Blackdog10 Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 Hi, I'm bringing home a Labrador puppy in a few weeks and I'm just wondering opinions on leaving the puppy while I'm at work on a covered deck with his crate and play pen during the day with plenty of toys etc to keep him amused. I have time off initially then for the first while I'll be coming home from work at lunch time to let him out etc. will also spend time with him before and after work giving him exercise and affection etc and as soon as im home he can come inside if he wants. My house is just really small and I don't have anywhere I can lock him in, the house has the laundry in the garage but it's a massive garage and I'm worried there's more things that could hurt him in there then on the deck so I was thinking the deck/pen would be a better solution? As he gets older I was going to give him full access to my huge (puppy proofed) backyard. I'm just wondering if I should be worried about someone stealing him from the backyard or is that my worry getting the better of me, I live in a really good neighbourhood have high fences and padlocked. I'm researching so much but this particular part about stealing I'm worried about. I'm aware of the separation anxiety part but I'll do the best I can in that sense potentially a dog walker middle of day if he's struggling after a little while but Im hoping exercise before and after work would be enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliwake Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 It sounds like you have a good set-up there. If there's a way you can allow access to grass, I would do that too - it will speed up the toilet training, and hopefully reduce any mess you need to clean up! If your gates are padlocked then there's not really much else you can do. It's always been a worry for me too, but we lock our gates and hope for the best. You'd hope they'd go for easier targets... We kept our pup in a pen for longer than we should have, in hindsight. He was so much happier once we gave him the run of the yard when we were out. My main concerns when he was a baby puppy was bush turkeys and possums - both present in our yard, and both a lot bigger than him when he was a pup! Once I felt he was mature enough to defend himself I was happy to put him out. If you don't have random wildlife, or hazards in the yard, then you could let him have the run of the whole yard now? As long as he has access to shelter on the deck, I think it would be fine. Do you have many steps to your deck? We made a ramp over the steps so our boy could get up and down easily when he was a pup, but we only had 2 or 3 steps... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog10 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thanks for your reply! All sounds like good advice. We don't have wildlife, the occasional birds ibis and magpies but they all seem harmless. However we do have 10 steps so that's something I've been worrying about as well particularly when his muscles/bones are developing. I'm sure I could make a ramp for him down it with a few planks of wood. The other option is could set up wire fencing around the poles under the deck, there would be no stairs then but there would be grass and I could put his day bed there. I just thought he'd prefer the deck. This puppy stuff is stressful when all you want to do is he very best by your dog! Thanks again for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog10 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thanks for your reply! All sounds like good advice. We don't have wildlife, the occasional birds ibis and magpies but they all seem harmless. However we do have 10 steps so that's something I've been worrying about as well particularly when his muscles/bones are developing. I'm sure I could make a ramp for him down it with a few planks of wood. The other option is could set up wire fencing around the poles under the deck, there would be no stairs then but there would be grass and I could put his day bed there. I just thought he'd prefer the deck. This puppy stuff is stressful when all you want to do is he very best by your dog! Thanks again for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdierikx Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 A pen in the garage? If you are worried about people stealing him... T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clyde Posted April 14, 2015 Share Posted April 14, 2015 1429049924[/url]' post='6678194']Hi, I'm bringing home a Labrador puppy in a few weeks and I'm just wondering opinions on leaving the puppy while I'm at work on a covered deck with his crate and play pen during the day with plenty of toys etc to keep him amused. I have time off initially then for the first while I'll be coming home from work at lunch time to let him out etc. will also spend time with him before and after work giving him exercise and affection etc and as soon as im home he can come inside if he wants. My house is just really small and I don't have anywhere I can lock him in, the house has the laundry in the garage but it's a massive garage and I'm worried there's more things that could hurt him in there then on the deck so I was thinking the deck/pen would be a better solution? As he gets older I was going to give him full access to my huge (puppy proofed) backyard. I'm just wondering if I should be worried about someone stealing him from the backyard or is that my worry getting the better of me, I live in a really good neighbourhood have high fences and padlocked. I'm researching so much but this particular part about stealing I'm worried about. I'm aware of the separation anxiety part