Bigsley

Question
Hello,

Our baby is only 9 weeks old. He is doing pretty good with potty training and crate training. He is a darling 4 lbs budle of joy we love very much!

I am having trouble with being ok leaving him in a crate for such a long time. I work full-time and luckly very close to home so I can go home for lunch play and feed him then head by to work. Will there be a time where he can just stay at home without being locked in a crate? I know it wont be for a while, but I just want to know if that time will ever come or if I should be careful what I wish for. My family and I live in a small house apartment size I would say, big yard, but the neighbors have had attacks from raccoons on their Chihuahua and I refuse to leave Bigsley outside besides he does't have all his shots yet so he can't stay outside. Any way can I look forward to leaving him in the house without worrying about accidents or him wrecking the house?

Thanks for your help. I have a 5 year old, but I have never had a puppy and am not familiar with puppy training of any sorts. All my childhood dogs were taken care of by my parents. I just had fun with my dogs...

Bigsley's mommy

Answer
Hi B - Yes! That time will come! In the meantime, you can give Bigsley something to entertain him while you are away such as a stuffed Kong. If you are not familiar with these, the Kongs are hard rubber toys that have openings on each end so that you can stuff them with moistened kibble and a little peanut butter to keep your puppy entertained and busy. You can also leave the TV or radio on for him while you are gone.

It's great that you are crate training him and you are able to come home at lunchtime to let him out and play with him! You might be surprised to find out that Bigsley probably sleeps most of the time you are gone.

You can make his time in the crate go easier by not only giving him a Kong to chew on (try him first when you can supervise him so you know he will be safe chewing on it), and taking him for a short walk prior to leaving for work and again when you come home.

The crate will not only discourage him from eliminating in his sleeping area but it will also keep him safe when you cannot supervise him. Try not to crate him at night in addition to while you are at work - that would be too much confinement. You can purchase an exercise pen at night so he can move around or place him in an area where housesoiling won't be as much of a problem, such as in the kitchen or bathroom.

Another very important thing for you to know about this puppy stage is that your number one priority for the next 3-7 months, besides safety and housebreaking is to socialize Bigsley! Take him out every chance you get to see and experience new things and meet new people and other animals. He should meet at least 100 different people by the time he is 3 months old and another 100 by the time he is 4 or 5 months old. Socialization is critical for healthy emotional development and brain development.

You can start training now - don't wait! Teach him yourself using reward-based training (no force-based punishment), preferably clicker training or enroll him in a reward-based puppy class. Some veterinarians are not familiar with early socialization and its importance. If your vet is one of them, refer him or her to the position statement of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior on early puppy socialization (http://www.avsabonline.org/avsabonline/images/stories/Position_Statements/puppy%) and the open letter from Dr. R. K. Anderson (http://www.apdt.com/petowners/articles/docs/RKAndersonLetter.pdf).  Never force your puppy into any situation, but let him explore while keeping him safe.

Generally speaking, puppies can hold their urine about an hour longer than their age in months, but that is not always the case. Do you work now and you will enjoy a long, happy life together! Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel - I would recommend crating your puppy until you think he can be left at home safely. You may be able to switch to an exercise pen once he is completely housebroken, but keep him safe! Bored puppies and dogs can get into a lot of trouble - for example, by chewing on electrical cords or getting into the trash. I advise you to never leave your puppy outside alone unattended - not only can he get into trouble, but someone or something could hurt him. Keep him inside.

I hope that answers your question, If not, please let me know - and good luck!

Cindy