Needs attention 24/7 - help

[Angie ashcraft]

My 11 month old, Bo....wants constant attention. It doesn't matter how much play time, walking through the neighborhood, games of fetch he gets.. He still wants my attention.

I work from home as a computer programmer. Husband goes to work during the day...kids are at school. Bo will not leave me alone while I try to work. He is constantly pawing at me, bringing toys and nudging me with them wanting to play. He also will grab my sleeves or clothes and begin pulling because he wants me away from the computer.
trust me... He gets lots of exercise, lots of love and attention. Lots of play time too especially in the afternoon and evening once everyone is at home.

I have two choices... Crate him or put in our fenced in backyard. But he acts miserable and lonely when I do either. In the backyard he stays at the door, scratching, pawing and whining. If he's in the crate he barks and whines...eventually goes to sleep but I hate to do that to him when he could be walking around the house, playing with his toys and just hanging out with me while I work.

I try to take breaks for a quick game of fetch and to pet him....but it's not enough. I've tried all kinds of chew toys, kongs, bully sticks...etc.

I'm sure I will get recommendations for obedience training or comments that he is still just a puppy. So my question is... What does everyone do with their goldendoodle during the day? Is your dog crated while you go to work? Are they in the backyard during the day while you're away? Or do they have free roam of the house alone all day?

I feel Bo is lucky that I am here during the day with him...when there are a lot of family pets who are home alone all day. But he has got to give me some space to work. So should I crate? Outside in back yard? Help please.....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You have a third choice: a good training program. I suggest you look into signing up for the Doggy Dan program that has been promoted and discussed here so much recently. 

Here's a recent discussion that might ring a few bells for you: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/trainingmindsets/forum/topics/adv...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, and nobody should ever, ever leave a dog in the backyard all day. I'd certainly hope nobody here does that. 

For what it's worth, my guy had the run of the house from day one, but he was 14 months old when I got him. All of my dogs, all my life, had the run of the house from the time they were reliably housebroken. 

Crating a dog all day is just going to make him crazier, IMO. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

My family makes fun of me because I have Fudge and Vern on a schedule, but it makes my life so much easier. I am home all day with them and I have to get stuff done, but they also need some attention. They are 5 and 6 now, but we have done this for a long time. I don't like to take any walks before 11:00 am, because I want them to sleep while I get work done in the morning. Things are calm in the morning and I go about my business and they do go back to sleep. Usually, around 11 they let me know that it is walk time and we go for a long walk and then it is nap time again until around 5, at which point I take them for another walk.  This routine works for us and I think you have to find a routine that works for you. Maybe a long walk in the morning before you start to work and then crate time (near you) or put a bed next to your work area and encourage down time. Maybe an antler or something to chew on. I also play ball with them outside, but do not allow balls in the house and try to relegate all play to outside. 

Probably what is happening now is he is bugging you until he gets attention, so he knows this works by now. Believe me, I know, I have one dog who gathers sticks in her mouth and bops by me when I am out with the neighbors, demanding attention. Many times, I just put her in the house. 

He is young and some Doodles are more active than others and it will be up to you to find what works, but I would not hesitate to let him know there will be down time throughout the day and if that means you have to crate him until he gets the message, then so be it. Put the crate where you are working and don't engage with him other than to say something like, "night, night...nap time, etc." I bet he will fall asleep and then when he wakes up reward him with attention. I never let my dogs outside unsupervised because they tend to get into big trouble when they are left alone....digging, etc. 

[Adina P]

The problem with ever giving in to his pestering is that he'll gamble for it next time and push and push..just in case this time you'll give in.  To break him of this you'll need to be more stubborn than him and refuse to give in to his begging.  Go play with him when he's NOT begging.  I agree with Laurie's advice for a schedule.  And even without a schedule, he can still be trained.  Even something like a "down stay" would help tremendously, but it would take some time and hard work to get him to down stay for a length of time.  He can't pester you and lay down and stay...get it?

How does he look miserable in the crate?  I'm not saying you need to keep him in there all day, but a 1-2 hour stretch when you need to be most focused is totally okay while you work on training. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Laurie has given you great advice. Dogs thrive on routine; when they know exactly what happens when, what they can expect from you, and what you expect from them, it makes life so much easier for both of you. If the dog thinks that play time, walks, or attention might happen any time he demands them, he will never stop trying to initiate them. He remains in a constant state of excitement. This is why you have to always be the one who decides it is time for play, exercise, or attention, and why you cannot ever give in to his demanding these things.  If a dog knows that when you are at your desk, nothing he does is going to make you stop what you are doing and play with him, he will stop trying. He will be able to relax when you're working and wait for you to let him know that it's play time. This takes time and patience, but it really does work. 

[Terri and Harley]

Harley goes to doggy day camp. I work part time, three days a week and the place is literally 3 minutes away. (Very lucky.)

Harley gets to play with his dog friends for 6 hours which they consider half a day and it costs me $16.  Money well spent. They have a doggy cam and I can check in on him at any time. Today he was there and I had to laugh. He was a bit more exuberant than he was last week and he ended up in time out three times.

It's an hour drive, he sleeps in the car and is completely exhausted for the rest of the day. Sometimes even the next day. He's happier and I'm happier.

