How long can a doodle puppy stay home alone?

[Rebecca bratter]

How long should a doodle puppy, 4.5 months be able to stay home alone?  If you've seen my previous post, you know that my aussie doodle Madiba and I have separation anxiety. We are working on leaving her alone for short bursts, the max to date has been about 2 hours.  I am having an argument with my husband, he thinks she can stay alone for 5 or 6 hours?  She has not had an accident in the house for about a month, she's really good but again we've never left her for more than 2 hours and she can hold it that long.  Otherwise someone is always here and she rings her little bell when she wants to go out.  I realize the answer probably depends on a lot of things, but your input would be appreciated. 

[Sally S Miles]

Well, all I can say is 'patience' - I like the idea of having her retrieve things, we do that, whatever job it is they do they'll figure out that it's important.   Like carrying things in and out, that's how we start!  Eventually they figure out that waiting for you is important also.  Make sure to let her know how good she is to go in the crate, when you return make sure she knows how wonderful she is - - I wish I had a magic bullet - but I used the words "Thank you" a million times, somehow it worked.   Times needed serious bait - others had me gritting my teeth, oh yeah and a few other times she would park just a few feet from the crate and lock it up. We survived and she goes 'to bed' now with merely an eye roll.   Oh, another thing we did is have toys that are relegated to specific rooms - it was her idea, but we ran with it and it keeps other spaces interesting.

My hubby is also far less emotional with her, but frankly it's easier to train the dog.  Hiding things eh - aha, now you have her motivator! Find a particular toy or item that reeks of hubby - maybe you can teach her to wait by keeping it close to crate?   

 

Our girl had her moments with crate training, no fuss for quite a while, but oddly some weeks into everything she just decided it was not her favorite thing.  I had to tighten up on her and she had to wait in her crate for me to get bathed, she had to wait for all sorts of little things and gradually gave up on fussing.  Once they figure out it's only for a minute, it's easier - thank heaven they can't tell time!   Kong treats in the crate - eventually give them up.   There are lots of good tips on crate training, over the years have had to use a few tricks, but I'm not satisfied until they go to crate upon command (never mind the 'oh not again' look).

Riding in the car was a real ear splitter for a few days/weeks -  until the one day she hollered until we got to the park - luck was on our side and she managed to equate being quiet with getting to go to the park - we now have absolute silence in the car.  whew!    Boggles my mind at some of the things that serve as triggers or impetus for the all important mental 'click'. 

 

Our dog will hold a down stay for half an hour or more -, impresses the daylights out of my hubby -  I'm in and out of the house, and feeding cats, making dinner, finishing laundry and the dog is a rug - -  if she is not a rug, she does not eat.     I have clocked her at down stay watching bunnies for seventeen minutes -  - if she doesn't hold still she can't watch the bunnies - but hold still for a treat if there is a person/child nearby? forget it....   They all have their weak spots!

 

Don't ask me about getting a second one - I'm working that one now... I know it has a serious list of pros and cons, lots of work and lots of funds, lots of frustration = lots of laughs while dogs play.  I'm the wrong one to ask - :) 

[Sally S Miles]

 Yesterday's casualties; my husbands wallet, belt, and sunglasses. She  doesn't chew them just puts everything in front of her crate and then hides it  under a towel or blanket.  Is this dog smart or what???  We are  desperately trying to find her a job.>>

 

I was thinking about your posts, looked up some info on Aussie behavior and you do have a classic, obviously mixed, but it's there.  Now the above statement, well - your dog has found herself a job - taking care of those needed items for hubby!  She rounded them up and held them for safe keeping - he can't go anywhere without those items, right? In her head, she is guarding his 'flock'.    The fact that she hides instead of chews says to me she is protecting the items rather than showing anxiety. 

[Rebecca bratter]

Hmmm, interesting, could she be that smart to know that those are his essential items?  She rounds up everything but she usually takes things out of her crate and brings them into the living room or out of the living room into the bedroom, usually everything is in a pile.  She really loves shoes and smelly sneakers.  She is good at this job. She also has to always have something in her mouth when she walks, a tennis ball or lately pinecones.  She's really good and she doesn't seem anxious except when she thinks we might be leaving her alone in the apartment or the dreaded crate.  She just hates being alone.  Yesterday we took her to doggy day care for 4 hours and she did great.  Now we are all in the apartment resting and cleaning and she's dead asleep until I get up and walk from the living room to the bedroom and then, there she is, always positioned where she can see me with one eye open.