how to be alone?

[trillogy]

I would have to go with crate training as well. My puppy is 15 weks old now. I got her when she was 9 weeks old. I felt so so horrible and guilty for putting her in the crate, but after doing alot of reading about crate training ,I realized that it is the best place for a puppy when they cannot be watched and are not old enough to be completely trusted. It keeps them from getting into things that would hurt them,as well as keeping your belongings and others safe.
Now, sadie will go into the crate on her own.
I recently took her to a friends house for a couple of days with me. My friend has two kids and a dog. When she was tired and had enough playtime she would go into her crate and go to sleep.
It will take a while for your dog to get used to it, but you might try alot of praise, giving treats and spending time in the crate ( if space allows) with your dog.
I know that those things helped sadie alot. The crate is now part of her life. I take it with me whereever I go for an over night stay. I make sure that she always has the same blanket in there and I take her toys. It is her safe place. A place that she can go where everything in it is always the same.
I can only speak from my experience, but I hope this helps.

[wendyw]

I'm not even a crate type person (I have a large backyard, shelter, a mild climate, and company for my dog), but in your situation you really really need to consider it. Princess is getting to be reasonably safe for 1-2 hours as long as the doors to interesting things are shut, and the counters are clean. But she's 4 months older than yours is, and she still slips sometimes (the side of my bed bears testament to that...).

Good luck. The last thing you want with a dog is to end up disliking him for his habits. Then he won't be your friend and companion.

[rottmommie]

I think mine does the "naughty things" out of boredom!!! the other day my daughter fell asleep with him not crated, he went into my room, took my sheets off the waterbed, and took the RECESSED cap, pulled it up and removed it from the water bed, thus letting out water, and chewed the cap beyond repair!!! just something to do!!!!

[Sierradog]

Crate training is the way to go. You wouldn't leave a young child to wander around the house unsupervised, right? Your dog isn't mentally mature enough to stay home alone loose in the house. I have a 7 mos old Rott/shep mix and he has days where he is good and others where he just gets into things he shouldn't as though he can't help himself, even though he "knows" he's not allowed. Wait until he is a year or so before trying to leave him home loose. He'll be more mature. (my first Rottie was a year and a half before I could leave her out alone for any length of time)