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Topic: Housebreaking my puppy when no one is at home for at least 6 Hours - Help Please !!!!
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rdyeung
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posted April 28, 2004 09:26 PM
Hi,
I am writing from Down Under in Perth, I am about to bring my 8 week Ridgeback puppy home and I have a real problem. I would like to housebreak my puppy (do her thing outside) but I have a problem. I work from 8.30 to 5 pm and my wife works from 6 to 2.30 pm, so there will be no one at home for a good 6 hours.
I read countless number of articles of how to housebreak a puppy but none has really help me given my present situation.
Can anyone help me please of how to housebreak my puppy when there will be no one at home for a gd 6 hours and I can't find anyone else to go to my place during this period to let the puppy out. I would preferably not want to use newspaper.
Thank you so much
Best Regards,
Rob
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 29, 2004 06:29 AM
How about an outside kennel area with a dog house. A small kennel about 6x4 could be set up so the pup is outside during your working hours. Put up a shelter with blankets or carpet for a sleeping area, you can provide food & water. Then when home you have pup inside and continue normal training.
Here in canada they sell chain link dog runs that can be put up in a hour and are portable. You could put a tarp on one side to make it sheltered from sun, wind, etc.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted April 29, 2004 03:31 PM
Your current situation will not work with raising a puppy, is probably why you cannot find any information on what to do. A puppy can be expected to go one hour for each month of age without going potty. At 8 weeks you need to be there every hour. Do not get a dog until your situation provides for one is the best advice. Either take the dog back to where you bought it or one of you should cut their work hours over the next 5 months.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted April 29, 2004 03:37 PM
The fact that you have said 'for at least 6 hours' is even more troubling. This means you could be gone for 6, 8, 10, 12 hours at a time?
"In our view, the dog is not a possession, a personal commodity to be used solely for our own amusement or ego-gratification. Rather, it is a living, autonomous, yet highly social, pack-oriented creature that has an amazing capacity for companionship and love. Your role in determining whether this will be the case for your own dog is a vital one. Capacity is precisely that, a natural potential. A good relationship with your dog can be established only if there is an enlightened commitment to working with its proven needs, instincts, behavior patterns, and yes, capacities."
Pg. 5, Monks of New Skete "The Art Of Raising A Puppy"
[ April 29, 2004, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Ken Nielsen ]
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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lou3
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posted April 29, 2004 03:41 PM
my dogs are kenneled when i'm out at uni lectures or riding my horses. We have good dog kennels with runs and they get as much attention as possible when i'm home. Its the only system that really works if you want a puppy AND a job. Crating wont work with a young puppy and it shouldnt really be left alone all day - perhaps you have a neighbour who can play with the pup in the middle of the day. Keep the kennel clean and the pup will be fine you can house train while you are at home in the evenings.
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted April 29, 2004 06:19 PM
Six hours seems like a lot when they are only 2-3 months of age but it's not. I have Ariel my rotti pup in a crate and I would come home at lunch time (I would usually wake her up) and then again after work.
She was in the crate for 4 hours at a time. I have a 3-season room with a doggy door that goes right into a dog run. Once she was comfortable with going in & out of the door, she has been left crateless.
A dog isn't a possession but a companion. The reality however is that most of us have to work in order to keep them in kibble.
Do the best you can with the resources you have. The pup will survive the 6 hours easily as long as you spend good quality time with her in the morning & evening.
And all puppies are to be put in their crates to sleep & that's 8 hours min. You don't need to feel guilty to having a job.
Please keep us posted as to how things are going and if any of our suggestions help.
D.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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rdyeung
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posted May 01, 2004 09:49 AM
Dear Doglover,
Thank you for your very helpful and encouraging advice.
Someone from another forum has advice me to hold on having the puppy until she is at least 10 weeks old(I have not taken possesion of the puppy yet, she is only 7 weeks old now). He told me that the older she is the longer she will be able to hold going to the toilet. He reckons that a 10 weeks old puppy should be able to hold for the 6 hours nobody will be at home.
I will try to negotiate with the breeder if she can raise the puppy until the later is at least 10 weeks old.
Thank you for your encouraging and very down to earth advice (you can't expect anybody to stop working or reduce the hours one have to work in order to put food on the table just because of a dog)
Cheers
Rob
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 01, 2004 01:08 PM
One thing to mention is that the ridgebacks are medium to large dogs which means their bladders grow faster than a smaller dogs.
What I did is use old towels in the crate and kept a change handy. If Ariel had an accident I simply changed out the bedding -threw it in the washer/dryer and away we went. Don't use any bleach.
