Working for the first time since we got the dogs (2 years) how to help them adjust?

[lostshowfan86]

With the economy the way it is I will be starting a new job. I haven't had a job since before got our first dog.

My husband had been working all that time but not me. so both dogs are used to ample time with me. And not being crating much.

Both my dogs are almost two.

I will be working a job where I will be gone atleast 6 hours a day (adding in a 30 minute commute time that is 15 to there and 15 back but once we move it will be like a 5 minute commute)

My husband will be gone about 8 and a half hours.

So how can I get them and myself used to this new situation. I hate leaving them.

They will be crated, they can't be left out of the crates unsupervised while no one is here. I will be leaving water in the crates. I plan to take them for a good long walk every day when I get home.

Hopefully they won't bark all day while I'm gone.



We can't bring in a pet walker and doggy daycare is outrageous in price I mean 6 and a half hours is fine for adult dogs to be left alone (We have done that on Saturdays every now and then) Most people I know leave their dogs home 8 hours a day alone (In this economy it takes 2 incomes and they are dogs they have each other, they don't need to be put in a situation like daycare where 1 dog is super submissive and the other is agressive toward other dogs)

I'm going to work because finances are tight as it is.

I'm just looking for tips to make me feel better and get them used to me working beforehand

thanks for the tips in advance

 

[MericoX]

Until you find a job or whatever, I would start leaving them alone in the house for increasing periods. Start off with going in a different room, to just hanging around outside (where you could hear them, but they don't know you are home)

 

[lostshowfan86]

By the way I only have 5 days to get them adjusted

 

[BDorman]

If they've spent 6 hours in their crates on a Saturday with no problems, they're already adjusted. Mabel likes to start out with a Kong (treat-filled or peanutbutter-filled). By the time she's done with it she's ready to settle down for a nap.

A good walk before you leave and one when you get home does wonders.

 

[smkie]

I couldn't put my dog in a crate for 6 hours. I just couldn't do it. I have a room that is designated. It has a window they can see out of, and it's cracked for some fresh air. I may not be far behind you on the work thing. WIll see what happens. None of mine have ever been left for 8 or 9 hrs a day. Seriously hoping that doesnt' happen.

 

[laserbrn]

I don't have a lot of knowledge and it's not really my place to say, but every dog I've had that was crate trained was just fine with me leaving for 8 hours/day.

I would take the next 5 days putting them in the room alone for an hour, then seeing them again, then 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, etc. until they learn that even though you've been gone for 5 hours you ARE coming back.

I take my little puppy out for an hour long walk in the morning. Must be an hour or it's not enough for her. By the time we get back home and she starts on her kong or whatever toy I've given her she konks out.

I live 5 minutes from work too so I go see her at lunch and take her for a 30 minute walk and stroll and we play and we do some training.

Again, take her back home and when I leave to go back to work I give her a kong or something to play with and she gets a little upset (she's not usually ready to konk out after this one), but she calms down in a couple of minutes.

When I get home it's straight out and we go out and excercise and play a little harder than the first hour walk. I try to get her to be REALLY active and get out all that energy she's been building up all day so she can get some rest at night and start it all over again.

 

[PoodleMommy]

I have a doggy proofed room (happens to be my bedroom).

Everything is set up so that there is nothing too valuable that could be ruined and nothing that the dog could get injured on.

I have days where Armani has to be left alone for longer periods of time... with this set up he is fine... he can sleep on the bed or chair in the room... he has two rugs that he can play on.... he has all his toys, food and water provided and there is no problem.

Also this gives him a chance to move around while I am gone... obviously he cant go for a hike or anything but there is plenty of room for him to run a little and not feel cooped up so long.

If you are worried about barking... you could leave a tv or radio on low.

 

[AllieMackie]

Finn is crated for 8-9 hours a day. He's 5 months old and I'm the only one willing to watch him, so despite working from home, until he's older this is how it has to be.

However, Finn is quite content in his crate for that long, and he is completely seperate from me while I work. He gets a half hour of good playtime or a half-hour brisk walk in the morning, and then he gets a big stuffed frozen breakfast Kong in his crate. He also has several varieties of chews in his crate, and sometimes a treat ball or a tug-a-jug with kibble. He's fine while I work, and when I'm done for the day, he gets epic playtime.

Sometimes he gets a walk or playtime at lunch, but a save that for several days a week, so that he does remain accustomed to staying 8-9 hours in a crate without issue. Hoping, as he ages and I continue training him, that when he's older he can either wander the house or be confined to the basement during the day or somethinbg, but in the meantime, crating is working fine!

 

[lostshowfan86]

Yeah I wish I could leave them out of the crate. But my mix is terrier and a chewer and we've tried to leave the poodle loose and well Our supposed potty trained poodle likes to leave presents if we leave him loose. We left our terrier mix loose for 10 minutes and she tore up the linolium in the kitchen...she is much older now but I'm not ready to trust her on that yet (we rent)

For the last month my husband and I have been out job hunting pretty much Mon-fri and it varies between 3 and 6 hours a day so hopefully they are pretty well but its going to be different when my husband and I are leaving seperately.

I've got my second interview in about an hour....so wish me luck.

By the way when we move in July I will literally be a 2 minute drive from the apartment and work (assuming I get this job) so I will be able to go home and let them potty mid day.


Sasha is very content in the crate (she is rather lazy and naps a lot) Zack well, Zack likes to be on the go. So he has never liked to stay home but he is used to the crate.