Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Posted by Goobster

Posted by halfbaked

Posted by Pretty-In-Pink

I'm scared to leave a puppy home for 9 hours, the first week I will be off from work. I was told to try and crate train him, so that he learns to hold his bladder.

9 hours is definitely too long to leave a puppy at home alone without anywhere to relieve himself. I suggested crate training, but 9 hours is too long to expect him to hold it at this age.

When we first got our dogs, my DH and I worked opposite schedules- he worked 7-3 and I worked 12-8 so the puppies were only home alone for 4-5 hours tops. Even then they would sometimes have accidents. Now that they are fully grown, we can leave them home for 9 hours no problem. Would it be at all feasible to have a walker come in midday to take him out?

The pup is adorable but this is correct. You can not leave a puppy in a crate for 9 hrs. Absolutely not, never.They can only be expected to hold their urine for as many mths as they are. So if they are 8 weeks (2 mths), then 2 hrs. 12 weeks (3 mths) then 3 hrs, 4 mths then 4 hours and so on. They are babies and it's absolutely impossible and cruel to expect them to hold it otherwise. Crate training would never work as they would urinate all over themselves b/c they simply are not old enough to have bladder control.

I have to be honest and say bladder training my dogs were actually harder than training my human child. And I was home 24/7 with them (did not work). It's not simple and takes a lot of work and puppies generally are too active to be left alone 9 hours a day. They are babies, they crave attention and playing and 9 hrs is a very very very long time alone for a pup. You will never be able to crate train a dog if you are leaving them home 9 hrs, unless you have someone come daily, at a set time (or may even need twice a day).

The only thing you could do is pen him in a larger space so he can escape his urine and feces, but be prepared to come home to a mess nightly as he will urinate and/or defecate and likely stomp through their urine and feces. And he may ruin your floor or your cabinets if it's a kitchen or bathroom, etc. I just have to stress you absolutely cannot even consider crate training if it's going to be 9 straight hours with no one coming once or twice a day in between. It would be actually extremely cruel and could harm them if they are left in a crate for 9 hrs with no break! They need to play, stretch, move, not have to urinate or defecate on themselves, etc.

I would seriously consider getting an older, less active dog b/c puppies do not like to be alone so long. (or you absolutely will have to hire someone to come to your home at least once or twice a day for probably 9 mths (think, 9 mths old, they can hold it 9 hrs). And they could take months to train, my female dog was not bladder trained for one year (had leakage and control issues, bladder problems, crystals in urine, etc). My female was urinating (and I was taking her out) 12 (TWELVE!) times a day until she was ONE year old. One week off is honestly nothing in the scheme of things when it comes to a puppy. Puppies take MONTHS to mature, bodies to mature, bladder and bowel to mature, etc so a week is really nothing in the scheme of things.

And my male was not bladder trained until he was 4 mths. Puppies urinate and poop just like human babies. Also….you would need to leave water for a small puppy. They can't be without water for 9 hrs, which then means they will have to urinate more frequently.

I mean this from the bottom of my heart, please think long and hard about this and how you will be taking care of this dog while you are at work, before you take on such a small baby dog.You will need to have a concrete plan, you will absolutely need to have someone come to your home daily, for many months or I honestly can say it will be a miserable situation for you and the doggie and that won't make for a happy dog or happy owner.

***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Everyone don't worry I will. ...thanks I cant wait!!!!! Yayyyy

Message edited 1/25/2014 10:59:10 AM.

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

SO cute Congrats!

***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Innova was great for my Jake as a puppy.
Good luck! This will be a great time in your lives

***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

ask the breeder to send some of the current food... you will need to mix it in with whatever food you pick... it's too harsh on a dog's digestive system (much like formula switches and babies) to switch food quickly

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Congratulations! Super cute.

I just wanted to share my experience with you as I just got a pup 2 weeks ago myself and my husband and I are both out of the house for 9-10 hours a day.... (this schedule is temporary as my husbands will change soon and he will only work 3 days a week).

For now we put the puppy in his crate when we go to work (we leave by 6:45am). Luckily the pup loves his crate. I think he feels safe in it and curls up on his bed with his toys. The fact that he doesn't mind going into the crate (and that is part of crate training) makes life so much easier in the morning, I don't feel awful leaving him. It took us about a week to get him used to going in (we were off for 6 days when we first got him). I put him in the crate about 5 minutes before I have to leave so he gets settled in and so I know he is happy and ok before I leave.

I lucked out and have an awesome neighbor that comes over and lets the puppy out of his crate to go to the bathroom, play and drink some water 2 or 3 times a day.. usually around 11 and 3. That means he is in there for 4 hours at a time and he has not had any accidents yet in his crate (i hope I didnt just jinx myself). The neighbors kids play with him (and our other dog) at 3 and run with them in the backyard to tire him out. I get home by 5 the latest and as soon as I get home he goes right out to the bathroom and then I give him a ton of love, food and toys!

At night however, we put his crate next to our bed. We usually let him snuggle in bed with us (bad habit we started with our other dog, but I'm a mush for them so can't help it). When we are ready to go to sleep we put him in his crate. He has woke us up a few times to go out in the middle of the night, but for the most part he sleeps straight through! So thats at least 6-8 hours! I am a very light sleeper so even if he stands up I hear him and he rarely does that... He really is a good pup.

It is hard to potty train though. I mean he does great going outside and I think has picked up on it more because we have another dog and he is following his lead.. however he still has his accidents.. Just takes a lot of patience. When we are home we block off the hallway so the dog is only allowed to stay in the den and kitchen (which we are in with him) - I havent let him have full reign of the house just yet.

Hope some of this helps you and good luck!!

ETA: we bought Blue small breed puppy food from PetSmart.

Message edited 1/29/2014 2:43:32 PM.

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Message edited 1/29/2014 3:24:29 PM.

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

congrats and lots of luck.

Just another option that is out there. My cousins puppy goes to puppy daycare and loves it.

***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Congrats!! He is super cute.

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

omg so cute! enjoy and update pics!!

Re: ***Update with pic**So I adopted a mini Labradoodle

Simply adorable. Wishing you the best.