My puppy is 4 months old and is about 98% house-trained. I work during the day and I still have to come home at lunch to let her out and feed her, but I want to know about how old she will have to be before she can be left alone all day.
(She's a golden retriever/chocolate lab mix and is really smart!)
2007-01-16 15:55:39 · 11 answers · asked by Hershey 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
You shouldn't leave her more than 8 hours, and the basic rule is that a dog can hold it's bladder for an hour per month of age. Being 4 months old you shouldn't leave her more than 4 months without a potty break.
My dog is 8 months old, and has been able to be left alone for 7-8 hours since it was 5 months (her previous owners did so without any issues although with us she is never left home alone for more than 4 hours).
If you are going to be working more than 8 hour days (which most people do including commute times), it is probably a good idea to continue coming home at lunches just to make sure she isn't neglected in anyway. If that isn't an option, you can always buy a doggie door and leave her home alone once she is able to stay at home without destroying the place. Remember: when buying a doggie door, buy one that humans cannot fit through. A dog (even a lab) can squeeze through some pretty tight spaces!
2007-01-16 16:16:25 · answer #1 · answered by bpbjess 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a 1 1/2 year chocolate lab. I trained her in a cage for about 4/5 mths and then I would slowly leave her out every now and then. I would start with an hour here and there while I would run to the store. Now she stays in the house while I'm at work. You have to be able to trust your dog. You don't want to come home with your house destroyed. You will know when she is ready.
2007-01-17 01:02:39 · answer #2 · answered by kellyerin13 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that a dog should be let out atleast every 8 hours atleast. You can ask a trainer but if you feed the puppy early in the morning, and allow her to drink water just a little Let your puppy out while you get ready, and before you leave. Try to train her to go before you leave that way she doesnt make any mistakes while shes left alone. Also you need to exercise your puppy 30 minutes i the morning and 30 when you get home, then 30 more before you go to bed. This will help with the "puppyness" Shes a puppy so she will make accidents, but just remeber when she makes an accident its not her fualt, its yours....Good luck!!
2007-01-17 00:05:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get her a crate, or drag her with you I ⥠taking mine with me.
But by the time I'd say about 6-8months she'll be good to be on her own.
But don't get addicted to the crate and stick her in there all the time. Only when your leaving her. You can try a few times to leave her on her own and see how she does, just puppy proof your house :) make sure anything dangerous is out of her reach. And make sure her collar is off unless she is outdoors she can at any time jump off something and it can snag and choke her. It takes no more then 2 minutes!
Dogs are a lot smarter then we think! If you take the time, and praise her when she does good on her own she'll get better with it quicker. I'm kind of Anti-Crate but it can help. And it wouldn't be my first recommendation. I just having to put them in a small space like that, their like my kids I wouldn't lock my kids up in a small space cause I was scared, ya know?
Also with the leaving her alone trial thing I mentioned do it slow by slow not for long periods like start out 30minutes then an hour then go along with how well she does.
And be patient.She'll get it. It won't be long.
Good luck!:)
2007-01-17 01:46:19 · answer #4 · answered by +No longer a Yahoo answerer+ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with above comment on 4 months=4 hours 5 months=5 hours. They are just learning bladder control...give it time...You are doing the right thing coming home for lunch. Would not leave her all day until 8 months old.
2007-01-17 01:06:23 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a crate for her than I would get her accustomed now to you not being home. Do not leave her for more than 8 hours
My pup is 3 months old and can only hold it for 4 hours.
It's pups age in months plus 1.
So 4 months old, can handle 5 hours holding it.
Enjoy your new pup:) They grow up so fast, lol
2007-01-17 00:00:42 · answer #6 · answered by Kimberlynne 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not for awhile:) You can't throughly trust her yet!! get a cage and put her in it.. I know the pitty that my father-n-law had he didnt leave her out until she was about 3 years old... She is 5 now:) But it up to you:) If you think that you can handle cause you never know you might come home to more than piles on the floor ripped up furniture....ETC
2007-01-17 00:09:46 · answer #7 · answered by Proud Army Wife 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At four months old your puppy is old enough to be in the crate for up to 8 hours.
Do you have a dish that hooks on the front grate? Provide a dish of water for her in the crate.
Then, feed her in the morning and get her outside, then again when you get home. You may have a few more accidents in the crate, but she will be able to hold it soon, if not already.
Provide soft bedding and a favorite toy as well.
2007-01-17 00:06:17 · answer #8 · answered by dog's best friend 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
If you have a crate for your little one, I'd say now is fine to leave her home. If you don't have a crate and are worried about her leaving you presents, I would say wait until she is completely potty trained. And of course, don't forget lots of love and praise when you get home. It will make her feel more loved and appreciated, and hopefully help reduce some of her daytime anxiety of missing you. (Which will hopefully help with the training process). Good Luck!!
2007-01-17 00:00:58 · answer #9 · answered by Brittany A 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
At least a year, to be sure she's full grown and her bladder is fully developed. No dog should go more than 8 hours without a potty break, it's cruel.
2007-01-17 00:00:11 · answer #10 · answered by Dreamer 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