[raarsala]

I go to school for 7 hrs a day and I have a new puppy. Is it okay if someone lets it out once while I'm gone? I get home at 2:20, is this cruel for the puppy. What if I leave training pads for it. Im planning on leaving her crate door open and fencing off a puppy-proofed area in my room. Can training pads replace someone chcking on it? Our budget is tight, but we are trying to do what's best for the puppy.:confused:

[Silverfoxkit]

If your budget is tight, then puppy pads might be the more expensive option. I've tried using pads in the past and they rack up the dollars pretty quickly, plus it will only make housebreaking much more difficult later on. Pads teach puppies its okay to potty inside. It would probably be better to have someone come and check on the puppy and let it out to potty if that's possible.

[tickle]

I hate training a puppy with training pads. Nothing beats the outdoors to housetrain a dog. Actually, it is letting the puppy know its okay to go inside. What kind of dog is it ? Will it be big or small when full grown. Its okay if someone lets it OUTSIDE yes. Pup needs fresh air and exercise.

[tickle]

Hey, silverfoxkit ! Simultaneous answers with almost same information. How about that ! We better team up.

The tick

[ISneezeFunny]

Unfortunately, when I had a puppy, I was in school as well as held a part time job. I would leave at 8am and come home at 7pm. I first tried what you wanted to do, puppy fence + crate open + training pads... not a good call. My puppy started to get lonely + bored and started eating/tearing up the puppy pads.

Instead, I hired two friends to come over twice a day and play with her, let her out, etc. In return, I cleaned their apartments, let them eat my food, bought them alcohol, etc.

Took about 2 - 3 weeks of this, but she eventually was able to roam free in my apartment.

[tickle]

I sneezy, I watched AnimalPlanet today with a client. It features vet clinics all over the US Canada and England and how they carry on day to day business.

They had one chocolate lab that would not stop eating everything in sight, sanitary pads, both old and new, laundry hampers, shoes, anything. I mean this dog was adult ! He was constantly at the vets being cut open to remove something stuck in his intestines. Horrible story. You can't give your pets that opportunity. People think its cute, funny that the dog is eating stuff, but it can really be quite lethal to the dog.

You can't give a new pup any opportunity to pick up bad habits.

The tick

[GoodLuckJen]

I feel the same way with my 3 month old Maltese. She gives me these sad puppy dog eyes whenever I close the door on her. I feel terrible, but getting a sitter is way too expensive

[raarsala]

It's a female bichon frise. Unfortunately, all of my friends are in school too. If someone lets the puppy out once while I'm gone, do you think she will be okay?

[raarsala]

So "goodluckjen", do you leave her by herself all day? How does she handle it?

[tickle]

Bichon frise are really smart little critters, raarsala. She will be okay if it is someone you trust to let her out and bring her back in. They are a hardy little dog. Don't do her a disservice by training improperly.

[raarsala]

I feel the same way with my 3 month old Maltese. She gives me these sad puppy dog eyes whenever I close the door on her. I feel terrible, but getting a sitter is way too expensive

So you leave her alone during the day? How does she handle it?

[ISneezeFunny]

I sneezy, I watched AnimalPlanet today with a client. It features vet clinics all over the US Canada and England and how they carry on day to day business.

They had one chocolate lab that would not stop eating everything in sight, sanitary pads, both old and new, laundry hampers, shoes, anything. I mean this dog was adult ! He was constantly at the vets being cut open to remove something stuck in his intestines. Horrible story. You can't give your pets that opportunity. People think its cute, funny that the dog is eating stuff, but it can really be quite lethal to the dog.

You can't give a new pup any opportunity to pick up bad habits.

the tick

Yeah... my pup had that small problem, which is why I left her in the puppy fence without the puppy pad for about two/three weeks until she was properly trained and she didn't have separation anxiety. Now, she sneakily eats things (my lunch usually), but she's good.

[KayGates]

I am in a similar situation. I have an agreement with my school that lets me come home during lunch and let her out though. I think she will be fine if someone takes her out once or twice. Mybe family or close friends?

But, my puppy whines a lot when I take her out her crate and put her back in. I am not sure what to do about that.

[ISneezeFunny]

She probably whines because she wants to play. Perhaps you can take her out for a quick game of catch, let her expend some of that energy.

[linnealand]

Personally, because we live in an apartment in the heart of a city, we decided to teach our pup to go outside to do his business, *but* he will go on the pads if we tell him that we can't go out at his normal time (because of a bad storm, an emergency, for new year's eve when the streets are covered in broken glass and fireworks, etc.).

For us, it's been an ideal solution. He prefers to go outdoors, so he will hold it until it's time to go out, but he will use the pads if he really has to. Because he likes the pads, we have not had a problem with him going to the bathroom in other parts of the house.

Of course, if we lived in a house with a big yard, we probably wouldn't need them. Chances are, though, that we'll be in cities for a good part of his life. If it's late at night and in a bad area, I might not feel like walking around by myself. The reason not every dog uses pads as an addition is that it's said that it can be confusing to some dogs.

Also, I find that if you are buying the pads in bulk, they only cost about a quarter each for really top notch pads. I love the Gridlock brand, which you can also buy on Amazon.

[sajjw]

I personally don't think its fair to leave a dog -let alone a puppy alone for this length of time every day. Dogs are sociable creatures and suffer from boredom, loneliness and anxiety when left alone. I bred a litter of Irish setters last year and I would not sell any of my puppies to someone who was not at home during the day to look after it. I will only leave my dogs for a maximum of 4-5 hours and they have each other for company. I don't understand why so many people think that its perfectly OK to leave dogs alone for long periods on a regular basis. Its not OK. Its cruel.

[tickle]

Yes, I tend to agree with sajjw. Leaving a pup alone all day, especially at a young age when they need interaction with people is, I believe, tantamount to leaving a toddler alone.

We have put dogs in the realm of pets and as such need socialbility in order to survive in our world. This is why some pet owners think that they can't handle their pet, find them difficult to train, etc. Young animals need us for stimulation and when they are sufficiently socialized and stimulated, then you can teach them anything, even successful house training.

It takes work, that is why some people can't handle having a pet they have to train. Maybe another reason is some a pet owner can't tolerate the unconditional faithful love of a dog.

[Puppylover46236]

If your friend lives near you u should ask her mayb to be with the puppy like bring it for a walk play with it or something then bring it bac to the house and then you can c it when you get home or nxtdoor neighbour.:)

[linnealand]

if ur friend lives near u u should ask her mayb 2 be with the puppy like bring it 4 a walk play with it or somethin then bring it bac 2 the house and then u can c it when u get home or nxtdoor neighbour.:)

No txt please. Read the rules if you have any questions. My head is spinning.

[sajjw]

It is NOT OK to leave a dog let alone a puppy alone for 7 hours on a regular basis even if someone does come along (presumably only briefly) once to let it out. Dogs are sociable creatures that suffer anxiety, loneliness and boredom when left alone. Why did you get this puppy if there is no one at home to look after it? You are being cruel and should find him a home where there is someone around in the day to house train, walk, socialise and feed your puppy.