Hi Kimmie. I think you were given excellent advice by mblab in the post way above.
One thing I want to mention right off is a caution in leaving bully sticks alone with your baby, that's a choking hazard; they sure are a nice chew (I use them too) - but I'd only give them when you're present
.
When a dog is left for 10 hours, you really need to allow it to drink and have access to go to the bathroom. Sometimes, all this stuff gets very confusing. When it does, I put myself in their shoes ("paws", lol!
) and think "could I hold my bladder for 10 hours? Not drink? Not eat?" - no. Personally, I just don't think it's appropriate to expect it of them (that's my opinion).
I work 3 days a week, my hubby full time. We have a very large master bathroom connected to our master bedroom, and it has large window - so the bathroom is where we keep our babies when we're gone. We have water for them, washable pee pads, safe toys, beds, a large pillow. We put a bottle in the middle of the pee pad so they have something to "mark". We used to have to "anchor" the pad when Marcel went through a stage of playing w/ the pad for awhile (then he got over it). Sometimes, they go off the pad - and since we're not home - we consider that our problem, not theirs. They really do pretty good.
It's not easy, but you'll find something that works. I do not think the answer, for 10 hours, is to confine your baby to an even smaller area. I think you need to provide toys, a washable pee pad (perhaps anchored by cement blocks), water. And, a lot of walks/exercise. Confinement is very stressful for these fellas - he will likely develop a stress disorder, imo (if you go smaller). Also, what about a DAP collar or DAP Hormone plug in? That may help calm him too. Hang in there, Kimmie, you'll get him there.