Re: going back to work

In Reply to: going back to work
Category:   Other
Posted by:  Emily Fernandez
Posted on:  December 21, 2002 at 19:10:23

: I have been a "stay at home mom" with my terrier sinced we brought him home when he was eight weeks old. He is now two. For financial reasons, I am now forced to go back to work full time and will have to leave my guy during the day. We have arranged for a service to come in the middle of the day and take him to a three hour play group session (hiking, swimming etc.). oliver was always crated when I left him alone, but I have never crated him for more than 3 or 4 hours a day. with this arrangement I am afraid to crate him for too long. Would it be too much to crate him for 3 hours in the A.M and 4 hours in the afternoon, or do you recommend I go over the puppy-proofing of the house and start getting him aquainted to having the run of the house while I'm out? (PS - I don't want to leave him in our yard unsupervised because we have a dog-theft problem in our area). Any advice you may have on this issue would be GREATLY appreciated - this forum has been a GREAT help to us in the past. Emily.

Response:

Dear Emily,

Bless your heart for taking the time to ensure that Oliver is both happy and safe despite the changes in your personal life; he is one lucky little guy to have you as his owner.

I agree that leaving Oliver outside unsupervised is a bad idea; giving him free reign of the house can be equally as dangerous despite puppy-proofing your home. Since he is crate-trained and you've made arrangements to see to his potty/exercise needs mid-day, I suggest you continue to crate him. Oliver is more likely to accept the household change in routine if he can rely on his "security blanket" -- AKA -- his crate. :-)

Warm regards,
Leslie