Your breeder might already have her "potty" trained for #2, mine did. It's something that large breed moms do very early. She ate three times a day & p o o ped 3 times. Ask your breeder when those times are and you'll be one up on that part.
Good luck and hopefully you can post some pictures later.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 02, 2004 03:28 PM
rd, every one says 6 hours is a long time, yes it is quite a while, but if you don't have too high expectations of your pups toiliting till 12 weeks, just keep him in an enclosed area, lots of toys, radio, blankets and newspaper, then train as much as you can on your days off, he will be fine. You will just have to clean up the mess after work and train thereafter. There is no harm in having your puppy and leaving him for 6 hours.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Barbara Smith
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posted May 02, 2004 04:27 PM
I agree with whoever advised you to leave your puppy with it's parents until the age of 10 wks. If you do this you will have a puppy who will be easier to train and more secure. Also, the parents will train your pup not to bite. This is very important. Puppies need to be with their parents that long.
It's going to be hard to get away from using newspapers if you are not going to be with the pup. I used a litter box for dogs, but my dog strowed the litter all over the house. That's when I started putting newspaper in the litter box. Another thing is that dogs don't like to go on shiny parts of the newspaper, so I'd leave them out.
Good luck with your new puppy! Don't forget to buy a good book on training for obedience-or a tape. You need to start working on that right away and be consistant!
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Barbara Smith
Posts: 127 | From: Norf.,Va | Registered: Apr 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 02, 2004 04:46 PM
At 10 weeks you would be lucky if the parents want anything to do with the puppy, the most likely scenario here would be a puppy in a pen alone, most of his littermates would have departed at 8 weeks, mum would want nothing to do with him and want to be back with her owners, and dad if he is around, would have left the scene at mating. The only training this pup would get is if the breeder had him inside her house, which I would doubt very much, after weaning them, cleaning up, and a rotti b--ch would have say 8-10 pups, wow, a lot of work, no, get your pup now, go with it, you may take a bit longer to house train, but better to have your love now, 8-12 weeks, scientifically proven the most important bonding time in a pups life.
sorry Ridgeback b--ch.
[ May 02, 2004, 04:51 PM: Message edited by: ellierat ]
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted May 03, 2004 10:04 AM
"(you can't expect anybody to stop working or reduce the hours one have to work in order to put food on the table just because of a dog)"
rdyeung, I made the suggestion to lower work hours as one possible means to successfully becoming a dog owner. To me, owning a dog means you should take accounting of all possible situations: Who will rescue the pet in event of a fire, who will be available to attend to daily, or even hourly, care, How will finances be provided for complete veterinary, schooling and grooming? Every possible scenario should be considered before taking on full ownership. Otherwise, both the owner and the dog suffers.
I have one friend who had a dog that he was not able (willing) to be available for and would leave the dog at home alone while he did extended weekend trips with his girlfriend or other travel. This amounted to abuse of the dog he should not have owned, but was not willing to part with. To this day, the dog long departed, he still says he has nightmares "Oh no, I've been gone for four days and I left Bobbi in the basement."
I just hope you will take the insight I gave for consideration as it is meant to be a help in your consideration of what efforts are needed to do a good job of being a dog owner.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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rdyeung
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posted May 04, 2004 07:10 AM
Hi All,
Thank you so much for all your contribution and advice, it is very much appreciated.
I am still unable to find someone to come home every 2-3 hours to let the puppy out and it would be pretty difficult for me to come home every 2-3 hours since I work about 30 mins from home (even though it would not be totally impossible for me to do so). I will talk to the breeder to see if I could pick my puppy at 12 weeks, I am hoping that by then, the puppy would be able to hold at least 4-5 hours.
Thank you again
Cheers
Rob
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted May 04, 2004 09:25 AM
Here'se how I did it: I bought an SUV with owning a dog in mind and camping. I put a crate in the back so I can open the lift gate and let the dog out. I took my 6 week old puppy with me to work every day. When she was youngest, I took her in my office and let her play on training pads on the floor. That only lasted about a week or so and then I could leave her in the car (feb - march cooler weather so no worry about cooking her.) I found a little tree and grassy patch in the industrial park where I work and that became our get-away. At every break, I drove to the tree and let her out to play and do her business for 15 minutes, that's at 10am and at 3pm. For lunch we went to the park so I could eat in the car then take her for a walk. We also got plenty of walking and playing in the morning before work and then after we got home. When she became 4 months old, she began staying at home. I have an hour lunch, so I drive home every day and let her out. She is 5 months old now and all is well. She has the run of the house and doesn't harm anything. She has lots of toys, lots of chew things, lots of love, and lots of training.
