I have a 3 yr old Chihuahua who I have been leaving home for 9 hours each day while I work. I know she can hold it that long, but I don't know if that is more than most people leave there dogs without a potty break. I KNOW! Don't tell me I need a walker. I can't afford one. How long are dogs ok to hold it at one time? How long are people leaving their dogs while they work w/o a potty break? I feed her all her food each day in the evening so she will have less food in her while she waits all day.
2006-10-04 08:39:03 · 9 answers · asked by Jess 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Forgot to mention that I tried the pee pads, but she confused "go on the pee pads" with "go inside the house anywhere". I understand that when you give them the option to go in the house, they can't differential between where in the house they should go and where they shouldn't. However, I am still considering pee pads and litter if it really isn't good to leave her for 9 hours. Sounds like from the answers so far, it might be ok. Thanks :-)
2006-10-04 08:54:07 · update #1
If your little dog can hold it that long there is no problem with that. When I worked I put in 8-9 hrs a day and my dogs was just fine. I just spent some extra time with them in the evennings and showed them alot of attention .
I have left my dogs for 10 hrs at a time when things came up and we couldnt get back here.
2006-10-04 08:42:50 · answer #1 · answered by dindy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I work from 9 to 5, but leave my house at 8 and get home by 6:30...my dogs get a walk in the morning when they will go "potty" before staying at home all day. When I get home the first thing I do is take them out for a half hour to one hour walk....they do everything during that walk, then I take them out again (short walk) before going to bed. They can hold it pretty much, of course don't abuse it. But, if you wish, you can get doggie litter you can buy at a petstore or the pads for when she has to go inside. I don't use the pads because when I got home they were confetti! But occasionally, my older dog goes inside the house and usually it is in the same spot all the time, so I leave a newspaper. But a normal workday will be ok for her as long as you take her out before leaving and once you return. Don't scold her if she has done it inside while you are gone....they do not understand what you are yelling about. This has to be corrected when you see her do it.
2006-10-04 09:33:21 · answer #2 · answered by secretagnt50 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
While you are out, put her in a doggy crate. They're $30 at Petco or PetSmart. They are very useful!
No puppy droppings will be left while you are out, on the floor, because if she does have an accident, it will be in her crate.
You must leave food and water in there for her while you are out, bedding and toys. I suggest also buying a pretty good-sized crate, because she will have room to roam.
Line one half with a bed, and the other with a peepee pad and some food and water dishes.
She'll go on the pad. Dogs will not go on their beds, usually.
Also, when you come home, reward her bigtime, but take her potty immediately. Soon as she squats, make a huge deal out of her doing a good thing...GOOD DOGGY! GOOD GIRL! WHAT A GOOD DOG!
She wants to please you so much.
This will also alleviate the poopping/peeing problem in the house. If it's all in a crate...then we don't have a problem anymore.
Soon, it won't be hard on her. My dog is 2, crate-trained, and actually LOVES to go in. I open the door, and I say, "crate" and she goes right in and lays down.
She knows when I'm not home, she can not poop my house.
Good luck!
2006-10-05 19:41:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pee pads work, next time he goes soak up some pee on the pad and put it in the spot you want you're dog to go. Show him the spot. He will smell his urine there try doing that for a week. That will reinforce that that spot is for him when he needs to go.
I had a one year old chihuahua in an apartment and it worked
I also put up a baby gate and closed him off in the area near the pad while i was at work. Once he got the hang of it he didn't have to be behind the gate any longer, he know where to go. ...good luck
2006-10-04 09:30:04 · answer #4 · answered by Hello Kitty 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's ok. There are a couple of options you can try, though. A chihuahua can be litter box trained without too much difficulty. The other option is to train her to make her messes (from both ends) in the shower. Much easier to clean up and not damaging to the carpet.
2006-10-04 08:49:01 · answer #5 · answered by loryntoo 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't know if you are aware of this, but there a dog litter boxes for smaller dogs like yours. I have 2 Italian greyhounds and they are litter box trained. They don't have free rein of the house cause they like to chew, but while II am at work they are in there pen with their bed, food, water, toys and their litter box. They use it too. I use wee-wee pads in the litter box, but dog litter is also available.
2006-10-04 10:56:41 · answer #6 · answered by crazy.kuzco 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you thought about getting a doggy litter box? There are doggy litter boxes that have doggy litter and since your dog is small you could train her to go in there, so she doesn't have to hold it while you are at work.
2006-10-04 08:46:45 · answer #7 · answered by Rawrrrr 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do the same thing with my Yorkie. But I keep him in his pet carrier all day because if i don't he chews on everything and uses the bathroom everywhere. The pet carrier is pretty big so he has plenty of room. and he will not use the bathroom in it because dogs are considered "cave dwellers" and they will not void in the place they consider their home.
2006-10-04 09:10:34 · answer #8 · answered by allieshedron 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if the dog can hold it your fine...just as soon as u get home let him out. you dont have a problem unless he cant hold it
2006-10-04 08:56:36 · answer #9 · answered by Lindsay D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