Ask Me Help Desk - Leaving my puppy at home alone?

Leaving my puppy at home alone?

I've recently bought a pomeranian puppy, she is eight weeks old and I've only had her for a few days, in less than 2 weeks I have to start going to school again, so I'll be gone for about 8 hours a day. I've tried leaving her at home alone for an hour but she whines and cries. I was thinking of maybe putting her where she will spend her day for and hour and every day leave her in there for an extra half an hour so she can get used to it, help !

Where are you going to put her when you are at school?

She has her own room that has her bed, toys, food and everything else in it

But she's going to be on her own? That won't work. She'll be lonely, upset and miserable. You'll come home to pee everywhere, toys torn to bits, and complaints from all the neighbours about the barking and whining. Not to mention a horribly upset dog.

I know, but no one will be home with it for 8 hours, and I really don't know what to do with her..

If you are gone 8 hours a day you should not own a puppy. Puppies at this age are very needy.

Would you leave a 6 month old child home alone? I doubt it.

You need to either find a new home for this pup or find someone willing to babysit while your gone.

You should have put more thought into purchasing this baby.

Please do the right thing.

I'm 15 and in grade 10, I don't really have a choice how long I spend at home, and she was a present. I don't want to give her up , I'll just find someone to babysit while I'm at school.

Obviously anyone that leaves a 6 month old baby at home alone has issues.

I'm sorry to be so harsh with you but I don't see this situation coming out good. Leaving a puppy home alone every day is going to cause this pup to develop security issues. The dog won't be happy, you won't be happy... this really is a serious issue.

What do your parents say about you having this pup? Are they on board with it? Are they going to help you?

Puppies are very fun and very rewarding, but they're a lot of work also. This puppy is going to have a lot of needs and you can literally compare this pup to a human child.

You're right, you'd have to be crazy to leave a human child home alone. How is this puppy any different?

You need to make the right choice and do what's best for the dog. If you can successfully make this work without the pup being home alone for 8 hrs, then great. If not, you need to find other alternatives.

Sorry, but the truth isn't what you want to hear. Puppies being home alone for more than 3 hours is nothing but a disaster waiting to happen.

Yes my parents love the pup too, but they are out of the house longer than I am. I have someone who can babysit her through out the day, I just have to introduce her to to the lady's other dog.

This is one of the MANY reasons pets should never , ever be given as gifts.

I'm glad you have found someone who can look after her through the day.

You will need to make sure this person is prepared to follow through with your own training techniques and potty training routine otherwise it will end up confusing the puppy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by finegan9

yes my parents love the pup too, but they are out of the house longer than i am. i have someone who can babysit her through out the day, i just have to introduce her to to the lady's other dog.

I do hope you take advantage of every minute that you CAN spend with her. This next half year is going to be very delicate.

Have you introduced the dogs yet? How did they do?

Well I'm glad that you are trying to do the right thing. That really does show a lot!

You have two weeks to get this pup on a schedule. Make sure whoever is watching the pup, maintains the same types of techniques.

If you do have any other questions or concerns, you're always welcome back here!

I would also get your dog use to a crate while your out for a few hours. Not a whole room to itself. Dogs like a den. And also a dog when your gone, just sleeps and keeps one eye open. Dogs are very protective of there territory and will guard it. When you sleep they sleep, when your gone they sleep. Have you ever watched your dog in your back yard from the window when nobody is around? No matter how big your back yard is , that dog will just lay there and be on the watch.
Maybe for the first few minutes they will sniff around, but once that is out of there system, they lay down and watch. That is what dogs do. Stay in there den, and protect it.

8 hours is defiantely too long though, that dog needs to be taken outside to go to the washroom. A full grown dog can hold it for 8 hours no problem, but still that is just mean!
If someone could come home at lunch and let the dog out half way through the day, you would have a much happier dog.

If that little pup has a whole room to itself, potty training will be much harder. They will find a corner to use the bathroom in that room. If you have a kennel, the dog is less likely to go to the washroom inside. They do not like going to the bathroom in there own territory!
Dogs are smart animals, have fun!

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynocompe

I would also get your dog use to a crate while your out for a few hours. Not a whole room to itself. Dogs like a den. And also a dog when your gone, just sleeps and keeps one eye open. Dogs are very protective of there territory and will guard it. When you sleep they sleep, when your gone they sleep. Have you ever watched your dog in your back yard from the window when nobody is around? No matter how big your back yard is , that dog will just lay there and and be on the watch.
Maybe for the first few minutes they will sniff around, but once that is out of there system, they lay down and watch. That is what dogs do. Stay in there den, and protect it.

8 hours is defiantely too long though, that dog needs to be taken outside to go to the washroom. A full grown dog can hold it for 8 hours no problem, but still that is just mean!
If someone could come home at lunch and let the dog out half way through the day, you would have a much happier dog.

If that little pup has a whole room to itself, potty training will be much harder. They will find a corner to use the bathroom in that room. If you have a kennel, the dog is less likely to go to the washroom inside. They do not like going to the bathroom in there own territory!
Dogs are smart animals, have fun!

While this information is not inaccurate for grown dogs, for an eight week old puppy it is inappropriate. The puppy needs a companion and a teacher to introduce her to the world. The dog-sitter next door is a much better idea.