Hi Ian,
It's difficult leaving a young dog alone during the day
We have 2 cockers, one at 16months and a second at 5months.
With Millie when we first left her she started chewing things, first the bathroom mat, then the contents of the bathroom bin, then the wallpaper, skirting board and plasterboard .. :roll:
Eventually we decided to lock her in the kitchen where she didn't chew anything - she was also house trained at an early age, with very few accidents from the age of 16 weeks, which meant that we could leaave her during the day, for 4 hours at a time with an hour at home for a a run and then another 4 hours in the afternoon. My mum would pop in every other day in the morning when she was working in the area and have a play with her / let her out. Then some afternoons, particulalry if we knew we would be working late she went to my mums.
With Jenni though, we can't leave her for longer than 3 hours alone because she simply won't hold her pees/poos - if she's not in her crate she just messes on the floor ... but she isn't destructuive (yet! touch wood!!
)
So you see it is very difficult to gauge how your cocker will react to being left on his own for a longer period of time.
I have to admit that if we know we aren't going to be able to get home, or if we go out for the day but can't take the girls, we arrange for my mum to come down for an hour so that they aren't alone for longer than 4 /5 hours
I liked that idea that someone had for gradually increasing the amount of time he is on his own for, to gradually get him used to it.
But you need to appreciate that a dog who is left alone and expected to sleep for 8 hours during the day, and then expeced to sleep for 8 hours at night as well is going to be full of beans.
Perhaps a long walk in the morning would help settle him down during the day, and then another at night when you get home.
Make sure you leave him plenty of things to stimulate him during the day so that he isn't attracted to you kitchen cupboads
things like kongs stuffed with treats / peanut butter / jam/ frozen gravy (this is fun, make sure you use proper kongs though not imitations and stuff the little hole in the thin end with bread to stop the gravy running out when as it thaws, fill with gravy and whack in the freezer - guaranteed to entertain for ages!
) Perhaps a ball whichs drops out kibble when rolled so he has to play to get the food .. and toys, but nothing he could chocke on.
Of course if someone can pop in a couple of times during the day (do you have any 'dog walking friends') or for an hour or so thats great - doggy day care sounds great, all that socialisation!
I think he will be quite sad for the first few weeks, and will be very very glad to see you, but he will adjust if he has too. Just make sure you are aware of the extra 'work' he will be because of being left alone and that you do the most you can for him during the day.
What ever you do it needs to be what is best for him - remember that he has feelings and emotions too - if he has been naughty when you oget home you need to remember that it's been he's lonely /distressed/bored - which ultimately is your fault (sorry to sound harsh!
)
Make sure you do whats best for him, whatever it is - and get posting a picture in the gallery! we all wanna see him!!
HTH
Kel
PS boy don't I waffle on and on!! hehehe
