go back to work, my puppy is 4month old-HELP!

[nina]

Sadie is 4month old and my husband has worked at home and been taking care of potty business for her at home.  She had several accidents whenever we thought she's got basic potty training and gave her some freedom (in the living room and we did not watch her for 5mints).  Now, she has not had accidnets for few weeks and we have been leaving her in the kitchen ( her favorite room in the house) for 6hrs without accident. I was so proud of her. She is standard goldendoodle and now about 20 pounds, so I asume her bladder must have bigger capacity.  Anyhow I thought she sees  the kitchen( our kitchen is very secluded with two doors) as a kind of her den and she won't do potty there.  Well, my husband had to go back to work everyday since last Monday, and today was the third day we had to leave her home alone.  My husband left her in the kitchen at 9am after her potty break thinking she will be alright until I come back.  Well, she did fine two days last week when I come back at 4;30pm but now today, When I opened the kitchen door, I was shocked by the sight of puddles and piles.  I do not know what to do.  She did fine other days but not today and why she has not understand the potty training?  Why she poops any time.  I thought dogs only poops when walking.  We walk Sadie everyday in the evening.  I do not know what to do for tomorrow.  Should I leave her in the backyard?  We have enclosed backyard with fences.  Will that be safe?  Please, help!  When she will be fully potty trained?  4 month is not enough?  She is doing OK as long as we let her out every 4hrs from crate and not let her roam in the house. But how long it has to be like that?  

Nina

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

Puppies can really only "hold it" for a time that is their age + 1.  So if she is 4 months old, she should be able to hold it for 5 hours.  Asking her to hold it from 9am till 4:30 is still probably a bit long at this point.  Do you have a friend or neighbor that can come and let her out?  Being suddenly alone in the house might make her a little nervous too and cause more potty accidents.  I would try to put her in a smaller area instead of giving her access to the whole kitchen.  If you can't have someone come and let her out, maybe try giving her potty pads to use so that she is still going in one spot (but that might make potty training take a little longer).  I wish you luck.  Keep us posted.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Let's say a crate rather than a smaller area, lol. We don't want her closed up in a bathroom.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

lol...when I said "smaller area" I was thinking something along the lines of an exercise pen in a section of the kitchen so that she would have room to use a potty pad if she couldn't get someone to come let Sadie out. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

She is too little to hold it all day and suddenly being alone is probably throwing her off kilter. Could you hire a dog walker? Also, I would take her for a good walk in the morning before leaving so she is good and tired. Have you tried crate training? As to leaving her alone in a fenced in area outside. I would strongly advise against that. She is too little and could get into all kinds of trouble. Also, someone could easily steal her. I think a crate is the way to go or doggie daycare or a dog walker. Good luck!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I agree completely. Please don't leave your puppy outside all day alone.

[BG and Gavin]

I third this!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

I would also think walking her and exercising her in the morning before your husband goes to work would help as well (at least to go potty).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, when are you feeding her? Regular scheduled feeding times (as opposed to free feeding) can help with potty training.

But she is too young to be left all alone for 7.5 hours without a chance to relieve herself.

[F, Calla & Luca]

True.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

CRATE, DOG WALKER!  

Can you please get someone to come in and let this puppy out?  When you are at work, do you have to hold it for 6 hours?  Or, let's say you were in Kindergarten ( about the age of your pup now) did you have to hold it until you got home?

This is a baby --a puppy here.  It will eventually be fine, but for now, until the pup  has grown, can you please try a crate and have someone to give it a potty break

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

PLEASE don't leave her outside all day-not safe.

I would put her in a crate and train in like that. She will learn, but she's too young to hold it and you don't want her to get sick.

Good luck.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I agree on hiring a dog walker. This is what I did. When she was a puppy I hired a girl to come in twice a day and take her outside to potty, the rest of the time she was in her crate. I also came home at lunch time. I slowly reduced it to one lunch, and one afternoon walk when she was around 4 or 5 months, then eventually to lunch time only. I still go home at lunch when I can. I also agree with Jarka, exercise her in the mornings. Carefully planned feeding times might also help.