Needs attention 24/7 - help

[Angie ashcraft]

My 11 month old, Bo....wants constant attention. It doesn't matter how much play time, walking through the neighborhood, games of fetch he gets.. He still wants my attention.

I work from home as a computer programmer. Husband goes to work during the day...kids are at school. Bo will not leave me alone while I try to work. He is constantly pawing at me, bringing toys and nudging me with them wanting to play. He also will grab my sleeves or clothes and begin pulling because he wants me away from the computer.
trust me... He gets lots of exercise, lots of love and attention. Lots of play time too especially in the afternoon and evening once everyone is at home.

I have two choices... Crate him or put in our fenced in backyard. But he acts miserable and lonely when I do either. In the backyard he stays at the door, scratching, pawing and whining. If he's in the crate he barks and whines...eventually goes to sleep but I hate to do that to him when he could be walking around the house, playing with his toys and just hanging out with me while I work.

I try to take breaks for a quick game of fetch and to pet him....but it's not enough. I've tried all kinds of chew toys, kongs, bully sticks...etc.

I'm sure I will get recommendations for obedience training or comments that he is still just a puppy. So my question is... What does everyone do with their goldendoodle during the day? Is your dog crated while you go to work? Are they in the backyard during the day while you're away? Or do they have free roam of the house alone all day?

I feel Bo is lucky that I am here during the day with him...when there are a lot of family pets who are home alone all day. But he has got to give me some space to work. So should I crate? Outside in back yard? Help please.....

[Ginny Nightingale]

My dogs are terrified of the gates--any gates--even ones they could easily jump over...WHY? Because i am a clutz and i step over them and knock them over all the time--the noise is scary to them--so when they see me attempting to step over the gate, they back up three feet--and they never ever try to get over one--too scary. I suggest you know the gate down a dozen times and then see how Bo feels!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Ginny, that's so funny.  It's the same here.  After knocking down the gate a few times, my guys (even big Murph) are scared to death of it.  They won't go anywhere near it.....it's magical.

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

LOL That's so good to know.  Whatever it takes.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Ginny and Jane - I'm lol'ing because I thought it was just me.  Same here - I've knocked them down so many times trying to step over them, the sound of them hitting the hardwoods scares my girls silly.  They could both easily jump them - Eloise especially with her long giraffe legs and kangaroo springs, but neither would even think of getting close to a gate.  Eloise is accustomed to my clumsiness now - but to this day, if Beasley sees me approaching a gate, she puts it in reverse and gets down flat on the floor lol!  I agree with Jane, it's magical!

[Emery & Watson]

We've been consistent our "work schedule" and he doesn't resist the crate by whining anymore if we've tired him out sufficiently in the morning.  My pup is noticing the "work schedule" and he'll start to relax and take a doze even if I'm off schedule haven't crated him by his normal time.  

Crating him when you need to work may not be a forever thing, but he needs to get used to your schedule.  Maybe one day you can still have the dog that lays sweetly by your feet while you work.. he's just not ready for it yet :)

[Samantha & Bennett]

I have an xtra tall baby gate I ordered off Amazon. It is ridiculously high and my standard dood has never attempted to jump it. I also second the idea of daycare a few days a week- it completely knocks Bennett out and you'll have a quiet house.

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

I just checked and Drs. Foster & Smith has a gate that's 41-inches tall. Wouldn't that be challenging for Bo to scale? And if that's not tall enough, there's a new gate from a company called, Rover, that stands 48-inches high and expands to 5 or 6 feet with the addition of extensions.  

The World's Tallest Pet Gate Now Available from Rover Company

My suggestion is to consider one of these gates, but maybe more importantly, to teach him the "place" command. It's similar to "stay," but he would need to remain on top of a blanket or mat (as large or small as you choose) and still be able to move around, but not get off of it. You would teach him to remain on his "place," and he could be nearby you, but not bother you while you're working.