Does anyone with a puppy work full-time?

[Melody & Bruin]

We will be getting our puppy in 2 weeks.  I am taking one week off when he comes home, then my husband will be at home with him until Sept 12.  I do plan on puppy day care maybe one day per week after vaccinations.  We both work 45 minutes away, so coming home for lunch is not an option.  My daughter may be able to stop by one day per week.  Hubby should be changing his hours, but not until January.  Should I hire someone to come to the house two days per week to let him out and walk him?  Curious about what the full-time employed puppy parents do....thanks

[Melody & Bruin]

Congrats Rachel - I am sure we will be sharing stories soon!

[Rachel and Ollie]

Thanks! I am pretty excited. (I am trying to talk people into letting me take him/her to work)

[Melody & Bruin]

hope that works for you!  I work in a hospital, so this is definitely not an option for me!  Although we do have volunteer dogs that wander around to greet the patients, it is a wonderful program and everyone loves them.  I hope to do this someday as well.

[Rachel and Ollie]

Ya, I am not sure if it is an option for me yet either. I was also worried about leaving it home.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

The first year of Peri's life, me or DH came home every day to walk her during lunch for about 30 minutes.  We continued to off and off until she was 2. Now, DH usually works from home, so it's not a big deal, but if we are both out of the house all day, the dogs are fine.  But I would not do that until your puppy is much older.  And days we are gone all day, they get at least a 2 mile walk at 6am to tire them out!!!

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

if you can afford someone to come in..that's what I  would do.. it will give Bruin someone to play with and then when he is older,they can go on walks.

[Brenda Condon]

Like you, I took time off when Alice came home. We got a routine going and I graduallty left her alone longer and longer so that when I went back to work it wouldn't be such a shock to her. I'm fortunate that I live 5 minutes from work so I go home on my lunch break to let her out. I would definately get someone to come and take you new one out if you're not able to. Good Luck!

[Jess and Pippin]

We both work full time.  I had 2 weeks at home with Pippin and then hired someone to come in at lunch for mid day break and walk (this was  April-June only).  Now on summer break.  Pippin will be 81/2 months old by the time school starts back up and hopefully will be able to be accident free while we are gone for the day.  We don't crate Pippin during the day.  We gate off our front entrance.  The gate is on the stairs, so is 4 feet high and then there is railing. So far, this has worked and he has been quite content here.  We even put him here for periods of down time when we are at home and are busy.  The dogs always get a 30-40 minute walk before I leave for work, and are up for a good 2 hours with the family before we all head out the door, so they are ready for a nap when we leave.  They are "full on" when we get home and ready to go.  They get another short walk, and lots of play and some training time.  This is the kid's (13 and 15) responsibility before homework gets started.  The dogs are busy from 3-9 pm.  The dogs really do adjust to the families they live with.  The only time we run into trouble is if they don't get their morning walk.

[Melody & Bruin]

Sounds like it is going great for you, thanks for sharing!

[Mona A.]

I work full time, but its partially from home, and partially i am in meetings all day long about 45 minutes away. It has been tough staying consistent with Teddy, but his exercise pen has come in handy. He has been great about going on his potty pad and recently, he has been able to hold it longer and longer. 

 

Due to the lack of consistency in my schedule, i have enrolled Teddy in daycare training starting next wednesday. He'll be 10 weeks old when he starts. I think this will get him on a much better and consistent schedule. I am working form home today, and he has been great. He played all morning, and has been sleeping in his crate with the door open for the last hour. My assumption is that he should be up in 20 mins or so, will go to the bathroom...play for an hour..and then go nap again.