Hi everyone, just wanted to thank you all for your replies and your advice, sorry I have taken awhile to come back, a family with 2 kids and now a puppy it gets a bit hectic around here lol
I ummed and ahhed with hubby over what to do, we can't rearrange the fencing to include the doggy door just the way the yard is it's too difficult, so I called the local vet we take him to for puppy pre school and his future check ups and the nurse there suggested puppy pens for alone time during the day. She didn't recommend a crate because the space is too small for that long, so she's lending us one from the vet clinic, we just have to pop a deposit down until we return it and can buy our own!
Thanks so much for the link to the pens dancinbcs that's so helpful! It's been hard knowing what to do, you just don't think of these things beforehand (I know we probably should have though)
Thanks everyone again for all your advice I have read all of them and will take it on board, I appreciate it!
Oh, we have a 12 week old male miniature Schnauzer, his name is Beau