We survived!!!!

[Carol and Banjo]

Ok, so my boss was not up for me bringing Banjo into the office with me as I'd hoped he would be. I took the first week off and have been with Banjo 24/7 since he arrived. I only work 3, five hour days/week and today it was back to work for me. I carefully prepared a yummy stuffed Kong and put it in the freezer last night. This morning I put on some classical music, placed the Kong and a new toy Banjo hasn't seen yet and an old familiar toy and my baby in the crate and left. I had all I could do to hold back the tears as I drove down the driveway. Luckily I had a very busy morning in the office and had little time to obsess over the puppy....I raced through my work at breakneck speed and tried to stay within 5mph of the speed limit to get home. (My heart pounding all the way!) Home at last! I quietly approach the house to see if I hear whining....nothing....slip the key into the door.....walk into the house....nothing....come around the corner and there is my little angel sitting in his crate as calm and sweet as any little puppy could be! Once again I have to hold back tears (of relief and joy this time!). Today is a beautiful spring like day and we got to play outside - running and rolling in the still brown grass -now puppy is sleeping and Mommy is so happy to know that tomorrow will be just a little bit easier than today!

[shelly]

Carol - what a great idea with the tape recorder! Can't believe I never thought of that... I was/am crazy like this with my kids, but I was NOT like this at all with our first dog - a golden retriever - ah... I was younger and not as knowledgeable - LOL

[Carol and Banjo]

Thanks Elizabeth! Banjo is 12 wks old today and my work week (3 days of 5 hrs/day) is over. I do keep him in the crate with a nice frozen stuffed Kong (today was peanut butter, yogurt and oatmeal), music and 2 of his favorite toys. He's been doing terrific. I actually left a tape recorder going - I wanted to satisfy myself that he wasn't crying his little head off the whole time. Except for an occasional whimper he's pretty content! I was even more surprised that when I do come in the door I find him laying quietly - no jumping and craziness....it actually almost hurt my feelings!!! As for the grown kids...I almost think they're a little jealous over all of the attention that Banjo's getting! Poor babies! : )

[CElizabeth Stevenson]

I don't know how old Banjo is but I went through the same thing with Cady who is now 5 months old. I work
6 hours a day, she was crate trained but I still didn't want to leave her in there for 6 hours a day.....
So here's what I did- I put her crate in the Master bath with the crate door open.... put food, water and toys
outside the crate and removed everything she could get while jumping up to counters. It has worked perfectly.
She no doubt gets stir crazy at some point so I take her to daycare once a week so it cuts her days down
to 4 in the master bath for 6 hours.
I swear- were we this obsessive with our kids?????? I say no, but now that my grown daughter is watching me
obsess with Cady Grace she thinks that I must have been a tremendous "baby" mother to her! LOL.
Anyway, I know how you feel..... I'm getting away from the locked crate with her because one night she was sick and was locked in there with vomit and poop- the poor thing. No more locked crate after that.
Chin up and good luck!

[Anna and Achilles]

It does get much easier as you both get used to the routine. What a good boy!

[Michele, Biscuit & Mo]

Oh, I remember those puppy and crate days... soooo hard at first. But it sounds like Banjo did GREAT! Our Penny is now 5 years old and still loves her crate. We leave the door open all the time and she has full run of the house. But when we go away, she always ends up in her crate with the door open... she considers it to be her little "safe place." Something tells me that Banjo will do the same.

[shelly]

Oh I am sooo happy for you Carol! I know how hard and even a bit frightening it is to leave a puppy alone for the first time, and what a good boy he was!!! Spring in the air always makes everyone feel better too. Rest a little easier tonight and tomorrow at work! Give Banjo tons of lovin' when you come home.. he won't even realize how long you have been gone! Sending much "apPAWS" for Banjo!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I know how hard that is to do and am so glad little Banjo made you proud. I love that name!! Your boss is missing out with such a good doodle.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I can only imagine how difficult this must have been for you, but now you know he was just fine. Banjo is getting so much love an attention when you're home (and it is only 15 hours a week).

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Do you hear my huge sigh of relief? The first day is the hardest, each one after will be a bit better.
I take both girls to work with me everyday - which is great for me but not them. When I get home, even if I just leave to run to the store and back, they act like I have left them for months - it just breaks my heart so maybe it isn't a bad thing for Banjo to be home when you are at work.

[Frannie & Callie]

Way to go Banjo (and Carol!)! What a good little baby dood!!!