Leaving pup on his own!

[Madam12]

Is it normal for pups to go toilet when you leave them?

I only leave theo for around 15 minutes in the morning to go and get myself ready! I leave him in the kitchen with his crate, plenty of toys and a kong with treats and he's quiet for 3 minutes while hes getting his treats then he's crying on and off then!

When i do get down to him he has weed on the floor! Is this an attention thing??? I'm not sure as i know he'd been to the toilet and surely couldn't possibly need another 

I need to leave him throughout the day in three weeks as i'm back to work and most of the time his toilet time is good unless its my fault! I don't want to go backwards with this!

[Jane57]

I always used to make sure he had just been out for a wee before I left him even for 10 mins in the early days.
I figured if he had emptied his bladder then there would be nothing more left.
It does get better, they increase the time they can go really quickly.

I dont think its an attention thing, I dont think they are aware of that.

[elaine.e]

It's not an attention thing, dogs don't think like that. It's probably because he's anxious, he can't help it.

When you go back to work in 3 weeks will Theo be left all day? That's a very big ask for a young puppy, even if you're up early and spend lots of time with him and walk him before you go. Could you find somebody to spend a bit of time with him during the day? Don't be surprised if his toilet training takes several steps back when you return to work. I'm not sure how old Theo is but he'll probably be too young to be able to hold on all day.

In the meantime I think you need to need start getting him used to being alone for short periods and gradually build up the time. When you leave him, keep it low key and don't make a big fuss. Try leaving a radio on so he isn't left in silence and do things like go out of the house for just a minute or two then come back in and don't immediately make a big fuss of him so he starts to get used to you going and coming back and hopefully can remain calm about it.

Edited to add - just looked at your previous posts and seen that Theo is only 9 weeks old. He definitely won't be capable of holding on all day when you return to work. Also, do you plan to leave him in his crate all day while you're at work and then again at night (or have I misunderstood). Personally i think that's way too long, even if you have a big crate. Sorry to sound harsh, and I know there are people on here who work full time and have Cockers and it works well for them. Hopefully some of them will see this and have some good advice for you

[**purpleprincess**]

Even if Luca had been for a wee, if I left him to go and have a shower he'd have a little tiny wee. I think it's anxiety over being left. He misses you! 

[jaybee]

I used to do the same as Jane, when leaving Bingley for even short periods I would (and still do really) take him out immediately before I left, just so he was empty. It's not an attention thing, if he is used to you being around pretty much all the time he is probably a bit anxious/stressed.

My partner and I both work, but we have managed to work things around Bingley. The only reason we've been able to get it to work is because we work quite different hours, meaning the longest period of no one being in the house is about four hours. Even so, this is too long to leave a young pup and so we had family/puppy sitters etc popping in and out. Now he is a bit bigger he actually goes to my MILs most days for those few hours. He loves to play with her dogs and she is only out for about an hour when he is with her. He's settled nicely into this routine now.

If he will only be 12/13 weeks when you go back to work, like Elaine has said, I would expect toilet training to go back quite a few steps. The simple fact is that most young puppies just cannot physically hold it for any prolonged length of time. I hope you have sorted out puppy sitters/family/dog walkers for when you go back to work. Again, as Elaine says, not wanting to sound harsh but you may find yourself facing many problems and issues if you have to continually leave your pup alone for extended periods of time. Now is the time you want to be working on leaving him for short periods, and arranging any day care/dog sitters you may need.

Good luck!

[Madam12]

Yes i have puppy sitter sorted so that theo isn't left all day on its own! We knew that would be needed when we discussed getting a pup!  And to elaines question.. No theo wont be confined to his crate all day, he will have the kitchen where he can play and his crate will be there if he wishes to go in it!

A dog was something me and my boyfriend really wanted and we know people who have raised dogs and are full time workers! I hope we havent made the wrong decision now after reading some of your thoughts 

[jaybee]

In my opinion it is doable if you have a lifestyle that fits in with it all. Luckily our jobs are the type that once we leave the office, that is it.