This has worked out tremendously well I am glad to say.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 04, 2004 03:35 PM
Ken that was a great idea, why didn't you keep up taking her with you, she would have grown up and got used to it and gone with you everyday, dogs love to travel and go with their owners.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted May 05, 2004 02:59 PM
quote:
Originally posted by ellierat:
Ken that was a great idea, why didn't you keep up taking her with you,
The whole goal was to get her past the point of 4 months so she could wait 4 hours at our air conditioned home, before the warm weather started setting in. You can't leave a dog in a car during warm weather or certain death ensues. At home, she can watch TV play with her toys, do acrobatics on the couch (I know she does this, I can hear her from outside after I leave in the morning,) and generally watch the neighborhood go by out the window.
She is such a good baby, I love her so.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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rdyeung
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posted May 07, 2004 03:40 AM
Hi,
I spoke to the breeder and she is not willing to keep the puppy until she is 12 weeks old, I am picking the puppy next Friday, she will be 9 weeks old.
The breeder told me to use newspaper to housebreak the puppy and when I am home I can housebreak the puppy outside. She says eventually tyhe puppy will be housebroken outside if I keep taking her outside when i am home, it might take longer to housebreak her but I would be able to fully housebreak the puppy outside.
Thanks for all your advice
Regards,
Rob
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 07, 2004 06:16 AM
Good Luck and I'm sure things will work out great. I know the first month seems crazy with all the watching them like hawk.
D.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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sambucca/whiskey
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posted May 16, 2004 01:13 AM
I put my puppy in the kitchen with a baby gate, toys, kong, bed, blankets everything you could think of and let him use pads until he can be expected to hold it all day.
It is harder and does take longer but as long as you give quality time over quantity you will have a very well adjusted dog. I know many people who are home almost all day, everyday but dont pay a whole lot of attention to their dog/puppy.
To me to be ignored when you are home is worse than being alone but truly cared for when you are home.
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 16, 2004 04:50 PM
Ken, your baby sounds completely spoilt ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) , she is lucky to have an owner like you!!!
Rd, I thought that would be the case, being a breeder myself, it's not that you don't care for your pups it just that it is very hard keeping one puppy on its own from a litter, many just don't have the set up for it, it is rare for the mother to want to go with it, all she does is growl at the little darlings after 8 weeks. Believe me your puppy will probably get far more attention with you than with the breeder now.
Like I previously stated, 8 weeks, 10 weeks, or 12 weeks, your training does not really get through to your pup till full bladder control at 12 weeks, you are really only showing him where to go till then, it can take as long as 4-5 months of age for full training, and this can be acheived just the same as all day training or part time training.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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rdyeung
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posted May 18, 2004 06:49 AM
Hi Guys,
Thank you so much for all your advice. My puppy is making some progress and I am being more patience and less demanding on her, she relieve herself 95% of the time when I take her out when I am at home.
One of the problem I have now is that she does little wee and she fiddle around before she relieves herself, she does little and short wee. Is that normal?
Also she drinks so much water when I feed her is that normal? I am giving her what the breeder told me to feed her. Am I right that I should not have water available for her permanently? I've heard that control feeding (i.e take the food and water when she has enough) is the way to go?
Gee, it is hard work, when I am at home, I take her out every 30 - 45 mins, I am so scared that she does something inside, am I being too harsh on myself....
Your comments please?
Thanks
Regards,
Rob
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Ken Nielsen
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posted May 18, 2004 08:40 AM
Are you posting three different threads with the same subject?
It would be best if we just had one thread to talk to you on.
Posts: 94 | From: Portland, Oregon | Registered: Apr 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 18, 2004 04:23 PM
RD, take it easy, you will be fine.
Now water! if you are feeding dry food, go with what is says on the packet, ALWAYS HAVE FRESH WATER available, these biscuits swell once inside, and take all the moisture, your pup will dehydrate if you take the water away.
The idea of controlled feeding is to prevent accidents in a crate or your house, but if your pup is being trained, you don't need to be so drastic, after all he is only a baby.
I feed pups 3 times a day and find that there is not much left to leave, they gollop down the lot as soon as I put it down.
The wee: that is normal, she is looking for the best spot to go, and marking it, normally a little twirl around is normal, look for this inside, it will tell you she needs to go. You are going to have an accident inside, it is normal, keep her confined to any easy floor to clean, then just clean it up, don't make a fuss over it or you will scare her. When she does it in the right place, give heaps of praise.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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