Transitioning to a One Parent Family

[beasleymom]

My biggest fear has been realized. My BF has to be gone for 18 months, so that means Beasley will be alone during the day while I'm at work. He's gotten accustomed to someone being home with him most of the day and I'm concerned about the adjustment to the new situation. I don't want him to think everyone's abandoned him. BF is returning, but 18 months is a long time and I HAVE to work.

Beasley is fairly reliable (potty-wise) when left with free-reign over the house for up to about 2 hours. If we're both gone for more than 2 hours Beasley is in his crate. He goes willingly and we usually find him asleep when we return. However, I am typically gone for 8-9 hours and I know 8 hours is too long to be in his crate. I don't want to set him up for distaster by letting him move freely about the cabin all day, either.

I'm trying to make arrangements at work to take a long lunch to break up the day for him. I'm considering doggy daycare a day or two daysa week, but I'm still sketchy about his socialization insufficiencies and would hate to just let him loose at 'Camp Runamuck' right away before I know he can play well with others.

Any other suggestions to help Mister B. transition to being with someone almost 24/7 to having to wait for me to come home?? I don't want him to think he's been abandoned and no one is coming back.

 

[kelbel1]

I am definantly no professional, but you might want to just increase the time that your pup spends in the crate gradually, and work your way up to 8-9 hours. Only because he is accustomed to not being in there for very long. I was actually told lastnight by our trainer that a dog's memory span is very short, so it may not seem as long to him as it does to you. All dogs are also "den animals". They like their space, and they are usually asleep for about 15 hours out of a 24 hour day. My babies spend 8 hours in while i'm at work, and sleep in their crates as well with no prob. He'll do just great!! Just my opinion! Good Luck

 

[bustermom]

You could also try restricting him to a puppy-proofed room within the house, one with an easy-clean floor (like the kitchen).

He'll have some room to move about but in a potty emergency won't have to sit in his pee/poo.

Most doggie daycares won't just toss a new dog into the mix. There's usually an initial "interview", and the first time or two they may restrict him to a few reliably sociable playmates to see how he does. They don't want problems either!

Doggie daycare is a godsend! Buster goes one day a week (usually...depending on available finances...) and is pleasantly wiped out for the next day or two afterwards.

Best of luck and I'm sure you all will do fine. It's the quality of the time you spend with them, not always the quantity that matters.

 

[VTbxrFan]

If you don't like the idea of crating that long but don't think he's ready for complete freedom yet, consider confining him to one room that you can close off or baby-gate and dog-proof so he can't get into much. Or if there is not a suitable room, maybe an exercise pen - that would give him more space than his crate but still keep him out of trouble. I did a "reverse pen" when I first started leaving my dog out in one room - the only thing in the room that he could harm (or that could harm him) was my computer desk, so I put an exercise pen around the desk so he couldn't get to, and then left him in that room. It was the same room that his crate was in, so he was used to that room, but it gave him a little more freedom. That worked really well for me.

If it makes you feel any better, my dog has gone through lots of transitions in the last year - he got used to being alone...then my husband lost his job, so Dallas got used to him being around...then husband got a temporary job for a few months and Dallas had to be alone again...then the job ended and husbandy was back at home. Dallas has done great with all the changes. Obviously he loves it when someone is home with him during the day, but he also adjusts when we get back into a routine of him being alone during the day. Most dogs can deal with being alone during the day. Most of us do have to work, so don't feel guilty about it!

 

[beasleymom]

I think I'm probably just a little over-anxious about the situation, and while having Beasley is like having a child, I have to keep in mind that he's probably more resiliant than I am and doesn't worry about things as much as I do!

Thanks everyone for the reassurance and ideas.