need some help from all you pro's out there!

hi all,

please forgive me if i have already posted a similar topic but i cant seem to find it anywhere!

basically im looking for advice for my lil 6 week old leo.

long story short, he is used to his crate, goes in and out willfully during gthe day. i make sure he stopped whining before i let him out for a wee after a nap/mornin/during the night and he goes to his puppy pads to wee.

my worry is, that i work 4 nightshifts a week, from around 7-5am. i have arranged for family to stay with him for first few nights and i am meeting with a petsitter on tuesday to discuss what she can help with.

what im struggling with is deciding what to do the hours during the night no1 will be there. should i keep the crate gate open and let him roam the kitchen (puppy proofed) or keep it closed for training purposes? he does cry and whinge but i always ignore him til he stops before i go near the crate. he is so young, he had been taken from his mum at around 5 week the lady who had him before me wasnt allowed to keep him. i just want whats best for the lil guy, as i think hes had a bit of a rough/unsettling start as it is!

thanks for taking time to read my post and id be hugely grateful for any tips/advice you may have

Stephanie

Oh, dear, poor little mite.  Far too early to be taken away from his mum & siblings. Everything becomes so much more difficult.

How long, exactly were you think of leaving him for? A pup of his age really should be left for more than an hour or so at a time.

i know he literally is so tiny, but the happiest lil thing ever!

it would really be the hours 1-2am til 5am. failing that id need to get someone to stay at my flat every night until hes a bit older. if thats the case, how old should i wait til?

It shouldn't be too bad as he should be sleeping, I would lock the cage and cover it with a blanket or something so he feels more comfortable and knows its sleep time. We still lock our cage at night and she's 17 months

leoNsteph wrote:
it would really be the hours 1-2am til 5am.

3 hours or so shouldn't be too bad as long as he's given the chance to go to the toilet before you put him to bed. As already said, I'd put an old blanket or curtain over the top of the crate, covering the top & three sides so that he feels safe in there and then shut the door.