Terri 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I really think it's important that you actually "go to work".  Take Bo out and exercise him and feed him....and then say "good bye"  and go into another room to work.  You can gate him in a room or crate him.  I would not respond to his attempts to get you back to let him out....he will be fine.  You have the benefit of being able to take him out in a few hours and walk him, play and give affection.  After that I would again "go to work".  I would definitely not keep him outside unsupervised.  There are many people who do this and raise really well-adjusted Doodles...many only have a once-a-day dog walker or none at all.  Believe me he is not "lonely"....would he rather have you playing with him and constantly giving affection...sure...but he is not "lonely".  I truly believe it is so much better for him to understand he can be fine on his own for a period of time each day.  Please check out the Training Group...there is a recent discussion that really covers this topic.  Also, he's at a great age for some obedience training...I would highly recommend the Doggy Dan Program.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I like all of your suggestions. Spud is 6 and still needs a routine, play, and attention.  Lots of love and attention. He feels, his job, is to be by my side.  Actually, it is!!  He takes good care of me   

 Recently, my husband and I have turned his world upside with both of us changing hours, sleep, and eating times.  It is making us a bit weary too, so I agree with Laurie, routine is wonderful. You will be able to establish that soon enough.

Jane, mentioned a baby gate. I swear by one. We no longer crate here but do use the baby gate between the living room and kitchen often.   I'll put Spud in the kitchen and I am in the living room 10 feet away where he can see me, but my bacvk is NOT FACING HIM and  he knows this means, I'm off limits for the time   :)

[Joani, Skadi & Elli]

Sounds like you are getting some good advice from the doodle lovers.  We have had Skadi from 10 weeks old...she turned 5 this passed July.  lots of training went into her over the years.  When I took 6 year old Elli in this past January, she was extremely "loving"...I wasn't used to this behavior by Skadi who now I realize is very well-adjusted.  So I ate it up!  I thought wow what a lovey dog...but then she became very persistent, pawing, head in lap, nudge nudge, pet me pet me...love me love I need you near me, by me, type dog.  Elli would try to bust through the door to be the first outside, whine and cry and go absolutely bonkers when a person, critter, etc. was outside.  She would run crazily from window to window like a dog possessed!  Enter the trainer.  The trainer started us off with a hands off the dog for 2 solid weeks.  No petting no loving...only discipline.  Well the 2 weeks ended up more of 3 weeks because we were going out of town and had to board her.  Long story shortened:  It was one of the hardest and longest 3 weeks I've ever gone through, but it was very well worth the time and effort I put into Elli's future with us.  We are Elli's 3rd home...that I am aware of...and I wanted her to stay with us furever.  Elli has been with us for 10 months now and remains a work in progress.  She has slowed down considerably. I take Elli to doggie daycare 2 days a week.  We have a big fenced yard she absolutely loves because there are critters to chase and holes to dig.  Skadi and her play almost everyday.  My DH runs Elli at least 4 times a week and I walk her everyday.  Elli doesn't play with any toys and has only slight interest in chasing balls. Sometimes she just sits out on the deck and gazes...sometimes for hours!  I signed up for DoggieDan and am beginning to watch his videos.  I know I need to be the pack leader especially with a dog like Elli.  My DH says "I didn't realize what a good dog Skadi is until we got Elli"  I work away from home so if Elli is not at doggie day care, she is crated in my bedroom or closed up in the bedroom with blinds closed, or the garage where she cannot see out the windows.  Sometimes I leave her with Skadi and sometimes I separate them.  Skadi has earned the run of the house and also has earned the privilege of coming to work with me.  Skadi loves her stuffed animals and socks, underwear, etc. and takes them outside that's how she entertains herself.  (I just go out once a day and pick it all back up...doesn't bother me and Skadi enjoys it) She also loves laying outside on the deck and gazing.  

So what I'm saying, like the others who have dealt with their furbabies, do all this for their sake.  They do not want to be in charge...heck I don't even want to be in charge LOL but I have to...and believe me you will have such a happy happy dog.  Good luck.  And again I have to say it's well worth the effort!  

[Kris and Sawyer]

I work from home. When Sawyer was that age we used a baby gate. He could still see me in the office working, but he couldn't pester me, and he wasn't locked in a crate. He had free reign of the family room and kitchen. Eventually he learned the routine and now he just knows when mom's in the office it's time for me to sleep. :-)

[Emery & Watson]

When I work from home, I will crate Watson for a couple hours in the morning, give him a mid-day break to take him out on a short walk, play time and to lounge around the house, and then crate him again for another couple hours in the afternoon.  I have a hard time focusing with him running around and it doesn't help that he's not completely house trained.  

Gates or a playpen are good options to give him space too if you think a crate is too confining and if he is house trained.  We tried a playpen but it gave him too much space and he would get a running start, jump and try to tear it down

I wouldn't leave him outside unsupervised

[Angie ashcraft]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice. I do want to respond to those that suggested baby gates and play pens. Bo is a full size Goldendoodle. At 11 months he weighs over 60 lbs and when standing, top of his head is about 3 feet tall.. He could easily leap over a baby gate or out of a playpen.. If he could laugh ... he would probably laugh at me if I attempted to keep him confined using a baby gate. And would probably say to himself... "Are you serious?" :)

He has a metal wire crate... X-large that's about 3 1/2 tall and 4 1/2 feet long... It sits in the corner of my bedroom and is not easily moved and it wouldn't fit in my office anyway. That's why I hate crating him and leaving him alone in my bedroom in the back of the house when I work because it's no where near my office.

It's also nice to hear that the loving, playfulness, "nudge-nudge... take my ball... Please take my ball and throw it" behavior seems to be characteristic of our Goldendoodles.

I really liked the suggestion that I need to "go to work" and let him be crated for a few hours. If I didn't have the luxury of working from home... We would have had to come up with a plan by now anyway just like thousands of other dog owners.

When we got Bo ...I guess I imagined him keeping me company and that sweet face quietly laying at my feet while I worked.. With an occasional hug.. And occasional dog treat. And me working away while he chews on a toy. ....Bo had a different plan. :)