but I'll do the best I can in that sense potentially a dog walker middle of day if he's struggling after a little while but Im hoping exercise before and after work would be enough. Put him out in the garden. He's a puppy He will love digging, eating dirt and doing what puppies should do in natural light and sunshine. He will toilet all over your deck and then you will have to break the habit. He will then eat the deck, as puppies do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 (edited) Put him out in the garden. He's a puppy He will love digging, eating dirt and doing what puppies should do in natural light and sunshine. He will toilet all over your deck and then you will have to break the habit. He will then eat the deck, as puppies do. My thoughts also. If you don't want the pup toileting on your deck then keep him off it. I'd expect the deck to take a hit from chewing too. If you have padlocked gates then its time to relax, enjoy him and stop worrying about theft. While we hear a lot about thefts, most don't pan out. ETA: Owner behaviour tends to be a significant component of separation anxiety. Start as you mean to continue. I favour a return home in the middle of the day to feed baby puppies but if he gets plenty of attention before and after work he should be fine. You need to treat coming and going as simply part of his life. Edited April 15, 2015 by Haredown Whippets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog10 Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 Thanks so much for all your feedback. I think I'll just let him out in the yard after reading this, I'll test him while I'm home and go away for short stints at a time while I'm off work and I'll soon see how he reacts, I'm sure that will get my confidence up as well and the worry will stop once I get to know him and he gets to know me. I'll definitely have enough time with him before and after work, socialising and puppy school after vacs as well. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salukifan Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Thanks so much for all your feedback. I think I'll just let him out in the yard after reading this, I'll test him while I'm home and go away for short stints at a time while I'm off work and I'll soon see how he reacts, I'm sure that will get my confidence up as well and the worry will stop once I get to know him and he gets to know me. I'll definitely have enough time with him before and after work, socialising and puppy school after vacs as well. Thanks again. I strongly recommend you enrol in, and keep attending obedience classes until he's at least a year old. That gets you through the most challenging period - adolesence. This is a breed that needs a job. Either you give him one to occupy his mind or he'll find one for himself - and a bored Labrador is the fastest method of garden rennovation/irrigation system removal I've ever seen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKG Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 Pups love dirt & grass. Toilet training will be so much easier with access to grass. You don't even need to leave home to start with. Just put him outside while you are home. He needs to learn about that scenario too. What colour is he? Enjoy him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Rusty Bucket Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 One thing you might do - is go round your neighbours, with the puppy, and ask them to let you know if he's noisy or if they have any other problems with barking or fence banging etc. It's really important to let your neighbours know they can comfortably approach you about any dog related problems they might have so that you can sort them amicably. And if there's any stay at homes - they might be able to help a bit, keep an eye out to make sure nobody is hassling him. I went round with my puppy - she stayed inside when I was out, but she was still loud. My neighbours told me but they were fine with it. And she was with me at night - so no noise then (after the first night). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VizslaMomma Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I strongly recommend you enrol in, and keep attending obedience classes until he's at least a year old. That gets you through the most challenging period - adolesence. This is a breed that needs a job. Either you give him one to occupy his mind or he'll find one for himself - and a bored Labrador is the fastest method of garden rennovation/irrigation system removal I've ever seen! Runs a close second to a Vizsla or he who digs holes ALL over the garden spaced 18 inches apart. Thing is his brothers in QLD dig similar holes. Summat is going to happen. Back to the Labrador, you will have such fun creating a bond with this puppy. Photos when you can too, please. