Leaving Uncreated for the first time.

[cadman]

Hello, Bear is 10 months now, male, and hes been doing very well at not chewing up my stuff. I leave him out at night (in the house) but im gone working about 11 hrs. a day, during witch he is usually crated and im sure he dosent like it but he is create trained. I am looking for some advice about leaving him out during my work hours (first time). Im thinking i should probably do it in small doeses (sp) at first then build it up. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Maybe just the basement to begin with?
next post ill use a dictionary, sorry........

Thanks,
Chris.

[SABELLESMOM]

Basement or a single room with not too much to get in to would be fine. A single room can be "bear proofed" a bit beforehand. What is he showing you that makes you think he's ready?

My girl wasn't ready for being out in the daytime until she was much (2+ years) older, despite the fact she was out sanely and safely at night (at 5-6mos) much earlier.

[cadman]

Yeah, i thought maybe he was a little young. The things he's show'd me are things in the same place when i get outa bed, including him, he can walk thew the kithen now without having to stand to see whats on the counter, but that maybe just cuz im there, and just him general behavior around the house. But maybe he is a little young, i think ill think about it a little longer,
Does holding his pee for 11 hours a day hurt him, he does it five days a week.
2+ years huh?

Chris.

[Patty1231]

Small doses would be best for during the day. See how he does if you go out for 1/2 an hour, then an hour, then maybe a couple hours. Eventually, work up to all day. Rocco wasn't out at night until 12 months, and then successfully during the day at between 13-14 months. I think if I'm not around he just sleeps. The only time he gets into anything is when I'm there to catch him.

[Karlan]

We are working on that now with our 17 month old female. She is left with another dog and 2 cats in the house for no more than 5-6 hrs. Some days are better than others. Usually she sleeps but who really knows! She likes to carry around an old marrow bone and sometimes I will give her a bully stick if I can find the ones made in the U.S. as they don't smell as bad as the others.
She is better when she has had a good walk or run in the mroning before I leave. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog!

[StephanieandToby]

I would be hesitant to crate any large. active dog for 11 hours/day. If you work such long hours why did you get a dog? (no offense) That said....I would agree that "Bear-proofing" one room in the house to start would be ideal...I would also SERIOUSLY consider hiring a pet-sitter or dog-walker to come in in the middle of the day to relieve your dog's boredom.Will you have time to properly exercise your dog once he reaches full development? he's going to need hours a day to be fit and happy.

[JD102175]

When we first started leaving Brodie out of his crate, he was about 1.5yrs.old, we first did it for about an hour. He was baby-gated in our front foyer and had access to the upstairs landing. All doors to bedrooms and the hall bath were closed. Gradually we left him out for longer periods and after about 3-4 months we left him out with full run of the house and he has done great.

Jaime

[cadman]

thanks for the info people, i think ill get a baby door and try it in a few months with just the basement and the first floor landing. and JD102175 when i got bear i worked about 10 minutes away, and could come home at lunch. That fell threw and now i work an hour away with an hour lunch, hence 11 hours.

[Ironbark]

Originally Posted by cadman

thanks for the info people, i think ill get a baby door and try it in a few months with just the basement and the first floor landing. and JD102175 when i got bear i worked about 10 minutes away, and could come home at lunch. That fell threw and now i work an hour away with an hour lunch, hence 11 hours.

Could you get a friend/dog walker to come in during the day to let Bear have a break? Forcing a dog to hold it for such a long period of time can cause urinary problems, etc.., as it can with humans. You could also probably hold it for 11 hours, but you wouldn't be very comfortable!

[RottieGirl86]

I didn't leave Athena uncrated during the day until she was 18 months.

Sasha - my late rottie, had chewed thru a wall at 1 year (this was before she lived with us), so I was very hesistant to test it with Athena.

I'd try a frozen kong treat or bone, so they're busy :) and less bored while alone.