I've said before that I strongly believe many dogs in families where people do not work do not necessarily have a better quality of life than those with owners who do. It is all about making your dog your top priority, being organised and being responsible. It is great you have organised puppy sitters etc., are there perhaps any day care facilities around you that you could eventually use? You have your puppy now so there is no benefit in questioning your decision, you have to make a go of it and find something that works  .

In the time you do have left work on leaving him for short periods, gradually building up the time. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it in any more depth.

[**purpleprincess**]

In my opinion it is doable if you have a lifestyle that fits in with it all. Luckily our jobs are the type that once we leave the office, that is it.

I've said before that I strongly believe many dogs in families where people do not work do not necessarily have a better quality of life than those with owners who do. It is all about making your dog your top priority, being organised and being responsible. It is great you have organised puppy sitters etc., are there perhaps any day care facilities around you that you could eventually use? You have your puppy now so there is no benefit in questioning your decision, you have to make a go of it and find something that works  .

In the time you do have left work on leaving him for short periods, gradually building up the time. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it in any more depth.

Just wanted to say, I think this is a great response

[Lucy72]

I work 4 hours per day (Monday to Friday) so Roy is left for approximately 4 and a half hours each morning, and has been from about 10 weeks of age.

He has the freedom of the kitchen, as we never wanted to crate him, and he copes brilliantly.  In the first week or so we had a few accidents but only little wee's and now we NEVER have any 

I think that dogs adapt better than we give them credit for, Roy knows that as soon as I get home we go on a lovely walk and he is not on his own again for the rest of the day.

Roy is a very happy, loving pup who does not have any issues with being on his own - to me this is better than a pup that can't cope with being left.

[Ruby Tuesday]

In my opinion it is doable if you have a lifestyle that fits in with it all. Luckily our jobs are the type that once we leave the office, that is it.

I've said before that I strongly believe many dogs in families where people do not work do not necessarily have a better quality of life than those with owners who do. It is all about making your dog your top priority, being organised and being responsible. It is great you have organised puppy sitters etc., are there perhaps any day care facilities around you that you could eventually use? You have your puppy now so there is no benefit in questioning your decision, you have to make a go of it and find something that works  .

In the time you do have left work on leaving him for short periods, gradually building up the time. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat about it in any more depth.

Hear, hear! Working and having a dog takes a lot of commitment and thought, but it can be done.

[elaine.e]

Yes i have puppy sitter sorted so that theo isn't left all day on its own! We knew that would be needed when we discussed getting a pup!  And to elaines question.. No theo wont be confined to his crate all day, he will have the kitchen where he can play and his crate will be there if he wishes to go in it!

A dog was something me and my boyfriend really wanted and we know people who have raised dogs and are full time workers! I hope we havent made the wrong decision now after reading some of your thoughts 

I'm certainly not saying you've made a wrong decision and I'm really pleased that you have a puppy sitter and that Theo's crate will be open (my misunderstanding). It can take longer to get a puppy house trained if he's on his own quite a bit, but you'll still get there.

You'll probably find that when you want to sit and relax in the evening Theo will be full of bounce and wanting to play. That seems to be typical of Cocker puppies and young adults even if they've had company and things to do all day. My Louis is 3 years old and still thinks that the evening is prime playtime.

[Cayley]

Cockers tend to thrive on human attention which is why most reputable breeders won't home to people who work full time because it's not fair on the puppy. How long will he be left between pet sitter visits. Puppies need feeding 4 times a day and taking out to the toilet after every feed, sleep and play. The breeder should have explained all this to you  .

[Madam12]

He will be left for about 3 and a half hours before the sitter will come round and then again for another three and a half hours until i get home! He will be walked aswell three times a day to ensure hes getting exercise as well as fed the four meals a day!  There will always be someone to let him go to the toilet at main meal times.

[Black Beauty & Silverfox]

Hi

We crate trained our pup so first thing everyday she was put outside for the toilet.
Sometimes she would just have a wee but ten minutes later her paw would tap the patio door to tell us she wanted a poo.

Don't know how old your pup is but reading your post I would arrange for someone to look in on your pup as he's not ready to be left alone a short time let alone a full day. Leaving him at this point in training may cause irreparable stress to him and lots more problems for you.

I do have some info sheets that are fast, hard [for puppy] crate training which worked very well for us.


Mel.