Hey everyone, something came up, and I have to leave my 11-week-old puppy home alone for 2-3 hours soon. I don’t have any other options. Does anyone have tips?
He’s almost fully potty-trained with pads and sleeps in a crate overnight, but he’s never been in it during the day. I also have a playpen where he spends a lot of time. He’s a jumper, though, so I’m worried he might try to escape and hurt himself. The crate seems safest, but again, he hasn’t been in it except at night. I’m pretty anxious about this. Will he be alright alone for that long?
It sounds like you’re doing a great job as a pet parent for being so concerned. Based on what you said, it seems like putting him in the crate is the safest option. You could cover it with a blanket to make it feel like his nighttime space, even though it’s daytime. Puppies usually go to sleep when they’re left alone in a comfy spot, so he should be okay.
@Zen
This sounds like the best plan unless you can find someone to watch him. You might want to try putting him in the crate during the day for a little while before you leave to see how he reacts.
Crate training is definitely helpful in situations like this. It also helps for things like vet visits or traveling. Puppies don’t always make the best choices when left to their own devices!
Go with the crate. If he’s a jumper, he could try to leap out of the pen. One of my dogs once hurt her leg trying to escape, and the vet bills were sky-high! Now, I always put them in the crate when I need to step out.
A long walk or a fun play session should wear him out. Then just pop him in the crate, cover it with a blanket, and he’ll probably take a nice nap until you’re back.
2-3 hours isn’t bad at all. Lots of people leave their puppies for longer when they go to work. You could even consider getting a pet cam if you’re nervous. The crate is the safest bet, and the worst thing that might happen is a little mess that you can clean up easily.
Tru said:
Just a note, if you’re training with potty pads, it’s not exactly the same as outdoor potty training. It teaches them that it’s okay to go indoors.
Yeah, I’m okay with that as long as it’s on the designated pads. We travel a lot, so I want him to be able to go inside if necessary. Different lifestyles work for different people. Sometimes I have meetings and can’t always take him out, so the pads are convenient for us.