Need advice...leaving dog alone in house

So, when we first had Molly she was basically contained to the office all the time. As she got older she had the run of the house.

This pup now pretty much has the run of the house. We have a gate up in the office for when we leave - and I just bought another gate to put at the top of the stairs (she loves to go up there)

I am a SAHM so I'm home ALOT of the day. A few times I have left her in the office and she has squeezed through the side part of the gate. We even put cardboard and duct tape so she couldn't get through - and she bit her way through. Sometimes if I am putting the baby to sleep and I can't keep a full eye on her I'll keep her in the office - but she cries like a baby.

This morning I went to run some errands and I heard her crying and crying as I was leaving. It breaks my heart. Driving away I called my tenant and asked him to let her out - the thought of her so upset was making me want to turn around and go home.

So after that long winded post - WHAT THE HECK CAN I DO ABOUT THIS!

Molly was much more independent then this dog is. She is so timid and mushy. I have to go out - and she is not that trained yet where she should have access to the entire house.

I can't block her in the kitchen bc it's too open of a space.

I can't crate train bc I don't think it would last two minutes.

Please give whatever advice you can.

Thanks for reading!

Re: Need advice...leaving dog alone in house

I didn't have the heart to crate train either..We didn't crate train Jessi and it took us forever to house break her.
So we decided to crate train our other dogs.
Morgan was only horrible for a few days...yes it broke my heart, but eventually she loved her crate it became her "home"

Now we are crate training Riley, and She has been the most difficult with it...not with having accidents, just with whining all night for a good month.
It was horrible...If either DH or I gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, she will whine. But eventually quiets down.

Will you only be crating her when you leave the house? or at night too?

when we put Riley in her "home" she gets a small biscuit...so she knows its a good thing to go in there. I know she whines when we leave, b/c I hear her...but what I can I do about it...I do not want her having the run of the house yet, especially with two other dogs, one of whom she is very active with.
As hard as it is, and may be I feel its worth it.

Re: Need advice...leaving dog alone in house

She would only be in here when I'm not home - she sleeps in bed with us at night. The amount of time she would be in here would be so minimal - I just think I have to do it. At least for a month or so until she really gets used to the house and going to the bathroom outside.

She has yet to go on a wee wee pad in my house. If she doesn't get outside - she goes on my rugs.

Today - no accidents just yet! I'm praying she's getting the hang of it now!

Re: Need advice...leaving dog alone in house

shameless bump - I have to go out today for a few hours so I'm a little worried

Re: Need advice...leaving dog alone in house

If its only a few hours, crate her...It won't hurt!

Re: Need advice...leaving dog alone in house

Make it a nice thing for her, put the radio in there and give her a treat when you leave. Katie usually gets a kong with a treat inside- keeps her busy for a while.

ETA: When Katie was younger we did crate her when we left. At first she didn't like it. No she goes in there all the time- it's her safe place. And there is always a treat.
When we first got my parents dog we gated her off in the kitchen, she chewed through the gate and would cry. Once we got a crate, she loved it, no crying no trying to escape.

ETA again... I wouldn't suggest putting her in there alone without a treat when you are home. That's almost like a time out.

Message edited 11/20/2007 12:24:42 PM.

Re: Need advice...leaving dog alone in house