Latch Key Puppies

Congratulations! You just got a new puppy. You planned this new addition around your vacation so you could be home with the pup. You have spent almost every waking hour with your ball of fur. It is almost house broken. It is eating well and only destroys the occasional slipper. But now you have to go back to work, how will the puppy respond? What can you do to best insure a smooth transition for a home alone dog?

Dogs are pack animals. They like company.

Dogs are pack animals. They like company. You have been its playmate, its teacher and parent. Some breeds of dogs are very self-assured and this time of separation will be a snap. Working breeds and terriers can often balk at being left alone by barking up a storm or destroying your belongings. Several days before you return to work, start to separate yourself from the pup for increasingly longer periods of time. Start crate training your dog, the day you obtain it. The crate doesn’t have to be jail. You can make it a fun place to hang out by placing some of the pup’s favorite toys and treats in it. Dogs are cave dwelling creatures. The pen can give them a sense of security. It can also help to potty train them.

Puppies seem to have two speeds – pedal to the metal or fast asleep. Leaving for the day after you have pooped the pup out with a long walk will help it sleep away your absence. When it does wake up in its secure, confined area, have a favorite toy nearby and a radio or television on for company.

A properly housebroken dog is a joy. One that is not is a mess. Puppies, like human children, are potty trained at their own rates. A very young pup can’t hold it as long as an older one. Try to come home at lunch to play with your new dog and let it out. If you can’t make it home, see if a neighbor or friend can stop by.

Puppies, like human children, are potty trained at their own rates.

At the end of the day, unwind from your hectic schedule by spending some quality time with it. Try teaching it the basic manners of sit, stay and down. Take the pup for a walk. A little exercise will do the both of you some good.

Puppies can be very time consuming. The rewards from your invested energy will be well worth the effort. Remember. When you obtain a pet, it is for life, their life.