Help Help, I am picking up my new 9 week old cockapoo on Sunday...its been
14 years since I housebroke a dog...I'm a little rusty...I work all day...she will
be crated from 8 to 12 (my husband comes home for lunch)
then from 1 to 3:30...I need any help anyone is able to offer....

Well I personally dont think a puppy that young should be left for so long, it might make it harder for it to be house trained. I may be wrong..........

Zoe

I think 4 hours is far to long to be alone for an 9 week old puppy especially in a crate, is there no way you can arrange for time off work for at least her first couple of weeks with you. Or would it be possible to get a neigbour to come in half way through the morning to let her have a play and a run.

Apart from the housetraining you are going to have a lot of problems with an abundance of energy from this little mite. No 8 week old puppy is going to be able to control its bowels and bladder for that length of time!!

Or alternatively get a kennel and run in the garden for her.

I think the others have said it all, its a pity you did not think about this before you thought about getting a puppy, I have puppies just now and ive really vetted the people getting them and only the husbands work full time, as I think both partners in full time work and very young puppies dont mix, its totally different if you have, or can, make arrangements for someone to come in and spend some time with the puppy, as at 8wks they are still on 4 meals a day, how are you going to manage this? Dont' take this the wrong way anyone as I know a lot of you work full time and have managed with young pups, but I dont think a pup should be crated for that lenth of time either. I even make arrangements for someone to be in my house to look after my dogs and pups when I have to go out at the moment as I wont leave them for long.

Puppies are like babies. They need alot of attention and alot of trips outside. Putting him or her in a crate, is not going to stop him from doing his business in the crate. You have to be there to let him out when he has to go. He cannot hold it for that length of time. Your husband will have to clean up the crate as well at lunch time. Your pup is being taken from its mother and siblings, then everyday it will be put in a crate until you get home from work, Please rethink getting this puppy. I understand that people have to work full time, but puppies don't! Shirl :(

Hi,
Can you take a fortnight off work when you get your pup to start on the housetraining and generally settling the puppy in to your household? Then your husband can take a fortnight off afterwards, and you should be well on the way to having a clean puppy.

Crating can delay a pup messing, but it doesn't prevent it - if the pup needs to go it will go! If the pup is crated for 4 hours your husband is going to have to let the pup out (and be jumped over by a grubby pup covered in wee and poo because it has been confined to a small area, play with it, clean it, feed it, clean the crate, and take the pup out to relieve itself all in the space of an hour! Then do the same when you get back after work!

What fun it will be!

I think just about everyone has said what needs to be said on this issue, however as a rule of thumb A 9 wk puppy who is busy playing may need to urinate every 15-20 minutes, whereas a resting puppy might go for an hour, and a sleeping puppy can go 8 hours at night.

From three months onwards a resting puppy can normally then last approximately 3 hours without the need to urinate and about 35-40 minutes if it is active.

For every month after that add an hour ie a six month old pup could last 6 hours though I would never leave a pup alone that amount of time. these calculation go up to a max of 9 months ie nine hours.

Remember these calculations are for a RESTING pup by placing it in a cage doesn't mean it will not be active worried or be suffering from separation anxiety.

Dogs are strong pack orientated social animals, they need stimulation and company especially in the all important human socialisation period between 7 and 14 weeks.

Leaving a young puppy for the lengths of time you are suggesting will not toilet train it, as it will not be able to hold it's bladder or possibly it's bowels for that length of time and it will feel upset that it has soiled it's sleeping area. on top of that it will feel rejected and may well begin to feel separtion anxiety and panic.

May I suggest that you reconsider the arrangements and give this pup the time it needs over theis crucial period. which hopefully give it a strong and solid start in life.

Regards

Doglistener
Stan