Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject: Hi all just about to get my new lab (some questions)
Hi everyone, been lurking (reading up) on the site for the past few weeks so thought i would introduce myself properly as the time to collect my new pup is fast approaching.
My name is Phil and my wife and i live just outside belfast.
I have been around dogs all my life i had three when i was growing up 2 dobermans and a german shepard but this is my first dog as such.
The site has been a fantastic research tool for what to expect.
My only one real worry is leaving the pup at home while i am working.
I am fortunate enough to have very flexible working hours. Generally i leave home at 6.15 and head to the gym, back home at 8.30, bit of breakfast and off to work at about 9.30, back home again about 12 for an hour or so then back out till 3 then thats me home for the duration.
Does anyone think its unreasonable to leave the pup alone for this amount to time ? I don't want to put undue stress on the pup as its just not fair on it.
We live in the country and have a good sized secure yard, would i be better buying a decent dog house and leaving the pup once old enough outside for the 2-3 hours i am not at home for ? Would he be happier ?
Welcome Phil, I think you may have to make some adjustment initially when pup comes home to be able to toilet train, you don't say what your wifes movements are, so hopefully between the two of you it will be possible to do the necessary taking pup to garden for toilets as often as you can for the first few weeks.
The times you give for your schedule sounds fine for a pup that is a few months old that has learnt its basics, I would suggest a crate if you have'nt already considered it.
Others will give you more advise about managing work and puppys in the first few months I am sure.
Welcome Phil, I think you may have to make some adjustment initially when pup comes home to be able to toilet train, you don't say what your wifes movements are, so hopefully between the two of you it will be possible to do the necessary taking pup to garden for toilets as often as you can for the first few weeks.
The times you give for your schedule sounds fine for a pup that is a few months old that has learnt its basics, I would suggest a crate if you have'nt already considered it.
Others will give you more advise about managing work and puppys in the first few months I am sure.
June
Many thanks June,
My wife is a teacher so is away from 8 - 4 most days, i suppose the upside is the holidays !!! I should be able to get home every 2 hrs or so in the begining. I have already bought a crate and some other items after reading this forum ( i like to be prepared). Crate training definately seems the way to go, i chose the christmas period as i will be off for two solid weeks which i can devote to getting to know the pup and visa versa. Also hopefully by the summer time he will be ready for some nice walks..
I did as you and had a couple of weeks off when cooper first arrived. We had a crate, and it was and still is a god send. Highly recommend.
During the night we were getting up every few hours to take him out for toilet and by the end of couple of weeks we were either just getting up once in the night or not at all.
During those couple of weeks I started leaving him alone in his crate so I knew he was safe, and kept extending the time I was gone until by time I was back at work, he was more than happy to be left.
I leave for work at 8:30 and my OH gets back at lunch just after 12, then I come home for lunch about half 1 til just before 3 and then hubby gets home from work just after 5. It works really well for us, but we did put the time in early on to get cooper used to being on his own, but gradually.
It sounds like you have planned the timing of your pup carefully, having the holiday will help immensly, if you dedicate this time to pup, it will hopefully sort out the toilet training [taking it outside as soon as its eaten, wakes up, after play etc, also when it starts sniffing circling a sign it will be wee'ing, always praise the good wee's and poo's, ignore the mistakes, and give a word when doing it, ie good busy's -TREATs.
Also remember to set aside small breaks leaving pup on its own for short breaks building up slowly, it will be ready for the longer ones when you return to your normal schedule, [my daughter works and they cracked the toilet training in two weeks, before returning to work; came home lunch time, took him out for walk, good play and run about. he has turned out to be a well balanced boy, they did have kids who played with him and took him out when they came home from School, but he accepted their routine, and is one gorgeous boy.
Read all the advise on walking pups, and kongs etc, hopefully it will be happy times for you all.
Hello and welcome looking forward to hearing all about your little bundle
I think when the pup arrives you will know pretty quickly how long you can leave him especially in the first month or so
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) and have you decided on a name yet 
Good luck x
