planning for a new puppy

[nira rajavasireddy]

Hi everyone,

I'd love to get some advice from all of you, we'll be bringing our pup home in April, she'll be 9 weeks old. I'm planning on taking a week off from work, to get her adjusted to our home. But after that is when I have questions. My husband or my son will probably wake up with her, let her out for a potty break, feed her and then put her in her crate. As I work nights, I'll be home by 8.45, another potty break, play time then back in the crate. My kids wont get home until 3.30 from school. She'll be in the crate 51/2 hours. Should I not crate her on the days that I'm working( I only work 3 nights a week), maybe put her in a play pen with some pee pads? After she's older, I'm planning on sending her to half day day care, but that's only after 16 weeks. I definitely don't want to get a dog walker, Any advice?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This post is rude and inappropriate. Please do not use other people's discussions as a means to get votes for your dog. Not a good way for a new member to make friends here OR to get votes.

[Star and Goldie]

Ok so it's clear this is no accident here. Karen, is there a way these can be deleted by an Admin? Do you know?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Adina can delete it if she chooses to. I did report it.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I was hoping it was an accident since it clearly does not belong here.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I recognized your name but didn't realize you were a local (well, sort of).  We consider the Central Coast as anywhere from San Jose to Santa Barbara. Northern Cal is north of San Jose and Southern Cal is south of Santa Barbara. (Oh yeah, and west of Hwy 5). Glad to see what you are a super planner.  You can't plan too much.  BTW, my boys love company when your puppy is a little older.

[nira rajavasireddy]

Hi Lynda, do you live in Saratoga/San Jose too?  We should definitely do a doodle play date. We'll get our puppy in the end of April. Can't wait...

[Lynda Kamrath]

What in the world are you talking about?  Do you mean Justin's post?  I saw it but just ignored it.  I hope I did not say anything inappropriate to our new member.

[Star and Goldie]

Lynda no one was saying anything about your posts. It was in reference to Justin soliciting votes in other people's discussions (several of them) which is very tasteless. It has been reported so hopefully it will stop and/or be deleted.

[Hollidoodle]

I had the same worries when we first got our pup. I work from 7:45-12, home for lunch then back to work and hubby home about 3. I was worried it was too long for that first stretch in the crate. So we set up an elaborate scheme...you will laugh I'm sure...installed doggy door that inserts into sliding glass door, up against the doggy door goes the Midwest wire style crate with front door removed (also has side door to get her in and out). Outside the doggy door is an expen in a U shape that is bolted to the house a couple feet on either side of doggy door. On top of expen is bird netting stretched across and secured all the way around the top (I had visions of her climbing out or a huge bird swooping her up lol) Inside the expen (outside the house) is a grass potty patch. So when she is outside in the expen, she is fully protected and has access inside to her crate only and outside to her little play area and potty patch. I didn't want her to learn it is ever ok to go inside, so no potty pads. 

So this works great for when we are at work, but...I also still wake up once a night to take her out (she's 13 weeks and sleeps with us :) and have gotten up at least once a night for the last 5 weeks and have not lost my mind...yet. This would be the easiest solution since you will be at home- you would probably wake up anyway if someone came in to your house to take the puppy out.

[nira rajavasireddy]

That's a great idea, I wish I could do that. I still haven't decided where I'd like her to go potty. Either the back yard, which she would have to get to through our french doors, to a porch, a patio then a patch of dirt by the bushes. Or our side yard, which would be the most convenient for me,  as its through our kitchen door, laundry room and the side door leading out to the side yard. But there are 3 potential doors this way whereas one door the other, but a longer walk. Decisions, decisions!!! I'm sure I'll figure it out.