?

Even if we can come home mid-day or have someone come, the puppy will be in an x-pen with a crate/bed, stuffed kong/toys, and a pee pad. I don't like the idea of being confined in a crate for hours and hours.
She was just a few days over 10 weeks. Honestly, most people who get puppies work, it's just not realistic for everyone to take off until puppy transitions. If you can, that's great, otherwise you carry on with life.

If you were leaving the dog locked up for 10 hours a day with no break, etc that is one thing. But, you are talking about 6 hours in an ex-pen. It will have room to run, play, sleep, and a place to potty. You have to remember that puppies are small, and that they sleep a ton when they are little.
 

Flyinsbt

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#16
I'm gone for way longer than that. I use 6' square chain link kennels in a back room (former back porch, now enclosed and part of the house. It has a concrete floor) The dogs have a bed, and a potty area with pee pads. And a bowl of water. They're fine.
 
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#17
When Ash was a puppy i set up an ex-pen to take up a large chunk of my kitchen. I taped garbage bags to the floor and covered most of the area with newspaper, then put a folded blanket in there, along with toys, a small bowl of food and a bowl of water.

While it was messy when i got home, he was totally fine. He was easy to housebreak and settles quickly in a crate now, at 18 months.
 

Dizzy

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#18
Bodhi was a latch key puppy!! It was harder, but actually her housetraining was a lot easier than Fred. I think it really depends on the individual dog in that respect. I think her being an only dog at the time helped, as I was able to devote all my non-work time to her.

Fred has my other half, and his parents around, during the day so he never has to be left entirely alone. It made no difference to house training at all, he was slower than Bodhi by far! It also harder to devote 100% attention to him as Bodhi likes to be involved, and I have to shut her away to train him, so can't just do that all night every night like I did her.

I honestly believe it is down to each individual dog how it works out. I'm not sure we could have left Fred as an only dog alone all day. But then, I'll never know. It does make life a lot easier knowing someone is there, and it's certainly guilt free. In an IDEAL world I wouldn't work at all and spend all day hanging out with them, but I gotta work to afford their lavish lifestyle ha!

It can and does work. Just think carefully about which dog you add. Also I probably believe a young puppy will adapt better than an older one personally..... Bodhi never knew any different. I think if that she was older and used to people being around it would have been more distressing for her to lose that....
 

Locke

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#19
Oh yay! My fears have subsided!
My boyfriend would prefer an adult dog over a puppy, mostly because I've always said how much easier it is to get an adult that is passed the potty training, teething, etc. phases. But after explaining why I changed my mind, he's more open to it. He was concerned we wouldn't have enough time for a puppy, but I'll direct him here to reassure him that it is common for people to have puppies and work full time.

Pupppppyyyy!!!!
 

~Dixie's_Mom~

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#20
In a crate? I might be guilty/worry about it, but in an x-pen? I really don't see a problem. 6 hours is not long. If they can be in a crate overnight, an x-pen for 6 hours is going to be fine, as long as once you get home, you are sure to spend plenty of time with them.

This is why my work schedule is flipping perfect for a puppy though! I work 2hrs in the mornings, 3 hours in the evenings and have weekends off. So much puppy training time and the puppy would only be crated for a max of 3hrs!
 

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