Hello all. I have a puppy question . . . I work 8 hours a day, but have decided to get a puppy for companionship/eventual protection. I am picking him up in a few weeks, but I'm still undecided on what to do with him while I'm at work. Of course, I plan on coming home during my lunch hour to play with/exercise him, but I'm unsure what to do with him the rest of the time. I know lots of people swear by "crating" a puppy while their gone, but I'm not sure if this is the right way to go. Others suggest setting up a puppy pen in a blocked-off kitchen or bathroom with toys, bedding, etc., but then there is a choking hazard for the puppy if it relieves itself on and then chews the bedding. I cannot afford puppy day-care at this point, which is the other option I have heard. I really want to make the best choice for my puppy . . . please help!!! P.S. He's a german shepherd.
2007-05-23 02:01:56 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Dogs
Congratulations on your new puppy!!
GSDs are great dogs! I know you're asking for opinions, but I figured I'd give you some helpful places to research. But, I am a fan of crate-training. I have a puppy at home right now, too!
http://www.midwesthomes4pets.com/Whytotrain/WhyCrateTrain.asp
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
http://www.perfectpaws.com/crt.html
http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/dog_behavior_tip_sheets/crate_training.html
http://www.cuhumane.org/topics/crate.html
http://www.wonderpuppy.net/canwehelp/1crate.php
Most of these websites have helped me tremendously!
Good Luck!
2007-05-23 02:28:45 · answer #1 · answered by Earthling 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend at least starting off with crate training, that way the puppy is protected from choking, chewing electrical cords, or getting into anything else that could harm him. It also will save your carpets and furniture until the puppy is house-broken and done teething. I give my puppy minimal toys when I'm not there, and I make sure they are the most choke-free ones, like a Kong. (In my puppy's crate, I have one of those crate-liner beds, so the puppy doesn't have to sleep on hard plastic. Some dogs may decide to chew up any sort of bedding in their crate, so watch for this, as it could pose a choking hazard or cause internal blockages if swallowed.)
As the puppy gets older, you can gradually add more freedom while you're away at work. Start off with one room (easy to clean and minimal hazards, like the kitchen), and then gradually increase it's free-roam space. Eventually, you can work up so the dog can have free run of the house when you're not there.
2007-05-23 02:11:48 · answer #2 · answered by abbyful 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ok, I have a dalmatian puppy and he is BULLHEADED. I tried to housebreak with without a crate, but I swear by it now. I also have a pet sitter to keep an eye on him. If you don't want to get a sitter or a crate, I would suggest getting a puppy pen and lots of puppy training pads. Here's a crate tip, get an old shirt and wear it to bed for a couple days and put it in the crate. This will help him be comfortable in it.
2007-05-23 02:12:03 · answer #3 · answered by emilyreigle 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think putting it in a crate is the best answer but you could see if you could do puppy day care just once or twice a week so it doesn't have to be in the crate all day everyday or you could hire someone a lot cheaper to come play with the puppy and when it has its shots to walk it.
I think the crate is the safest option bored puppies will chew on things you wouldn't think they could chew on and they can jump over a lot more than you think. They really can harm themselves while you are away.
2007-05-23 02:43:53 · answer #4 · answered by Carrie S 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
crate crate crate!!
I, like you, was unsure about the crate issue, i felt badly about her being in there all day, that it was cruel and she didnt have space to run around. After doing much research I decided to try it out and just see how it went.
We got our lab puppy at 8wks, I took one week off work to spend with her and get her used to our environment and started leaving her in her crate for longer periods of time while I was home, if she would fall asleep I would carefully place her in her crate so she would sleep in there.
By the end of the week she would walk in by herself when she wanted to lay down! The first say we left her 8:30-11:30 then came home on lunch, then 12:30-4:30. She had a few messes so we cleaned that out well, but other than that she was fine!
She only messed in her crate a few times before she learned to wait until we came to let her out.
And she loves being in there, she will take her bone in there to lay down and chew on for some 'quiet time'.
It is also VERY reassuring when I am at work to know that she is secured in her "den" you don't have to worry about "oh did the gate fall over? Did she climb out? Did I remember to close the door? Is there anything out puppy can get into?" etc.
And to tell you the truth...we put her in there while we ran errands and snuck a peek through the window before we came in the door and she was sound asleep, our neighbors never hear her cry or bark, she sleeps most of the time we are gone!
I strongly reccomend it!
2007-05-23 02:13:31 · answer #5 · answered by Katie 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Crating is the way to go. Get a crate big enough for him to stand up, turn, and stretch. If it is too big, he will go in it.
I had never done the crate thing either, and with my lab who is ten, i was coming home often with him out of the room i had blocked him in and something destroyed. This went on for a couple of years.
We have Rhodesian Ridgeback now, and we are crating him. He is 5 months old, and he goes in his crate when he wants to get away from us. He takes his naps in there, he takes chewies in there, he likes it. It is like his own room.
Also, with a German Shep. make sure you socialize your pup to as many things as possible. Keep things up beat and fun.
Check out the Ultimate Puppy Toolkit. It was a life saver with our Ridgey. He was ahead of his puppy kindergarten class, and housebreaking was a breeze. You get a lot of info with great illustrations. Follow the steps and you and your pup will bond so much. i don't work for the company, i am just telling you about something that worked so well for me.
Enjoy your puppy!
2007-05-23 02:18:12 · answer #6 · answered by willodrgn 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Crate him. It will not only keep him safe but will help with the housebreaking. Don't feel bad about it. Remember that dogs sleep about 18 hours a day. When you're gone, he'll be sleeping mostly, and he can do that in a cozy cage just as well as he can on the kitchen floor.
2007-05-23 03:26:13 · answer #7 · answered by Pink Denial 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Crating is definitely the way to go, esp where housebreaking is concerned, but remember you cannot leave a young pup alone for too long. At age 2 months the pup can "hold it" for 2 hours, 3 hours at 3 months and so on.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cratetraining.htm
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/housebreaking.htm
A doggie daycare might be an alternative for a while, dogs are taken out every hour, also they get a lot of early socialization with both humans and other dogs, which helps them develop mentally as well.
2007-05-23 02:05:15 · answer #8 · answered by Karen W 6 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Lunc time visit will be fine for the first several months. Then the pup will be happy in the house. If you have a friend or fam member that can visit on occasion that would be nice.
They will acclimate to the house and you should not have a problem. Just walk in the a.m. go home at mid day as you noted and walk right when you get home.
This way no mistakes made in the house.
2007-05-23 02:08:24 · answer #9 · answered by Michael M 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
it might suprise you but you need to crate the puppy which is not a bad thing, if left free to roam they can hurt themselves. a crate provides a safe haven for a puppy they like the crate after a point it is where they feel safe..... whatch what you put in the crate when unattended do not put any bones or blankets he could choke on bone and the blanket will be shreds!!!! as your puppy gets older and gets into mischief and you raise your voice he will go right to the crate,,,,,,why??? its his little safe haven!!!!!
2007-05-23 02:11:26 · answer #10 · answered by Dave B 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