going back to work

[BobnDot]

You've an eleven week old cocker puppy and, after less than two weeks in your care, you're going to leave him alone, regularly, for between four and six hours a day? 

Words fail me. (And that doesn't often happen). The Kennel Club's recommendations are here...  http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/398

Bob.

[jonnytrabant]

Far too long for a puppy. I work shifts and 5 times a month we are both at work, so the little fella goes to the dog sitter and at £20 a pop it's not something that we budgeted for, but he loves going and is worn out by the time he gets back. But I have to disagree with some about leaving a dog no more than an hour or two, I think it's perfectly fine to leave a dog 4-6 hours occasionly.

[jonnytrabant]

Think we (the forum) have frightened the OP off, which sadly means she will be leaving the pup for 4-6 hours. Such a shame

[Nicola]

But I have to disagree with some about leaving a dog no more than an hour or two, I think it's perfectly fine to leave a dog 4-6 hours occasionly.

It's fine to leave an adult dog that length of time - although I still wouldn't do it every day, up to 4 hours on a regular basis with the occasional longer stint really would be the maximum regardless of the age of the dog - but it's definitely not ok for a puppy.

I hope the OP has read the responses and taken them on board even if they don't post; nobody has said any of this just for the sake of it, it's out of genuine concern for the welfare of the puppy.

[Panda]

Whilst I agree with much of what has been said I have to say I don't like the way in which some of it has been said. Some-one has come on here with a genuine concern to seek advice and in a couple of cases has been criticised not very constructively.

Lets hope you haven't 'scared' someone off if she needs advice and if you have it's nothing to be proud of as she is also part of this forum.

If I have offended anyone then I apologise but I have seen a side to this forum that I don't particularly like.

I think Miadanu has said everything that needed to be said.

[butterflywings21]

Think we (the forum) have frightened the OP off, which sadly means she will be leaving the pup for 4-6 hours. Such a shame

I think you could be right. 

[ATB]

I don't think anyone said anything too harshly at all Panda  - message was pretty blunt on many posts, but I think in this situation that is the advice that was required.

I hope the OP isn't 'scared off'. If you are lurking please come back! You have only be given honest answers by people who have a lot of knowledge and experience, they are only to try and help you in the best way they can, some advice may come accross as blunt, but so be it and they only have the welfare of your lovely pup at heart.

When I got Pen my partner and I used up all our annual leave from work to settle her in, she still started at her doggy daycare young at 13ish weeks. If we'd had to work before then the dog lady offers a visit service to check on new puppies. This has already been suggested in the thread, but I think it would be the best option for you just now until the pup is older. There are lots of other benefits of dogs going to daycare like socialisation and training, so whilst it does costs, you get extra benefits above your dog being cared for when you are away.

[Nicola]

Whilst I agree with much of what has been said I have to say I don't like the way in which some of it has been said. Some-one has come on here with a genuine concern to seek advice and in a couple of cases has been criticised not very constructively.

Lets hope you haven't 'scared' someone off if she needs advice and if you have it's nothing to be proud of as she is also part of this forum.

If I have offended anyone then I apologise but I have seen a side to this forum that I don't particularly like.

I think Miadanu has said everything that needed to be said.

Nobody on this thread has been rude, and COL in general is an extremely 'soft' forum compared to a lot of other dog fora. However if you or anyone else has an issue with a particular post then please report it to the moderating team in the first instance, there's a tab at the bottom of each post for that purpose.

Can the thread be kept on-topic now regarding the original question please.

[julie1]

Please don't be put off............this forum is very good & helpful.
Some people may be rather strong in their opinions..............you now have the puppy, so now you need help and advice.   The idea about using as much of your holidays is a good-one, so puppy can be trained to your ways.  Be quick & find out what is available in your area if you can't ask help of friends & family to pop in for awhile each day.   As a last resort, some kennels will do special rates for day care, they will not train him though.   Good luck, its just a shame you didn't think of this problem first.  Julie.

[Lily Freya]

Whilst I agree with much of what has been said I have to say I don't like the way in which some of it has been said. Some-one has come on here with a genuine concern to seek advice and in a couple of cases has been criticised not very constructively.

Lets hope you haven't 'scared' someone off if she needs advice and if you have it's nothing to be proud of as she is also part of this forum.

If I have offended anyone then I apologise but I have seen a side to this forum that I don't particularly like.

I think Miadanu has said everything that needed to be said.

Got to agree with you here.

Well done Miadanu.....you tried to remain constructive.

