Leaving Pup At Home

[Derek91]

Hi all,

I've been lurking for a bit reading as much as I can before we get our first pup and now I have a question as it's getting closer to getting our puppy, a 10 week old kelpie x.

I have seen a few similar threads regarding leaving a puppy at home but still have some questions.

Firstly the situation is that i am a shift worker while my partner works a stable 9-5 job. I can take a week or so off when we first get our puppy to help him settle in to the new house and get used to being away from mum etc.

But when I go back to work we will need to leave him at home. He will get plenty of love, play time and training when I'm home either before or after work and we will work on crate training in our bedroom at first then moving into another room. We will be attending puppy school and I plan on socializing him as much as possible. Once he's old enough the wee chap will be going everywhere with me on my days off/ before and after work.

However because of my varying shifts this could be anywhere from between 2-8 hours a 2-3 of times a week. From what I have read my plan is this, pen off an area in our backyard with a kennel, plenty of toys, water and a clam shell filled with sand/some grassed area and introduce our puppy to this in increasing incriments in the first week I can spend at home. Using treats and play time I want to make the area feel safe and fun, almost like a treat in itself.

Im not keen on having him crated or inside during the day, unless he seems to prefer inside (but not for 8hrs).

My questions:

Is 11 weeks still too young to be penned outside a couple of days a week? I can't get anyone to come by, and will try and avoid day shifts to mean he will only have 2-4 hours at home alone if I possibly can, but this isn't always in my power. I understand he needs to be fed more than twice a day so will either gt a timed feeder or feed around the hours I will be home.

If this is too young I could use one of the spare bedrooms as an inside pen until he's old enough, but really prefer the idea of outside. (I can't help but feel being locked in a bedroom would be terrible for him... somehow a pen outside seems nicer to me)

We have a reasonable yard (750sqm) so size isn't an issue, but how big should I make such an area?

Is a week long enough to build up to being comfortable in the pen? He is a farm raised pup so is used to being in a barn and been introduced to playing in the feilds so I am hoping this is building confidence outside, as well as the working dog in him.

Any other tips or advice, anything I have missed?

Thank you in advance, and thanks for the other great info on the forums! Both excited and nervous for my new buddy!

[Salukifan]

A lot is going to depend on the weather forecast.

Unless you have a well shaded area, lots of water and a cool mat, I'd not leave a baby puppy outside in the heat.

For me, the easy and permanent solution to this issue is to install a dog door, give the pup some room inside and teach the pup to use the door. :)

[Dame Aussie]

I see no issue with this but as HW said if it's really hot I'd have pup inside. A dog door is a great idea too.

[Aziah]

I agree with HW...

Also, when you do take the time off work, make sure you don't spend every waking hour with him before returning to work. Use that time to practice healthy separation :)

[Steph M]

Any reason he can't have the whole yard and just pen off any bits you don't want him getting in?

[SKG]

Sounds like you have really done your research. Well done.

So much depends on your situation. My house is hotter than outside in the shade during summer so mine are limited to the backyard with ample shade, water, iceblocks, pool etc. Mine were restricted to a large grassy pen (made of pool fencing panels)with kennel & lots of shade (big tarp over the top of the pen with plenty of height) as 8 week olds. I knew where they were & they learned to use the kennel.

A week is plenty of time to get used to it. A meaty bone when you leave home &/or some Kongs will tide the pup over. Mine were on 2 meals a day plus bones from 8 weeks.

Enjoy your new pup.

Edited November 19, 2015 by SKG

[Derek91]

Thanks all for the replies and the help!

Honestly hadn't even considered a doggie door yet... I suppose this is what happens when I think these things through on night shifts. I'll look in to getting one into the laundry, can these be installed on sliding doors?

Failing that the entire west side of the house is shaded and probably cooler than our house the afternoon, I'm thinking this could be an option. By cooling mat, do you mean something specifically for dogs? Where can I find these? I'll look into this also.

I decided on penning an area off mainly for the pups own safety. The fences are 1.8m high so he's not going anywhere, but we have a few things in our yard I wont have time to take care of until later, e.g. weve been renovating so some rubbish and pulling out a massive prickly pear that I'd hate for him to decide to play in...

Should I start with short periods being left alone from day 1 or give him a day or two to setlle in and feel safe away from mum?

Thank you again for your help, much appreciated as this is out first puppy :)

[SKG]

My breeder's advice was start out as you mean to go on. Start with the pen from day one. It will become the pup's normal that way.