[WorriedMom]

So my days now require me to be gone from pretty much 7:45am til 3:30pm.
I have a 7 month old boxer/german shepherd puppy. Pretty high energy level.

I really don't want to crate him all day. What do you think of gating him into the kitchen dining room area for the day... so that i can crate him at night.

Gate off for the work-day.... and then exercise when I get home... and then crate for bedtime (approximately 10:30/11). Weekends he'd be free all day. Might include an exercise in the morning if possible.... but then bedtime might be 10/10:30.

Any advice? I also have a lot of take-home work that needs to be done....so I want to be able to tire him out so that I can work when I get home after his playtime for a bit. Then we can relax together, he can get his lovin for a bit, then call it a night.

Any adivce is welcome.

[cigwyllt]

Is there anyone who could come in and see to him in the middle of the day?

I don't really know much about other breeds apart from terriers but I know that my terrier would want constant attention if he was left for 6 hours or so - no chance that an hour of exercise would equal an hour of rest LOL!

[lange]

I agree with Cigwyllt. That'd be ideal. Otherwise, how about a doggie door if your backdoor is off the kitchen? I know some people don't like them but you have many years ahead of you with your puppy and I'm guessing work hours will always be an issue.

[WorriedMom]

I don't have anyone that can come see him during the day... and the doggy door idea won't work because my yard is not fenced in and I live in a major city.

Normally, he doesn't even paw at the door to get out that often. He pretty much just goes when he is let out even while we are all home (unless he really has to go or something). Not sure if it's because he's such a big dog he naturally holds it longer or if he just doesn't go that often.

If anyone else has any input please help!

[Lunareclipse]

My old house didn't have a fence, but we did have a doggie door. So I tied our dog to the back porch with a long enough tether so he could go in the house through the doggie door and also be able to go out too if he wanted. That might be an option too if you don't have a fence.

[harley_quinn]

Be careful about locking him in the kitchen, dogs are determined when it comes to getting into food. I am a full time student, but only have two days I'm gone for a very long period of time. Those days happen to fall on the days my boyfriend doesn't go to class until around the time I come home. I agree with the post that said they'd need attention during the day, so maybe someone the dog knows can check in on them?


When I have to leave my dog for a while, I take her on a short walk before I leave and shortly after I get home. In my apartment complex there are people with larger dogs (my Harley is a little pug) and I see them taking the doggies on walks I guess to wear them out. I'm lucky pugs sleep 14 hours a day, but I'm sure a morning walk would help any dog with a long day inside.

[cigwyllt]

I always lock my dogs in the kitchen - always have done - and we have never had any problems with any of them getting into food they shouldn't have. The only "problem" would be the occasional theft of the butter from the counter top but never any problem with anything else.

[Lunareclipse]

lol, if i ever left my dogs in the kitchen, i wouldn't have any food left. Saint Bernards are one of the best counter surfers because the counters are right at eye level with them. Buster and Sammie eat anything that isn't nailed down.

[cigwyllt]

Child locks on the cupboard doors were a necessity when we had our Golden Retriever but leaving them in the kitchen meant that my counters were always cleared. Trouble is now with two little terriers instead I am just lazy!