[MandiesMom]

Well, I'm guessing that you, OP, assumed that you timed getting the puppy at the right time. You were out of school/work when you brought the puppy home. 18 weeks is 4 1/2 months old..this is when I got Mandie. She wasn't at all house broken when I got her, but she took to the pee pads rather quickly (as long as I kept her away from carpet). She wasn't left alone all day because she had her big brother ..my other dog. So, you are sort of in the same situation. You have an older dog to help the pup not feel alone.

Bottom line is the puppy is not being vengeful or "I'll show her"...it is adjusting to you all of the sudden not being there. As you said, you are gone for 12 to 13 hours, when before, you were there all the time right? This is a sudden change and confusing to the pup. The entire schedule is out of whack...dogs are creatures that thrive on routine and schedules.

Personally, I have a 10 hour work day and my commute there and back, in total, is almost an hour..that's 11 hours a day right there. Factor in if I have to do errands before or after work and if something at work goes haywire (which it is often apt to do)..I could be away 12 to 13 hours a day. IF I ever was or am, I have a couple of back up plans. First - I have a hubby and he usually gets home before I do in the evenings. BUT even that is not 100% because sometimes he works out of town or 12 hour shifts.

My back up to my back up is my Mom. She has been known to be my saving grace for both Mandie AND Shelby. She has come over in the middle of the day and let them both out before.

So, bottom line is...I don't think it is just "horrid" that you work the hours you work..especially since you were there initially with the pup and now the pup is going on 5 months old. What I do think is that the schedule and routine has been yanked out from under your pup. So, it is your job to try to get that back to some degree. My suggestion is like many others: Daycare or Dog walker (family or friends work best, I think).

Are these options for you?