Crating a puppy

Hey guys,

Well things are still going very well with Roxy, she is such a great sleeper .. I still quite cant get over it.  She sleeps right through the night and only once whined one night as she needed to a pee, but then went straight back to sleep after we let her out.  This was from 8 1/2 weeks old and she is nearly 11 weeks old now.  Anyway she has been with us for two weeks now, and for the next two weeks she will have someone with her all or nearly all the of the time.  Though we have been leaving her crated for up to an hour or 2 at a time during the day and she has just slept, no crying or whining.

In 2 weeks I'm afraid we will need to leave her twice a week for 3-4 hours max, so she will be almost 14 weeks by then.  Do you think she will be ok crated for that time.. We have a pen for her too, but she just doesn't settle in  the pen, and cries in there, even though I move her bedding and toys in there too.  Or she just tries to dig her way out..I wish I could take more time off work, but I just cant and my work are getting a little funny now.

P.S I forgot to mention that I would be taking her for a walk in the morning before crating her, my hubby will also be walking her when he gets in, and then I will take her out in the evenings too when I finish work

Mich, I think Roxy will be fine. You've built up the time in the crate so it won't come as a shock and she'll be having a good walk before she's left which should mean she sleeps most of that time anyway.

The only thing I would add is a toy that keeps her amused if she isn't settled and asleep before you leave, something like a stuffed Kong for example. Obviously access to water too.

You may well find that as she gets older, she will be happier having some more of the house to roam when your out and use the crate to sleep in or use as her Den.

My Flo is older but when I get in at lunchtime I very rarely find that she has moved off the sofa these days but will admit that we did find some mysterious paw prints on the table a few times and a half eaten frozen loaf once

thanks so much for replying, I think Roxy will be fine, its just me feeling worried and anxious. I've had sleepless nights over this. This is the one thing I have been dreading, leaving her for work, but without work I couldn't afford Roxy its a catch 22. She is going to Doggy Day care twice a week, and puppy parties at the weekend, all after she's had her 2nd injections, so she's going to be very socialised.

Yes she loves Kong toys, so thats a great idea..

I wouldnt dare leave her with roam of the house at the moment, she is so into everything right now.. well I should say everything she is not supposed to do thanks Ian

I KNOW she'll be fine! We were exactly the same as you. We had Theia home for over two weeks before we both had to go back to work. And like you it was only for 4 hours. What we did, and still do, is to have her walked and then kept awake from 6-8am. By that time she'll be almost getting your car keys for you so she can be left to go back to bed
You'll find that a pup needs 15/16 hours sleep/chill time per day, and it's you who decides when these hours are.
Pete.

Like Ian said...you have built up the time spent in the crate so it wont come as a shock to Roxy. After her morning walk she will be ready to nap again anyway. Just remember to make it cosy with blankets, toys and water. Stuffed kong is great idea, freexing it will make it last longer too.

Sounds like shes gonna have a beter social life than me with them parties

I used my laptop to record my pooch when he was in his crate so i could see how he was when i was out. this might be an idea so you can relax more when you realise shes being as good as gold whilst you working

Aw, she is gorgeous, such a pretty little face. Sounds like you're being very responsible and its normal to feel anxious about leaving them when they're so little but honestly she'll be fine! Good luck.

Thank you so much everyone, its really helped my worries, I'll let you know how she gets on.. thankfully she's still with hubby all this week and a lot of next phew. Roll on 2nd Injections so I can get her out and about

in a few months you'll wonder what the fuss was im sure wee roxy will be fine