Nobody to be with Brody at night....help!

[Stephanie]

We just found out Sam's next CA trip is going to be next week (12th - 19th). I work nights, so Sam is the one who stays with Brody at night and takes him out to potty.

I don't really have any choice but to confine Brody in some way while I'm at work. I really don't want to have to keep him confined for that long. Maybe I can take a long lunch to come home and see him and take him potty. We're thinking while I'm at work we will use the kitchen to confine him, since the crate is just too small for that long of a time frame.

Sam leaves on the 12th and returns during the day on the 19th. I have two days off while he is out of town, but that still leaves Brody alone for 5 nights that week.

I'm not sure what I should do. We tried to confine him to the kitchen today while we went to pay rent. He was alone for *maybe* 10 minutes. When we got back he was nowhere to be found. When he heard our voices he started crying and yelping...we found him under the bed. The way he was acting you'd think we had been beating him. He wouldn't come out from under the bed...it took about 10 minutes for him to calm down.

So...we have decided to work on this until Sam leaves for CA...but I'm really worried about how this is going to go.

Any words of advice?

[Margo]

I'm sure you'll figure it out and I think you're very smart to work on it until Sam leaves... i.e., putting Brody in the crate during these hours with toys and stuff to chew on. I'm no expert (compared to some of the wonderful comments here), but the confinement alternated with the physical and mental exercise for him when you are there, sounds like a good idea. Ah, if only all of life were as wonderful as it sounds in theory! Seriously though, I bet it will go better than you think and be much harder on you than Brody. I look forward to hearing how everything is going!

[Kathy Brady]

Hi Stephanie,
I have a 10 week old chocolate labradoodle, Tully and he is being crate trained (which I've done for all my other dogs). He LOVES his "bed" (that's what we call it) and will often wander in for a snooze during the day even when I'm here. The problem with confining a pup to a single room, especially a kitchen, is the possibility that he will get into the cabinets where many of us store cleaning stuff and other harmful agents. My old lab figured out where we kept the cereal and ate boxes of Raisin Bran while he was alone; he was very regular for a long time but cereal is very expensive!!! Do you have a friend or neighbor who can walk him or visit while you're at work? Out here, there is a service called "Pet Nannies" who will come to your house for just such things. I've never used them, but there are probably similar services out there.
Kathy

[Stephanie]

Okay...so here's my crate issue update.

Brody did okay last night. Sam put him in there and he did alright while Sam was sitting there next to him. But as soon as he got up and got into bed Brody cried...for about 1 1/2 hrs before he finally laid down and went to sleep.

After that he slept through the night! So he went from 12:30a (got put in the crate at that point) until I got home at 7:30a....so 7 hrs. Definitely not bad!

I went to pick up an RX today so I crated him while I was gone...he seemed to do well. When I came home, about 45 minutes later, he was laying there and even when I opened the door and called him out he just sat there. I was half way down the hall before he came out!! Pretty amazing...or at least *I'm* amazed its going this smoothly.

Sam is going to crate him again tonight, so hopefully the crying won't last as long tonight.

Thanks again to everyone for easing my worries!! I just feel so horrible for leaving for such a LONG period of time...hearing from all of you has eased that a bit.

[Tamara & Giada]

That does sound encouraging!! You could give a little correction in the form of shaking a penny can, if he cries at night in the crate again. Just fill the can with a few pennies and give a shake when he cries and then say "quite". This method worked well for my dogs, and had to ild do it a couple times, then the next night.......nothing:)

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Did you think of getting a dog walker to come in twice during the day while you are sleeping to walk and play with Brody. Usually you can find a reliable walker/pet sitter from your vet, the local college or local church bulletin. Do you have a friend who could "sleep in" while you are at work. In all of these scenarios crate training is best. I have had good luck feeding my dogs in their crate to get them to love it. good luck

[Stephanie]

Update:

Brody is doing FANTASTIC! I am so proud of him!! Sam said last night went well. Brody was put in his crate with no resistance and only whined for about 3 or 4 minutes then slept through the night until about 7:30...they were out on a potty run when I got home.

And today before I left for work Sam called me into the hall and pointed to the crate, which is in our room facing the door, and Brody had walked into it *by himself* and had laid down. Apparently it was bed time!

I am amazed at how fast this is going. Its only been 2 days and he's already going in on his own!

Thanks again for all of your tips and tricks!! Things are going great so far. Now for next week...when he's alone for much longer, I'll let you all know how that goes...