I HAVE JUST GOT A NINE WEEK OLD WESTIE PUP AND ALTHOUGH I WAS ADVISED THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO LEAVE HIM AT HOME IN HIS CRATE WHILST AT WORK, (MAX 5HRS) AND THAT IT WOULD NOT CAUSE HIM ANY LONG TERM DAMAGE, I AM NOW WORRIED AS HE CRIES EVEN IF I LEAVE THE ROOM. IF I CANT LEAVE HIM THEN I WILL HAVE TO GIVE HIM BACK AS I HAVE TO WORK. HELP!!

5 hours is a long time for a puppy to be in a crate, haven't you got anyone who can look after him for you while you go to work?

Hi Guest
Whereabouts are you? Also, when embarking on a puppy, had you considered long working hours?
He shouldnt be crated for that long, it could upset him quit ebadly, someone I know took their dog from someone else who had been crating it from a puppy and shutting it in...now he is terrified of slightly enclosed spaces.
Consider a pet sitter/neighbour/family member etc
steph
:)

Was it the breeder who told you that he could be left for that long in his crate? It really is a very long time, especially for such a baby.

I've asked this question on this kind of thread before, "How on earth do you intend to house train your puppy if you are not there?" Until now he has had his mother and litter mates around him not to mention his breeder, now he has no one. Socialising is needed and again there is no one to take him out to introduce him to the sights and sounds of the world. I personally think you have gone into this blind and suggest you have a long thought as to the future.

John

while he's so young why not hire a sitter to break up his day a bit. so he's not on his own for such a long period. Once he's older he should be fine on his own. Or alternatively take some holiday off work. so you can introduce him slowly to being on his own by just leaving him for a few minutes firstyl and then gradually building it up! As John said house training will be harder but its not impossible. You'll get there with perserverence(sp?)

I did think long and hard before I got him and took loads of advice but Im perhaps guilty of only listening to the people who told me what I wanted to hear. I'm going to leave him with my Dad who's retired if I'm out all day and I'm also going to find out about a petsitter. At what age can I leave him for abit longer?

To be honest, 4 hours is the recommended MAXIMUM time for leaving a dog...whatever the age.
How much research did you do before you got the pup?
Can you offer a lot of time to it for the next 15 odd years?

Please dont leave the pup any more. Find someone for the moment who can pop in and see it him for you.
Also, as John said, How are you going to house train him? You cant do that in a cage all the time.

I havent left him at all yet as Ive been working from home this week and yesterday he went to my Dad's for the day. I'm merely saying that longterm I may need to leave him. I take on board everything said but I plan to devote lots of time etc to him when I am here. I know lots of people who leave there older dogs at home for longer than 4 hrs and they are all happy well adjusted dogs. I'm going to see if I can take next week off and then rely on my Dad until he is older. After that I will play it by ear, if he copes with being left i will leave him if not I will get a pet sitter- rest assurred I have his best interests at heart and thats why I posted this message in the first place.

Hope it all works out for you and good luck.

Hi There,

I've got a 5 month old cocker spaniel. Me and my partner both work full time. I pop home at lunch- then my parents look after him in the afternoon. He never complains- and is a lovely dog.

People that say you shouldn't work if you have a dog should get in the real world. In an ideal world I would love to stay at home with Homer, but unfortunately I can't. Also as we work he never goes without and
he gets all the love and attention that any dog would get.

I'm sure your puppy will get used to being left- try leaving him for short amouts- then slowly build this up. I had some time off work when we first had him to get him used to his surroundings- but now he's fine.

Good luck- I'm sure you'll be fine!

Claire x

Personally I wouldn't leave an adult dog for more than 4/5 hours, even on an occasional basis. I wouldn't leave a puppy for more than a couple of hours, you can't train them otherwise. Dogs are pack animals, not solitary ones. Some dogs will tolerate being left, but none of them like it. When I am out for a long time I take Thistle to a dog minder's. The dogs go in her house and she takes them out for a walk. I don't begrudge a single penny, as it gives me peace of mind. Alternatively I get a trustworthy, doggy friend to take her for a long walk with her dog to break up the day. I'm sure that you ahve your puppy's best interests at heart and I hope all goes well for you
HTH
Jane