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog10 Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 Thanks everyone! I think I'm just nervous in anticipation as its the first time I've owned a dog, well we had a chihuahua x Pomeranian growing up but I was little then. Im sure I'll have a thousand more questions when he comes home, anxious and excited all at once if that is possible. Thanks so much for your help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stressmagnet Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 I'm filling in holes as fast as Ernie can dig them - give him 20 minutes outside - there's a hole. I always need an excuse to use a shovel. Post pics when your puppy arruves. I'm sure he will provide you with heaps of laughs and landscaping opportunities. Ernie is a year old and the giddiest sweetest thing ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheena Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 My BC girl never dug holes, that I can remember, but she was a terrible chewer. My four year old boy has always been a hole digger, but now he only digs them to sleep in. Needless to say my garden looks like the craters on the moon. :laugh: I found that if I put the dog poo in a hole that was in the wrong place, he was more likely to avoid digging there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suziwong66 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 I'm filling in holes as fast as Ernie can dig them - give him 20 minutes outside - there's a hole. I always need an excuse to use a shovel. Post pics when your puppy arruves. I'm sure he will provide you with heaps of laughs and landscaping opportunities. Ernie is a year old and the giddiest sweetest thing ever. Do you have a 1/2 shell filled with sand for him? We found it worked a treat with our two; we bury toys and dried bones for them to dig in and find. It didn't totally eliminate digging as we occasionally find a hole but it sure helped them control where they decided to dig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suziwong66 Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 One thing you might do - is go round your neighbours, with the puppy, and ask them to let you know if he's noisy or if they have any other problems with barking or fence banging etc. It's really important to let your neighbours know they can comfortably approach you about any dog related problems they might have so that you can sort them amicably. And if there's any stay at homes - they might be able to help a bit, keep an eye out to make sure nobody is hassling him. I went round with my puppy - she stayed inside when I was out, but she was still loud. My neighbours told me but they were fine with it. And she was with me at night - so no noise then (after the first night). gosh yes, i totally agree. We did this with each of our two and i still check in with the neighbours to make sure they're happy with the dogs. I dropped by one set of neighbours on Friday afternoon with a container of home made lentil soup for them and just checked that the dogs weren't annoying them. The puppy is much more vocal than our older boy and I don't want any unhappy neighbours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brookestar Posted April 19, 2015 Share Posted April 19, 2015 Dogs are naturally more active and alert at dawn and dusk and so fit in perfectly with our normal working lives. If you give them time before and after work, they will be fine. The most important thing is to start as you mean to go on. I agree with giving them access to grass to speed up the toilet training. Make sure they have access to a kennel or something similar that they can curl up in and feel safe and secure in. Just because they sleep inside and have access to shelter it is not the same as having a kennel outside, which is like a den environment. Do not think of putting out hundreds of toys. Too many and the dog is too distracted by them. Ideally you want about 3-5 different toys each day. You want to make sure he has different toys each day. If you leave them with same toys over and over again, they will become bored with them. Taking them away for 2-3 days, and getting them out again, means they are like new to the dog again. You also want completely different toys. Some softer ones, some harder nyla bone type ones, etc, it allows them to use them different, and keeps them interested. If you do not want them digging in the garden, then providing a clam shell swimming pool full of sand and giving him a sand pit to dig in is ideal, but he will need to learn to dig there. The key to separation anxiety is to simply ignore the puppy, do not say any long goodbyes or long hellos. When you do get home, make sure he is aware of you being home for 5 minutes before you let him inside and when you do let him in, ignore him for 5 minutes again. Do not run straight to the dog and pat and make a big deal of them. You coming and going needs to be no different to you walking from room to room, going to the toilet or the like. Make sure they are tired out before you leave them, leave them with food to keep them occupied, ideally feed them via kongs to keep them busy and occupied. Coming home in the middle of the day for a midday feed is great if you can do it while they baby puppies, but again, do not make a big deal of coming and going. Spend some time with them, but not the whole time you are home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdog10 Posted May 2, 2015 Author Share Posted May 2, 2015 Got him today. Terrible first night. I'm awake and he's been howling after being asleep 3 hours (930-1230) took him out to pee like all the books say and he's been howling in his crate for 40mins and counting. It's taking all of my strength not to go to him as I'm told that's the worst thing to do. Oh man he's beautiful I love him dearly but I just don't know how to deal with this :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Avanti* Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 (edited) Awww, he's missing his mum and siblings I suppose. It's been many years since I had a new puppy but from memory the howling didn't last for many nights, maybe only one or two. Enjoy your new little boy and I look forward to seeing pics and hearing of his progress. My 11 year old lab is sleeping soundly next to me on the bed as I write. :) Edited May 2, 2015 by LabTested Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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