QuoteI will be walking him before I leave to work and I have installed a baby gate to keep him only in the living room when I am gone with him food, bed and water and a selection of toys including a machine which dispenses a kong for him every hour while I am gone. Does this sound like a good set up?end quote. Pookiechi Try that and see how it works, also leave him out a blanket my chi mix gets cold and my mother- in-laws chihuahua does as well and she barks until someone gets her a blanket. I do not have my dogs crate trained either, because they do not tear things up. But my pom mix likes a crate and goes in own her own. As far as getting ready to leave and them going nuts. I would get my keys and just sit down and hold them , while ignoring the dogs. Sometimes I would put on my coat or shoes and do the same thing. When I leave I just leave I do not pet cuddle or or tell them bye. As far as crate training I used to think it was mean, but I have read a lot of advice from LAbman and ruby and have come to the realization that it is better for the dog and safer. If I ever bring another dog into my home they will be crate trained from the start. I just feel that chi/terrier would be to tramuatized due to his past if I tried with him. I am sure that you will get it right, because you are dedicated to your dog and that is the most important thing. Good Luck

I might not do what you are, but it does sound workable. I seldom crate my dogs when I can watch them. It seems artificial. What you might do as the time to start being away full time approaches, is to absence yourself for longer and longer periods. Take care of things you won't be able to do once working away from home as easily. Take your laptop to Starbucks or the library and work there, leaving the dog alone, so it isn't such a big change when it comes.

Hi RubyPittbull-


Thank you for a respectful disagreement. "Dogs are pack animals"... you have that correct. What's normal (and I hope you understand) is that people do leave there dog for at least eight hours plus a day, often longer. Sometimes circumstance are such unless you can afford otherwise. I try to be realistic with my advice and perhaps the owner may not want to take the responsibility or can afford another pet. Another solution is to drop the pet off at a relatives or a friend's house that might also have a pet and see if they can get acquainted. I'm really beginning to wonder about this board. Now if I'm stepping on someone's toes that need a "sticky" endorsement (see above) to get paid for giving advice or wants this board to themselves, my apologies. I thought it was shared freely? I speak from my own personal experiences. Barnes and Nobles, Borders, the public libraries are full of books on pet training and if you have local cable watch the "Dog Whisperer."



Bobby :)

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Originally Posted by labman

Just because something is commonly done doesn't mean it is right, or even acceptable. It used to normal to leave dogs chained to a dog house. It used to be normal to feed them table scraps. It used to be normal not to spay/neuter them. It used to be normal to let them run loose. I hope nobody considers any of the above acceptable, although all of it is still all too frequently done.

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This is quite the tangent! BTW while I have not endorsed table scraps, but what did you think dogs ate before Purina?

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Originally Posted by labman

Leaving a dog outside all day by itself can lead to problems, barking, escaping, destroying the yard, being abused, stolen, or killed, etc.

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You mention the backyard as if it's infested with crocodiles. You can make adjustments for having a pet in the backyard and it's not rocket science.



Bobby:)

Have you tried peanut butter filled kongs we use them for our dogs and it keeps them occupied and quite calm