Hi, Milo is 3 months old and a joy. Up to yet, have only left him very occasionally in his crate for about 15 minutes when I've dropped my daughter at school. Other than that he's never alone. I put him in his crate as I don't know if he will chew stuff out of boredom, or wee and poo because of separation anxiety. Milo is quite happy in his crate and sleeps in it every night albeit in my room. I'd appreciate any advice as to being able to leave him in the house for longer periods, as I don't even pop to the shops for an hour. When I'm at work he spends the day with my mum. Am just worried about leaving him cos he's so young but would like to be able to leave the house for an hour or two occasionally without guilt. Thanks. Milo's mum
Need advice.
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I think this is going to have to be a case of going in head first and just doing it. If you don't want to leave him shut in his crate, is there a room where you could hide things that he could damage out of reach? Nacho stays downstairs on a tiled floor with a stair gate stopping him from going upstairs and I shut the rest of the doors so he can't get into other rooms. I also always leave him with something that will keep him amused - usually his kong or a good pigs ear and a few of his favourite toys. Be careful not to only give these treats to him when your leaving the house though as Milo may begin to associate these things with u leaving which could make the separation anxiety worse.
Start with just an hour and gradually build it up if u can. Good luck xx
Start with just an hour and gradually build it up if u can. Good luck xx
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Hi
You have cracked crate training apart from leaving Milo during the day
So you already leave him during the 10 min school run
I suggest you extend these periods each day say 10 mins extra each day
I am sure Milo will be fine with this and before you know it you will be up to that couple of hours you need to get things done Our dogs go back in their crate from 9 till 12.30 each day as my wife goes to work at 9am and I get up of a night shift around 12.30pm and we did it gradually and had no problems at all. I mostly have to wake them when I get up
Mick
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I agree with the others either build it up or just do it, I think we just did it with Izzie & she is fine now, just sits in the lounge window & sleeps while we're out & then watches for us coming home & wags her tail & brings a toy to the door for us
Same with Poppy (as obviously Izzie has still needed her walks even though Poppy hasn't been able to go out). So we just did it, she does cry when you leave (and for a while she would still be crying when you got back) but the last few times i've left her i've come back to silence So she must be learning that it's okay because we do come back...
Another thing I will say is that i've heard that dogs don't have much sense of time, they can learn a daily routine if things are done at the same time but don't generally realise how long we are gone through the day (maybe because they sleep for most of it? haha). Obviously they realise if you have only been a few minutes or you have been on holiday for a week, but daily I don't think they really realise how long they are left, so you may as well just give it a go & remove anything chewable if you don't want it ruined when you get home! (if your pup gets bored when you're out) try & leave a lot of toys.
Good luck!
Same with Poppy (as obviously Izzie has still needed her walks even though Poppy hasn't been able to go out). So we just did it, she does cry when you leave (and for a while she would still be crying when you got back) but the last few times i've left her i've come back to silence
So she must be learning that it's okay because we do come back...Another thing I will say is that i've heard that dogs don't have much sense of time, they can learn a daily routine if things are done at the same time but don't generally realise how long we are gone through the day (maybe because they sleep for most of it? haha). Obviously they realise if you have only been a few minutes or you have been on holiday for a week, but daily I don't think they really realise how long they are left, so you may as well just give it a go
& remove anything chewable if you don't want it ruined when you get home! (if your pup gets bored when you're out) try & leave a lot of toys.Good luck!
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how is he when you leave and come back when taking the kids to school. is he destressed or sleeping when you come in ?
best thing to do is try him for 20mins then 30mins etc, just keep exstending the time he is left on his own.
ket him a kong or a bone, something he can sit and chew on while you are gone.
pop him in the crate when your just pottering about the house.
best thing to do is try him for 20mins then 30mins etc, just keep exstending the time he is left on his own.
ket him a kong or a bone, something he can sit and chew on while you are gone.
pop him in the crate when your just pottering about the house.
Some really good guilt free advice thanks. Will try extending the time gradually til he's alone for an hour or so. Thanks for other advice of limiting him to a room. I just love him so much and don't want him to be upset. Having said that, he is always OK when he has been left for the school run. x
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Good luck! There are always people who will try & help if they can on here x
There are always people who will try & help if they can on here x
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Im with the others - Kong or stuffed treat/bone and just go, Arthur still barks but only sometimes when I leave him but he is always quiet and calm when I get back no matter if its been 30mins or a couple of hours. I still feel guilty leaving him to bark but have actually stood out of sight and waited to make sure he settles and its always within about 3/4 mins. x
I think he will be fine. He has to fit in with your schedule and work around you. I have left Poppy for an hour and a half so far an she has been fine. Try and make sure he has gone to the toilet before you put him In the crate and personally I wouldn't want to leave my Poppy for more than 2 hours as she is so little.
I havent left her any treats though as I was scared she might need to poo!
Good luck!
I havent left her any treats though as I was scared she might need to poo!
Good luck!
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He will 'love' you much more if you set boundaries for him. I see this with dogs and horses who's owners don't make rules and stick to them because they think their dog/horse wont love them, they then have horrendous problems and an unmanagable animal, a nuissance with a dog a danger with a horse. Animals do not apportion blame that is what seperates them from humans! Good luck.
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