I think it's fine to pay your cousin 25 bucks a week. That seems fair. I also think that it's not too much time to leave your pup alone. As long as they have enough room to move (a crate or x-pen), some food and water and a couple of chew toys I think puppy will be fine. When I leave Chewy I also leave the TV on to either Animal Planet or Cartoon Network and even though it's silly and people make fun of me, I call on the phone and leave messages.
This is just like being a parent and my philosophy about my own parenting and the thing I say to other mom's (about our skinkids!!) is simply, don't beat yourself up. Same rules apply
