Help-new English Spinger Pup

PippaSpaniel

Hi I have just got a new Spaniel Pup 5months old - Pippa. We both work from 8:00am-5:00pm and intend leaving her inside our hallway while we are at work with food,water toys, paper etc.
We take her out for a good walk at 6:00am & again at night-time.
She is only here a few days and is still crying at night etc when left alone? Is this normal?
Has anyone any thoughts on daytime activities and if the above is adequate for her once she gets into a routine.
Thanks - David

suziwalsh

I know you are asking advice about stopping your pup crying but unfortunately the time you are leaving her alone is just too long during the day. Especially for a working high energy breed. Would you consider a second older dog for company or leave the radio on....there is no quick fix solutions as she is just probably lonely. Eventually she will stop crying but it will take time.


Here is a good article for those considering getting a pup:

You want a dog but you have a full time job:



We are often asked if it is possible to adopt a dog if the prospective owners work full-time and the dog would have to be left alone all day. The answer is usually no. This is because we do not recommend that a dog should be left alone for longer than four hours at a time.


Why not?


Dogs are social animals and as a general rule, are happiest and content when they are with their family groups. Because many dogs bond strongly to their owners, they can become very insecure and anxious when their owners leave them. They can also become very bored, especially if they are left for long periods of time, and this can lead to all sorts of problems.


Most dogs just need a bit of company and fuss to keep them happy, so leaving them on their own for a long time is not fair on any of them. Certain types and breeds of dogs require more company and/or activity than others and find it even harder and more stressful. Not forgetting of course, that most dogs will need to go to the toilet at least every four hours – if they don’t have outdoor access they may be forced to have accidents in the home, or hold on too long, risking health problems.


Even if there is a secure outdoors area where a dog could spend the day, many dogs will become very bored, distressed, noisy and possibly destructive. This is also not an option during very hot or cold periods for many breeds of dog. Your dog is also at risk of being stolen. If he’s very noisy you could find yourself very unpopular with the neighbours and even subject to a noise abatement order from your local Environmental Health Office.


The potential problems can be even worse if you are considering taking on a puppy rather than an older dog. Housetraining a puppy needs constant supervision for the process to be successful, so leaving a puppy or young dog for a long period is asking for trouble. Puppies particularly must have human company during the first year so that they can be socialised correctly to avoid future problems of aggression. Setting aside time for some good basic training is also very important; to make sure that your puppy becomes a well-behaved canine citizen. All too often, puppies whose owners have not taken the time to do these things end up being abandoned as young adults in Re-homing Centres because their owners cannot cope with them any longer.


Consider two dogs for company?


If you are lucky enough to find two dogs who are very close, then these dogs may be less distressed at being left without human company. However, you will still have to ensure that they do not become bored and make sure that they are able to get out for ‘toilet breaks’. In many cases it makes no difference if your dog has the company of another dog, as it is you, the owner that he misses – and you may end up with two very unhappy dogs instead of one!


Is there anything you can do? There are some exceptions where Re-homing Centres may consider re-homing an older dog (or dogs) to a family where owners are out all day. This may be when the owners are prepared to employ a dog walker to walk the dog and give him/her some company during the day, if they have relatives locally who will be able to dog-sit, or when one of the owners is able to take the dog to work.


Some people who are out at work all day will employ a dog walker. They offer different levels of service and it may be that a good long walk in the middle of the day may be enough to make the situation more bearable for a dog. This, coupled with things to make him work and keep him occupied during the day such as giving him stuffed ‘Kongs’, or hiding his dried food around the house so that he has search to find it, will make a big difference to his quality of life when you’re not there


So perhaps a dog is not for you – what are the alternatives?

If your lifestyle or circumstances just aren’t right to give a dog a home at the moment, then how can you still get some of the benefits of doggy ownership? There are several ways:


• Volunteer dog walking at your local pound. If you want close contact with dogs, but can’t have one then this may be the best option for you. You must be at least 16 years old to help out with walking dogs and must be available to do this on a regular basis.


• You could also volunteer to help those who aren’t capable of taking out their dogs as much as they’d like.


Please consider whether your lifestyle is suitable for owning a dog or puppy. If you are out at work all day and can’t make provisions for his mental and physical welfare during this time, perhaps owning a dog isn’t the best option for you or him until your circumstances change.



Don't just think about how a dog will enhance your life, but ask yourself, "What am I willing to do to enhance the life of my dog?"

Toulouse

Agree with Suzi I'm afraid. Chances are your hall is going to get destroyed as your dog will be so bored, toys or no toys. If she's used to being with other dogs then she's crying at night because she's lonely, she will get used to it.

Toilet training is going to be very difficult with this kind of arrangement too.

Any dog walkers in your area that would be able to come in during the day to bring her out?

denhaagenite

I agree, the best way to deal with this is to find a dog walker to walk your dog every day while you are at work. The dog won't require a very long walk at her age but she will definitely need company during the day. Our pup is 6 months and has never been left for longer than 2 hours, because I'm not working at the moment but when I return to work we'll have to find a walker aswell.

It's also good to use a word every time you leave and again when you come back to let her know that you will be back.

PippaSpaniel

for replies guys -

Paul91

any neighbours or family members close who can pop round and walk her for you during the day for ten minutes? or someone who has dogs that you could drop off with to puppy sit?