How long can a puppy be left alone?

[Jenn Suchniak]

Okay, I am looking for some advice here! :) As a disclaimer, yes, i knew what we were getting into, no I don't want to ditch the pup, and yes, i understand he is a part of the family, and will need lots of care and attention, just like the 4 kiddos. :)

We are a big outdorsy family, always on the go, BUT most we do a dog will fit great in with. The issue is a puppy .... not so much! :) My husband was promoted at work this week. He's in the military, and this is unlike any promotion he's recieved before. There is a greuling 6 week induction (similar to pledging a frat). We had a family function to attend this afternoon. I waivered back and forth on bringing the puppy, but decided to keep him home until his next round of vax's. The total time gone was 3 hours.

We ran him hard outside this morning, made sure he used the potty often, hoping he'd sleep most of the time (he was crated), and poss. have a pee accident before we got home. Well, he pooped. In his crate. And it was EVERYWHERE. oh man, we walked in and the smell! it was on the walls, the crate, the dog (of course), the carpet. I'm having a hard time here. I know it was probably a smidge too long. I know he probably didn't want to poop in the crate, but I am wondering (especially with moving with dh gone in two weeks), how will i get ANYthing done?!

My husband was actually able to help get him and the crate washed before he had to head back to his work stuff, but .... now what? What is a reasonable time to leave him? He's 8.5 weeks old now. Still a baby! We just moved here, so I don't really know anyone to help out (but I may have found someone today while at DH's work function).

The house still smells. I've washed the carpet twice, and the crate is still outside. I sprayed it down with Nature's Miracle after washing it. It's out in the sun, and then I'm going to spray it down one mroe time before I bring it in.

I feel so bad for him. We should have just brought him. But with the guardia, I just didn't want him out with so many people already.

As I glance back over this, It's very much a vent, and I'm sorry! This promotion and moving business is just really stressful, so I think when I walked in to a house of poo, it just seemed like way too much to deal with all of the sudden. :/

I will say, we've left him alone twice this week (to sign the papers for our new house, and to take the kids for haircuts) for about 90 minutes each time and he did marvelous. So maybe that is my answer for now .... not much more than an hour? What do people that work do when they first get a puppy?!

[Jenn Suchniak]

oh, and yes, he's on day 3 of panacur! he haaaaatees it, oh man. but it's non-negotiable, lol!

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Try stuffing it into some soft treats or get the Pocket Pills at a local pet store. They work great. Too bad about the bed, but oh well, sometimes it's just way easier to get a new one. We are only using a piece of fleece in Auggie's crate.

[Jenn Suchniak]

the stuff they gave me is liquid in a syringe. it's not so bad, since it's only once a day, but it's not enjoyable for either of us! :)

[Jenn Suchniak]

for the pen - would something like these work? and which size? thank you all so much!

http://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Black-E-Coat-Exercise-Pen/dp/B000H8YT...

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

yes that would work great! Just make sure you get the appropriate height (for an adult sized dog if you will be using it for a while). i think the one we had for Cooper (a standard) was about 30 inches. Looks like Amazon has a great deal on!

[Jenn Suchniak]

great, thanks! not that this will be the end all be all, but hopefully make things a little easier to manage. hoping we can get the teen over tomorrow afternoon so i can grab groceries! we're running out of (people) food over here, lol.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

puppy kibble for dinner lol!

[Jenn Suchniak]

oh please, no! lol

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jenn, DK has an Amazon link up at the top of the main page. If you go through that link, you are helping dogs at the same time :) A win win situation. Good luck with your pup!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

actually I think her crate was 30 inches (we since got a bigger one) i think her pen was 36 inches

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

also I would make sure it has a door to get the dog in and out!  I can't tell from these pics if this one has a door or not.  The one that we have is 36" tall and has 8 panels that are 24" each.  You can make it any shape you want.  Right now for Lucy's recovery we have it set up in a square 4'x4'x4' and she is perfectly content and she is 4 years old, 77 lbs.  When the puppies were little we kept it on top of rubber backed rugs that we could just toss in the was if they had an accident.

[Jenn Suchniak]

thanks! i am going to look a littl ecloser at them tonight once i get my kiddos in bed! i figure it won't ship until monday morning anyway, i want to make sur ei order the right thing! thank you for the size help, too!