I have never left Lacey (my 17 week old Golden Retriever puppy) alone at home for more than a few minutes before and then she was always in her pen, but I decided it was time to take the chance today and see what happens if she was not left in the pen. We had to leave her for an hour or so this afternoon so that we could get the necessary bills etc paid and we were invited out for a meal tonight, which meant she would be alone for about 2 hours then too. On both occasions when we returned we did not know what to expect, but she was in her favourite place, behind the sofa, and she hadn't done anything wrong. I was sure that she would not do anything distructive, but I did wonder how she would cope with not being able to go out to the toilet but it seems that she just waited for our return. Other than when she was unwell due to an upset she has never messed in her pen but I thought she would probably go in the house if she was able to move around freely and couldn't get outside but she is a real star. I have ceramic floor tiles in the rooms she was left in so any mess wouldn't have been a major catastrophy, but I wouldn't have liked it if she had chewed my lovely pine furniture, but I am so pleased with her and I hope today wasn't just a fluke. I hope this is the beginning of being able to leave her occasionally without having to put her in her pen.

That's good news Debbie. Just take it steady to start with, and I'm sure everything will be OK. After all, not all dogs wreck the house or mess everywhere :)

She probably slept all the time, safe in the knowledge that you'll be back, and enjoyed a bit of peace and quiet.

This is just as much a part of training a puppy as walking to heel. At some time we all need to leave our dogs so within reason, the sooner you start the better.

Don't make a big thing out of it, treat it just as a normal happening. Shut her in when you go up the garden to hang out the washing sometimes. The five minutes you are gone is long enough for her to realise you are gone and short enough for her not to get worried. Ten minutes while you go to the corner shop, this is all good training.

You go out as if nothings happening and come back home as if you have never been away. Dogs are masters of reading our moods and if you go using words like "Sorry my love, I dont want to leave you" and the like a dog soon gets the idea that something bad is about to happen and thats when the troubles start.

Regards, John

What a star she is Debbie :)

One for you ladies out there:-

Dogs are like men when you leave them at home. Either they do nothing except sleep, or make a right mess of the place!

Dave,
if I ever get home and find that my hubby has peed on the floor and eaten the mobile phone charger he is in big trouble :D :D
Floyd got away with it because it's the first (and last) time he's chewed anything!