I feel it is totally wrong to leave a young puppy for so long.......but it's happened, and the pup is there.

Surely, knowing this, there is something we can all advise.

My advise would be.....a play pen, with lots and lots of stimuli.  Ok, it does not replace human contact, but it is a better resolution.

Good luck whoever you are that asked for help.

Walk your puppy befor leaving, and be prepared to do the same immediately you get home.

[Nicola]

Whilst I agree with much of what has been said I have to say I don't like the way in which some of it has been said. Some-one has come on here with a genuine concern to seek advice and in a couple of cases has been criticised not very constructively.

Lets hope you haven't 'scared' someone off if she needs advice and if you have it's nothing to be proud of as she is also part of this forum.

If I have offended anyone then I apologise but I have seen a side to this forum that I don't particularly like.

I think Miadanu has said everything that needed to be said.

Got to agree with you here.

Well done Miadanu.....you tried to remain constructive.

I feel it is totally wrong to leave a young puppy for so long.......but it's happened, and the pup is there.

Surely, knowing this, there is something we can all advise.

My advise would be.....a play pen, with lots and lots of stimuli.  Ok, it does not replace human contact, but it is a better resolution.

Good luck whoever you are that asked for help.

Walk your puppy befor leaving, and be prepared to do the same immediately you get home.

There has been plenty of advice given on the thread; surely a friend/family member/neighbour or dog walker coming in regularly, as has been suggested by most people, is a 'better resolution' than leaving the puppy alone and confined in a playpen for up to 6 hours every day   At 11 weeks you can only walk the puppy for about 15 minutes at a time and that isn't going to last it for 6 hours in terms of toileting etc.

[Lily Freya]

Whilst I agree with much of what has been said I have to say I don't like the way in which some of it has been said. Some-one has come on here with a genuine concern to seek advice and in a couple of cases has been criticised not very constructively.

Lets hope you haven't 'scared' someone off if she needs advice and if you have it's nothing to be proud of as she is also part of this forum.

If I have offended anyone then I apologise but I have seen a side to this forum that I don't particularly like.

I think Miadanu has said everything that needed to be said.

Got to agree with you here.

Well done Miadanu.....you tried to remain constructive.

I feel it is totally wrong to leave a young puppy for so long.......but it's happened, and the pup is there.

Surely, knowing this, there is something we can all advise.

My advise would be.....a play pen, with lots and lots of stimuli.  Ok, it does not replace human contact, but it is a better resolution.

Good luck whoever you are that asked for help.

Walk your puppy befor leaving, and be prepared to do the same immediately you get home.

There has been plenty of advice given on the thread; surely a friend/family member/neighbour or dog walker coming in regularly, as has been suggested by most people, is a 'better resolution' than leaving the puppy alone and confined in a playpen for up to 6 hours every day   At 11 weeks you can only walk the puppy for about 15 minutes at a time and that isn't going to last it for 6 hours in terms of toileting etc.

Of course i agree with all this.  I look after my dogs extremely well, and am well aware of the needs of puppies.

However, this person was new to puppies, and obviously inexperienced.  My suggestions were not made from ideal situation....but finding a resolve.  I hope she does this.

[Nicola]

I would think that everyone who has posted on the thread - out of concern for the welfare of the puppy and equal awareness of the needs of puppies - hopes the same, hence all the suggestions that have been made throughout the thread.

[Lily Freya]

I would think that everyone who has posted on the thread - out of concern for the welfare of the puppy and equal awareness of the needs of puppies - hopes the same, hence all the suggestions that have been made throughout the thread.

Let's hope the poster has stayed around to read and absorb, rather than to run away in fear of the consequences.

Pity the breeder had not been more like my first one 'Michele', who actually interviewed us for the role of having one of her puppies.

I was lucky...this OP obviously was not.

[Jane S]

I've read through this thread and while a few comments have been a bit on the blunt side, there's plenty of excellent constructive advice too which I'm sure the OP will find useful. On any public forum, there will always be different styles of posting but all the comments I've read have been from the heart and posted out of concern for the puppy. I'm sure Michelle (the OP) appreciates that if you post on a forum, you won't necessarily like all the posts you read but if she can cope with an 11 week old Cocker puppy, I'm sure she can cope with the odd blunt comment here and there - Cocker puppy owners have to be made of strong stuff and are surely not going to be "frightened" by written comments posted by people they will most probably never meet.

Please can we now get back on topic and if anyone has any further tips to help the OP, then do post them