Tucker having more time alone:(

[Joanne and Tucker Gilbert]

Not looking forward to Tucker having time alone when school goes back this year.Many decisions to make....to crate or not to crate and just give him access to the ceramic kitchen and hallway.He will have 2 stints a day he will be alone and this will only happen 3 times a week...he will be alone Mondays,Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 until noon and then DH gets home for lunch....then he is alone from 1pm to 3 pm....then kids get home from school.I hope all will go well as he has been doing fantastic with his training....I hate to see us go 2 steps back.Oh to be a full time stay at home Mom to both kids and doodle....life would be great!!

[Amanda & Riley]

I am a teacher as well, and my schedule is very similar to yours Traci. Riley has done fine with it!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Good luck at school. If he is used to the crate, I would continue with the crate. What have you been doing when you leave, up until this point?

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Why is he not alone now?  Are you a teacher?  I am a teacher and we were in EXACTLY the same situation as you.  Bexter was about exactly 4 months old when he started having to be alone.  I had him with me & the kids all summer long & it was awesome.  Like you, I really focused on training.  He was completely potty trained, loved his crate, and was doing well on obedience too.  I was so worried about what to do with him during the day when I worked.  I went through the same dilemma.  In the end, I decided to crate him because that was what he was used to whenever we went somplace.  (Although I did buy some gates so I could gate him in our hard floor in the entryway.)  I thought he might feel safer in his crate (cuz he really does like it).  So every day he is crated from 8:30 until 1:00 (DH comes home for lunch too to let him out each day).  Then again from about 1:30-4:30 when I come home with my boys after school/babysitter.  So, our schedule is similar to yours.  Let me tell you, Bexter has NEVER had an accident in his crate, has not gone backwards with any training, and is doing very well - and we have to do this all 5 workdays a week.  Your Tucker will be great!  If he likes his crate, I would say to leave him in it depending on how old he is.  I think they feel more secure.  OR you could gate an area & if the gated area allows enough room for the crate in it & that way he could willingly go in the crate if he wants.  Keep us posted on how he does!