Transition back to work

[Jen & Ember]

I am bringing home a puppy in August and have been learning so, so much from all you kind folks here on DK. This is such a wealth of information, I appreciate it so much!

 

When my puppy comes home I'll be taking 2 weeks off from work (not just because of the puppy, but also as a reward for having completed my masters degree!!).  Of course, I will eventually be going back to work and am wondering what the best way is to help Puppy transition into spending time alone. I'm assuming this something I should work on slowly over the 2 weeks that I am home? Any thoughts or experiences? Would love to hear from you.

 

And... here is a photo update on the little one (not sure which will be mine):
 

[New puppy owner]

I have the same question!  I'm taking off a couple weeks).  Also wondering how regular a schedule I need week one

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I would work on spending a little time in the crate each day and increase it during the two weeks!! Although the first 2 or 3 days I would snuggle and work on potty training! When you go back to work, try to come home once during the day because they can't hold it yet!

[Jen & Ember]

I'm going to go back to work for the first month at just 24hrs a week, so I'm hoping to break it up into smaller chunks (4-5 hrs), and if I have to have a long day for some reason, I'm thankful to have family nearby who would love a puppy day! :) 

 

I think I read that the puppy can hold it for 1 hr for each month of their age? Does that seem to be accurate in your experience?

[Dori & Rua]

Oh...put that picture away.  SOOOOO CUTE...I want one or two.

[Dori & Rua]

Jen, I heard 1 hr + 1 hr for every month.  So a 2 month old puppy should be able to hold it 3 hours.  That being said, Rua was sleeping through the night at 2 months old.  During the day, when they are up, eating, drinking and playing, it turns into a whole different story.

 

Even though Rua is now over 11 months, I don't leave her at home (in a crate) for more than 5 or so hours.  We leave the house at 7:30 and DH usually comes home at 12:30 or so.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

They are sooo cute!  I love the way some are sleeping on their backs!  Nice color variations!  Sorry I was distracted by the picture...anyway - Bexter can hold it AT LEAST or longer than the formula of adding one plus the months.  Right now, he just turned 3 months & can hold it at least 4 hours - if left in the crate he has held it for 5 hours (but we've just done that once).

[Jess and Pippin]

Pippin was 11 weeks old when we brought him home and had been crate trained.  He was sleeping 6 hours at night, but when he woke up, had to RUN with him in arms to get him outside.  :)  We stuck to a very strict schedule (up at same time, within 30 minutes or so), food at same time, water available all day.  Outside for business 15 minutes after food or water, right away after nap time, every 60 minutes no matter what.  Between myself and spring break for the kids, we were home for 2 weeks after we brought Pippin home.  I had to go away unexpectedly, so wrote out a schedule for the kids (12 and 14 at the time) to follow.  They found it really helpful.  Having Pippin take naps in his crate gave everyone a break, as puppies are quite demanding of time and energy (and sleep deprivation!)  When we left Pippin alone in the house, we sectioned off our front entrance, and left the crate with the door open.  First time we left Pippin was for 10 minutes (did the whole leave for school routine, took backpacks, left  through the garage, left in the car etc).  Parked down the street and came back to listen for barking.  None!  Came back like we would come back from school, and straight outside for business.  Next day was 20 minutes (same routine), then 1 hour, then 2.  We hired a "pet sitter" to come in at mid day to give Pippin a pee break and a walk as house training was a challenge for him to get the hang of, and we didn't want him to get in the habit of having accidents.  Worked brilliantly.   He would be accident free for 31/2 hrs in the am, and 4 hours in the afternoon at 13 weeks.  He still needed to go out every hour in the late afternoon/evening though.  Still does and he is 6 months old. No idea why, it just seems to be Pippin. By the time the kids go back to school in  Sept, he will be 9 months old and should be able to make it through a 7 hour day.    Sorry for the long post.  Hope it helps

[Jen & Ember]

Jess, this is so helpful. Thank you! It sounds like a schedule is very helpful.  I think I will probably do something similar to you and have a dog walker which should be helpful with the transition.

[Jess and Pippin]

So glad.  Another thing to remember is that the "schedule" changes as your puppy grows.  For example, at 6 months of age, Pippin no longer needs to be crated now at nap time.  He has learned to calm himself down and finds a comfy spot for a nap as he needs it during the day.  He roams the house when we are at home, but we still put him in our front entrance when we are away from the house.  We can't trust him unsupervised as he still gets into puppy mischief  :)  We never left our dogs crated during the day, but left the crate open in a larger enclosed space for them to sleep in (our first dog was in the laundry room, and Pippin in our front entrance that we can baby gate.  Both spaces had floors that were accident proof).  You'll come to know your dog really well.

[Mimi Linna, Lilly and Lolly]

they are sooooo cute...