Puppy Training?

[Pea-n-Me]

Lisa, people do get passionate about animals, but in part it's because they know that thousands of pets are euthanized in this country each year because they became "too much" for the people who owned them. That's a fact.

People speak from experience with puppies, and I think were trying to point out to you the difficulities with the plan you proposed in your OP.

Would you suggest keeping him in the crate all day

To be honest, when I first read your OP, I had visions of you coming home at 4pm every day to a wild, hungry puppy covered in mess, jumping up on you and smearing poop all over your work clothes, your trying to bathe a squirming, perhaps snarling little ball of fur, and wanting to relax but the pup demanding a good deal of your time for the remainder of the evening. I was thinking that that would probably last about 3 weeks before you got tired of it. That would be the reality for just about anyone in that situation, IMO and from my own experience.

I've had many puppies at various stages of my life. The last time was in 2004 while I was in the midst of treatment for breast cancer. It probably wasn't the best time to get a puppy either, but my other dogs were dying, and I wanted to have a dog to walk with that summer and help me recover. (We did try to get an older dog, but that didn't work out, it was a long story, but if you care to read it I posted the story the other day on the Breed Rescue thread).

Anyway, I'd forgotten how much work having a puppy was. I was home, but ill and exhausted most of the time. My doctors had told me what energy I had should be saved for my two young children. Enter a 10 week old German Shepherd puppy. Unlike the two old dogs I'd just spent 13 years of my life with, this dog was not only a pure bundle of energy -she had a very strong mind of her own. I crated her and she went wild, wanted no part of it. I'd be trying to rest and all I could hear was her yipping and carrying on non-stop.

She had worms on arrival (as do many pups) and at times was unable to control the diarrhea, so for about a week after she came home, she'd be covered in it at least once a day. The smell was nauseating, and I cleaned her every time despite the fact that I was supposed to steer clear of germs. I also tried to take her out every hour or two to teach her to go outside, so it was a lot of work. After about a week and a half, I remember crying one day and thinking "what have we done; I cant take it anymore". She also had some personality issues which required more than the usual amount of socialization and training. DH and I hauled ourselves and our kids an hour away every Sunday morning to training with our favorite trainer, even though there were other things we would have preferred to be doing on those days.

The long and short of it is that puppies do require a lot of work and attention if you want to have one that is "good". If you do not train pups, they will train themselves. Training occurs all day, not just in the evening. One of the reasons you see so many cases of "bad" dogs is because nobody spent the time with them that they needed. Even "troubled" dogs will oftentimes thrive under proper circumstances.

So can it be done? Yes, it can. Will you have a dog that is well behaved and well adjusted? That is for you to decide. I hope if you get the pup you do find someone who will come in each and every day and spend some time with her if you cannot. I would also suggest before getting the dog to please read Good Owners, Great Dogs by Brian Kilcommons. Good luck.

P.S. As I write, my now 2 yo dog just came in from outside with wet mud all over her legs and underbelly. Looks like I have some cleaning to do.

 

[minkydog]

I think you all are being a bit rude. I asked for suggestions. I never said I was going to keep him in the crate all day! I asked what others who WORK what they do. There are TONS of people who get puppies who work. He's all puppy pad trained so I can leave him in the kitchen which the current breeder already does with him. I am already planning on going home during lunch to let him out when I first get home and then right before I leave to go back to work. I know they are a lot of work. Forget about asking for suggestions again jeese. I asked some people here at work what they did when they got puppies and they said leaving him in a crate for 4 hours is not cruel and is normal. I just can't believe some of you. I'm just very dissapointed that you all would be so cruel. You wonder why many people are afraid to post discussions on this board because the "all mightier than thou crowd," preeches their belief and does not even address the question.

But to those of you who actually did offer some advice such as a dog walker, thank you, you actually answered the question with some HELPFUL advice.

I'm sorry you got offended. I don't think anyone has been cruel. From your OP it did seem as though you had not thought things through very well. Our biggest concern, I imagine, is that your new puppy be loved and well-cared for, which I'm sure you intend on doing.

To address your question--there are doggie daycares in many cities. I would suggest checking them out. They look like a lot of fun and might be able to assist you with the housebreaking and crate-training periods. Get you over the hump until your pooch is old enough to be left alone for longer periods.
Best of luck
cathy