i don't feel guilty either. i can't spend every minute with morgan, that's just insane, as much as i love her. I go to work 8-9 hours a day and she is just fine at home in her expen. she has toys, a house, food, water, and a pee pad (which for some reason actually discourages her from going potty in the house and she holds it). I don't make a big deal about coming and going so she doesn't make a big deal about it either. Also i go out at night sometimes and i go out on the weekends (not for 8-9 hours like during the week but for a couple hours to go shopping or see the bf). morgan does come to the BFs house with me on the weekends and she is crated when we go out together. I do take morgan places with me if i want to and the place were going allows dogs (or at least doesn't make a big deal about it).
i think the key is not making a big deal about it so that our pups don't make a big deal about it. I think the screaming and pouting they do makes it harder for us to leave them because we feel so bad about them being upset. The only way to make it better is to actually go out more so they get used to it. spending all your time with them just gives them separation anxiety when it is time for you to leave them.
__________________ Kellie  and  Morgan |