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September 2010 Weddings
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Pet Owners! Need Advice!!

citygirl17citygirl17
in September 2010 Weddings

H and I are picking up our puppy Labor Day weekend!!  We both work full-time, so we've been trying to come up with a plan for her care.

As it stands right now, I will get up early to take her out for a walk and feed her.  Then I will be going in to work a little earlier so I can take an hour lunch to come home and feed her and take her out.  H will take her out one final time before he leaves at 8AM, I will be home at 11:30AM to take her out again, then we have a dog walker coming in to take her out again between 2:30 and 3:00.  I will be home between 4:30 and 5:00 to take her out again and for the rest of the night.  Eventually we're thinking we can cut out the dog walker when she gets older and I can get home around 12:00 to take her out mid-day still.  

Luckily, I will also be able to work from home once in awhile too once I get established in my new job. 

What kinds of set-ups do you dog owners have for pet care during the day?  Any advice for us?  I think our plan is ok but worry that it still isn't enough....

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Re: Pet Owners! Need Advice!!

  • emilyann21emilyann21

    We don't have a dog sitter/walker for our pup but it sounds like the plan you have will work and once the pup is older then you'll be able to cut the walker/sitter out completely because the pup will be able to hold it until you or your H get home to let him out. Our pup stays in the kennel, "his room", while we're not home and he does great. He usually sleeps and is just super happy to see us when we get home.

    I would definitely just use an old towel/blanket if you use a kennel until the pup gets better potty trained or you'll be washing all.the.time.  

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  • taralynndevaulttaralynndevault
    I'd say your plan is pretty good! I do recommend putting the pup in a crate while you are away and even at night if you weren't planning on doing so! It saves your house from accidents whether it be eaten furniture or pee pees! Once the pup gets older and house trained you can slowly wean off of the crate. We also hung a bell by our door and hit the pups paw on it before taking her out to potty. Now all three of our dogs (used to be 5) ring the bell when they need to go outside! I used to train dogs and compete in obedience competitions so any questions I can try my best to help! Ooh and when or if you use the crate, put either a towel, blanket or shirt that smells like you in it with the pup! Kind of helps with separation because they have something that smells like you! Works great for babies in a bassinet or crib too to help them sleep longer! :)
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  • tbearsangeltbearsangel
    I think your plan sounds fine for the pup when you first bring it home. Like others mentioned, we use a crate with our puppies, (their 'bed') whenever we slept or were out of the house. With Jetta we actually started with a small travel crate and as she grew, we used bigger sizes... they are less likely to pee or poop in it if there is only enough room for them to lie down, stand up and turn around. I have also heard that you can expect a dog to last as many hours without going as months they are old. Ex- three months-> three hours to hold it. We were really lucky in that both our dogs were pretty easy to train. Good luck! And if you need more advice, you know you can count on us. :)
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  • leolynsleolyns

    I agree with crate training & checking on her every few hours like you plan to. My dog is 2 and she is in a crate when we are not home. I have two cats and I don't think she would try to mess with them when we're not home (she loves cats and steps away when she gets swatted) but for her safety we leave her in there.

    taralynn - do you know of any agility trainers out in the East Bay or Sac area? I'd love to get my dog into agility & dock diving (I know there is splash dogs) as she loves to run & jump.

     

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  • stephaniem1977stephaniem1977

    It sounds like that will work. When Gus was a puppy he went out at 8 a.m., I came home for lunch around 12 to let him out, and then he was out again at 5:30. We crated him when we weren't home until he was 6 months old, then he was on probabtion in the kitchen for 3 months, then had free range at 9 months.

    When he was crated, I left my t-shirt that I had worn to bed in the crate with him. Your scent will comfort him.

     

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  • citygirl17citygirl17

    Thanks, guys.  I was worried about leaving her for too long but it sounds like at least some of you did the same thing with leaving your puppies then just coming home for lunch to let them out.  It makes me feel better, like I'm not going to be such a terrible parent.  

    We are so excited to get her home! 

    "Imperfection is beauty; madness is genious. And it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring" ~ Marilyn Monroe <a href="http://www.thenest.com/?utm_source=ticker&utm_medium=HTML&utm_campaign=tickers" title="D
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