i live alone, my work hours are roughly at 11am, i am able to come home at 12:30pm then back to work at about 1:30pm till 6pm. i am with him all through the night and in the morning, to exercise and play with him. he is coming up on 10 weeks old. he starts whining when i leave him alone. is 4 to 5 hours to long to be leaving him alone? i leave him toys and i leave my music on my laptop on.
before i have 2nd thoughts on him, i want to make sure he will be alright as long as i do my part outside of work. thanks
2007-08-14 21:28:12 · 7 answers · asked by Brian t 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
you live alone and a dog provides security and companionship. understanding that you provide him with a loving home with plenty of affection, daily exercise/walks and play time. so no, 4-5 hours is not too long to leave him alone. he has toys and hopefully some soft pleasant and relaxing music (nothing too loud, jarring or heavy) to keep him company while you're working. at 10 weeks old he's still a puppy and it's normal that puppies might suffer from a little separation anxiety from when he was first being weaned from his mom on to now everytime you leave. it's natural for him to cry/whine or even get bored and maybe a little destructive when left alone, especially in the beginning.
he'll be fine and besides, it's nice to be missed by your best four-legged friend! you should definitely keep him under those conditions. try leaving a worn t-shirt (worn meaning with your scent, not freshly laundered) with him when you leave in the beginning. it'll remind him of you and reassure him of your presence and return. a loving home is better than a shelter with the possibility of death lurking any day!
2007-08-14 21:58:48 · answer #1 · answered by Kimmie 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think 4 to 5 hours is all right, considering the other information you've provided. I also just got a border collie; she's eleven weeks herself and does fine with the 3 to 5 hours I have to leave her alone when I work.
I recommend crating your puppy while you're away, if you don't already. I did a lot of reading and asking questions before I chose the breed, and every piece of advice was the same: the energy level and playful (sometimes destructive) nature of a border collie make crating imperative to your home's preservation and, most importantly, to the puppy's safety. Because of his age, he won't be able to hold his bladder or sphincter much longer than that just yet, so 4 to 5 hours should be the maximum time a puppy that young should be crated.
Like yours, my pup also whines when I put her in the crate; as someone already mentioned, this is attributable to separation anxiety that should abate with age. Still, it just about kills me to hear her cry. Try this: sneak little treats and sometimes toys into his crate while you're home with him, and crate him for an hour or so while you're there.
It seems to be working for me; after just a day of this, she went from refusing to go near the crate to going in and out of it a couple times an hour to look for tidbits or pull out a toy. She's also less anxious about being put into the crate when we leave.
These are smart, intuitive dogs. I'm sure that as long as you continue to give him lots of love, exercise, and stimulation whenever you're with him, he will turn out perfectly. Enjoy your new baby!
2007-08-16 11:55:34 · answer #2 · answered by flexiblewill 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you realize that a Border Collie needs a lot of stimulation and exercise, it may work. They are a herding breed so are used to working and have that drive. They need a lot of exercise(long walks/jogs) and a lot of mental stimulation or they will resort to unwanted habits. I see a lot of these working type dogs who have behavioral issues because they are not stimulated enough...they start running in circles, barking, digging, chewing, etc. Think about doing something like agility in the future...Border Collies excel in that. And make sure to begin soon with puppy kindergarten and obedience training so you can get him on the right track. They are exceptionally smart dogs and can be very rewarding pets to do activities with.
I don't think a few hours alone will hurt him as long as you vigorously exercise him at least once a day and keep his mind stimulated. Good luck.
2007-08-14 21:37:30 · answer #3 · answered by tbjumper0514 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, 4-5 hours is ok, get him out in the mornings and again at lunch, thats fine, and a walk at night, leave him water and maybe radio on, you seem to have got it right without asking, toys out, chew bone ect. Seems good for him yes.
2007-08-15 00:39:17 · answer #4 · answered by leigha 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
4 - 5 hours is nothing, your dog will get used to it soon enough and use the time for sleeping so don't worry. You sound like a wonderful owner and he's lucky to have you. Dogs have to left alone sometimes, it's not like we can take them shopping or anything. I get roasted bones from the pet shop for our 2, it keeps them happy for hours (although the bones do whiff a bit for the first day).
2007-08-14 22:40:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's fine! Actually wonderfull! When he whines ignore him and when he stops praise him. Everything will be fine!!! Also make sure he has enough food and water, especially during the hot months!!
2007-08-14 21:34:47 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
either that or he can go to doggy daycare. make sure it is a good one where he gets to interact with otther dogs and people and not just stuck in a cage all day
2007-08-14 21:38:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