Bringing home new pup but can't take time off..

[NicknDallas]

I have a few weeks until I can pick up my new friend from the breeder and I would love to be able to spend the first week with her at home, but I can't. Its very difficult to for me to take time off. I work from 8-6 most days so a large amount of time will be quiet at home.

We have a another dog to keep the new pup company, and also my mom comes home early some days which is a huge plus. She can let her out to pee and keep her company.

I just worry about leaving the pup in her crate for so many hours and also the fact that I wont be the one she spends her first week with.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had this problem.

Thoughts?

 

[RockyCody]

DH and I both work full time and we didn't take 1 day off when we got Rocky. We got him on a WED evening and by the time we drove 2 hours home he was tired and didn't fight the crate much.

You may want to do as much crate training as you can before you have to work for the first time so the dog doesn't resist it.

I think it is fine to NOT have time off - but I hope someone can let your dog out mid-day at least. My DH comes home at lunch (between 12-2) and started doing that the first day we got Rocky. He was so good in his crate, no accidents. But you just have to make the most of the time you are at home with her. REALLY train - really reward for pottying outside, etc.

I don't know what else to tell you - just make sure the crate area is NOT too big so she can't eliminate in one space and lay in the other. You may also want to leave a nylabone in there while you go to work or something you feel is safe for her to chew on in case she gets bored.

The puppy will adapt to your schedule - just have to be patient and persistent. Good luck! Can't wait to see pics!

 

[Sansal]

I have to be honest, it sounds like you puppy will be in the crate way too long. A young puppy can not hold it for very long. If you just leave her in the crate all day she will have to pee in it. That will cause major problems for housetraining as she will get used to laying in her mess. Do you maybe have a friend or family member that would be able and willing to watch her while you are at work? Otherwise you could hire a petsitter to come to your house multiple times a day to let your puppy out. If you have no other choice than leaving her alone at home I would probably not use a crate, I would fence off an area and provide her with an area to sleep and and area to do her business. You can lay puppy pads or newspaper on the floor.

 

[RockyCody]

I have to be honest, it sounds like you puppy will be in the crate way too long. A young puppy can not hold it for very long. If you just leave her in the crate all day she will have to pee in it. That will cause major problems for housetraining as she will get used to laying in her mess. Do you maybe have a friend or family member that would be able and willing to watch her while you are at work? Otherwise you could hire a petsitter to come to your house multiple times a day to let your puppy out. If you have no other choice than leaving her alone at home I would probably not use a crate, I would fence off an area and provide her with an area to sleep and and area to do her business. You can lay puppy pads or newspaper on the floor.

I agree - and most puppies can't hold it all day. But Rocky maybe had 1-2 accidents in his crate from 9 weeks-5 months - and that was it. So it IS possible but the puppy should AT LEAST be let out a few times during the day to start with.

 

[sharondawson]

When we brought Juno home we had a big puppy pen which the crate attatched to. She could go in and sleep and had the pen to use.
This worked well for us .

 

[EAO76]

Yes you are setting yourself up for a housetraining nightmare. In my experience very young puppies need to be let out every two hours at the most (really more when you are trying to help them understand the concept of housetraining). You can try the Xpen (put potty pads down in one corner) around the crate suggestion but some boxers can really climb.

I suggest you hire a neighbor or friends to stop by a few times a day to let her out. At least until she is about 4or 5months old.

 

[NicknDallas]

Thanks for the responses everyone!
Actually, my brother will be home most days. The sad truth is that he has an illness (schizophrenia), and usually forgets a lot of things. I can call and remind him every day to help out by letting the pup out for a pee, then returning her to the crate unless he watches her outside the crate. My mom usually comes home early from work as well. I wasn't aware that they can only last an hour, that makes things more difficult.

So having only read one article about crate training, should I leave her in her crate while somebody is home?

 

[samsons]

a good place to look for a sitter is local neighbor teens ! the ones that baby sit, my 17 takes the neighbors dog out before school , then right after ( the dog is 8 ) and then she walks him while she babysits the neighbors son 2x's a week.

i know this wouldnt work so well for you guys ( you need someone every cpl hrs ) but it might be a place to start, maybe a stay at home mom who loves puppys , but doest have one , might be willing to pup sit , or stop in , if its just a short walk over , might be able to get someone cheap !!!

my vets techs are mostly young fresh out of collage ( we live in a collage town) and on there breaks ect - they will do potty breaks also for a small fee.

just some ideas to help you get started on ur hunt !!

 

[Sansal]

So having only read one article about crate training, should I leave her in her crate while somebody is home?

It sounds like you won't have the time to properly crate train her. She will most likely whine and bark and throw a tantrum when you leave her alone in there. It (usually) takes a while before a dog starts liking or accepting the crate. Here is another article: ClickerSolutions Training Articles -- Crate Training

You don't want her to stay in the crate longer than she can hold it. When someone is home and can watch her, that's great, but keep in mind that she will have to be watched very closely so she doesn't have accidents in the house (or chews up anything).