NWR: Puppy! (a lil' long)

mgoss228 · May 2010

I've done some googling for tips, but thought I would try you guys too!

FI and I got a puppy yesterday!!! He is a 6 month old Chihuahua (potentially mixed with Dachshund, but definitely over 75% Chihuahua). He is our first and (so far) only furbaby.

FI is spending the day with him today since it is his day off, but tomorrow will be the first time we leave him alone at home while we are both at work. He will be left alone from about 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, which will be too long to leave him in a carrier.

So we will be leaving him in our bathroom with a child-proof gate-thing in the door way. He is very good at using the Pee Pad, so I think we will eventually move him to the hallway/foyer area once FI thinks he will use it 100%. He is still teething, so until we have every single wire properly secured, we are not comfortable letting him roam around by himself.

My question:
How can I help him not feel too lonely in our bathroom (and hallway, eventually)? I feel soooo guilty that we have to leave him alone tomorrow. I was thinking of leaving in some water, chew toys and some blankets/sheets for him to burrow in, but am wondering what else I could leave for him. He is such an energetic and happy guy, and I don't want to make him sad and lonely

Thank you!

jamers22 · May 2010

If you have an old sweatshirt, I would suggest giving that to him. They love the smell of their "mama". We have 2 dachshunds, and they LOVE to burrow under blankets, and they have a special sweatshirt that they just love.

I wouldn't leave a TON of water... but just enough. If you do buy him a larger kennel, I would suggest buying the hamster-like water feeder that latches onto the side of the kennel. We use that and our dogs LOVE it.

Maybe leave him a stuffed animal too. He might want to cuddle.

And I think you need to post some pictures!!!!!!!!!

MacPanda · May 2010

I definitely agree that we need pictures! Also, have you named him yet?

I agree with Jamers on leaving something with your scent on it and a cuddle toy. I know for my little Maltese crate/carrier training really helped with the potty control. However, it's best to work up to that long of a time by doing increments of 2, 4, 6 hours first. If you can fit the carrier in your bathroom for tomorrow (with the carrier door open) that might be good. Your guy can get used to using it as a "bed" before you have to confine him in there for any long amount of time. I don't think he'll be too lonely but he sure will be happy to see you everyday you get home!

sarack · May 2010

I have a chihuahua pomeranian mix and he feels much safer in his kennel. I would keep him in his kennel or atleast make sure he can't chew on your cupboards or anything else..

we used to leave our dog in his kennel for 8 hours and he was fine. he definitely needs a stuffed animal and blanket or bed. something that smells like you would be ideal.

i wouldn't give him too much water unless you have a puppy pad for him, otherwise you'll have presents when you come home.. and possibly a soiled dog.

my dog is now 3 years old and still prefers to be in his kennel when we leave... leaving him out where something could potentially fall on him or he could hurt himself is just too risky.

Tygirljojo · May 2010

Congrats! FI and I are hoping to get a dog this fall after the wedding chaos. No advice, but it sounds like PPs have some good input!

KST_ · May 2010

Nope, I refuse to believe you got a puppy unless we have pictures!!!

PP have the advice well covered. I ditto the something that smells like you (and FI). Our kitty LOVES curling up in a nest he makes in our dirty clothes pile!!

mgoss228 · May 2010

Thank you for all your ideas!

Knotties, Meet Conan!

He is a tiny guy (around 4 lbs). We named him after Conan O'Brien, because his fur is a redish tan, he is long and lanky (part of why we think he is part Dachshund), has some doggie freckles, and looks a little goofy.

Sorry for the poor quality pic, it was from an email that I reformulated and saved to my work computer.

ahuette · May 2010

Conan is super cute! I agree with pp that kenneling is best - especially when they are this young. But give him something to snuggle is good too. I love puppies...wish they didn't grow up into dogs.

jennyann28 · May 2010

PPs had some good advice. Put his crate in there, but with the door open so that he can come & go freely. Dogs like dens though, so they can feel safe. The thing with your scent is really good too (my dog also likes to lay on our dirty clothes if we let her).
Also, turn on a radio or tv with people talking. That way, little noises won't get to him, and he won't feel so lonely.

jennuinne · May 2010

Cute dog and cute name. I agree w/ pp. I think you will miss him more than he will miss you at first. Make him as comfortable as you can, but the first week will be hard. After that, its no big deal. Our puppy is happy with some toys, a bed and blanket. She can entertain herself and nap all day, then get super excited when we come home. Fortunately FI is in school, so he's not gone all day.

sarack · May 2010

i still miss my baby every day!!

angstocker22 · May 2010

jennyann pretty much said what I was going to say. I have 2 dogs. Got one when he was 7 weeks and the other when she was 11 weeks, they are a year apart. They are my BABIES!

Kennel with the door open, radio, blankies, etc... If he is a chewer then I would suggest buying some of that apple spray. They sell it at Petco & Petsmart. It's this sour apply spray that you put on items you don't want chewed on. I used it and it worked great!

Good luck & let us know how he did! (love the name!)

KatyDidlettes · May 2010

I agree with everyone about the crate and the radio- NPR is perfect. I left that on when I left my dog for years. I still do it for a few months every time we move just to help him feel settled in. Also, tire him out before you go with a good long walk so he will just want to sleep the whole time.

StarrryEyez19 · May 2010

First of all, what a CUTE dog! I love dogs but only have cats at the moment. Although, I see a dog in the near future! Even had a dream about him the other night! LOL

Just one more piece of advice.. make sure that there is NO toilet paper or anything that he can get into! My aunt had a lil Chihuahua that I watched while she was on vacation and the dog LOVED to shred EVERYTHING! I would put up all the toilet paper, paper towels and everything else and she would STILL find a way to get into it and shred it to pieces. I would come home to a house that looked like it had snowed every single time! Clever dog! LOL

mgoss228 · May 2010

We ended up deciding to leave him gated up in our hallway, so he can still see the livingroom and hear outdoor noises. We are having a friend who lives in the same apartment complex as us check in on him at 11:00 am.

I felt like the worst mommy ever when I left him this morning. I did follow some of the tips, except for the crate. FI and I were way too tired to go buy it yesterday evening. I did make a nice sized pile of my PJs and blanket I use for him to nuzzle. He has been pretty good using his Potty Pads, so hopefully that continues!

NWR: Puppy! (a lil' long)

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