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Originally Posted by mrssabes  Got home at lunchtime to a still-warm turd ***on top of*** 14 1/2-week-old's Fabian's blanket-covered open crate. He figured out how to climb the sides to get on top. He also discovered within the past day or so that it's fun to shred puppy pads. Oh and he peed smack dab in the middle of the shirt I left him with my scent on it, since the pee pad was in shreds. This is the first week I'm back at work after getting him a week and a half ago, so I'm not surprised he's acting up.
For safety reasons, I had to remove the crate from inside the puppy pen, because it's now possible for him to stand on top of the crate and theoretically jump/climb his way out of the playpen... to a perilous 36-inch drop. I'm so glad he left his "present" before something bad happened.
unfortunately, with the crate gone, he doesn't have his little "cave" anymore, just an open soft bed along one wall of his toy and puppy pad filled pen.
I'm also terrified that now he's figured out how to climb that he'll start climbing the baby gates we have in front of two full sets of stairs. We bought the sturdiest /safest ones we could find, but he's such a tenacious little man.
He's also in a lot of pain from teething. I've been giving him bully sticks, refrigerated/frozen blue chewy toys, and lots of warm cuddles.
I feel like such a colossal failure as a new puppy mama and I don't want this to turn into chronic separation anxiety for him. I'm also trying to stay "Zen" in front of him and not project my anxiety onto him.
Working full-time from home or quitting my job are not possible. I'm coming home at lunchtime every day to break up his day. He's still too little for a dog walker or doggy day care. I'm going to try Bitter Apple tonight to stop the shredding. I'm trying to teach him how to keep himself entertained with his toys while my husband and I are in the house and not just see us as giant 24x7 playthings. I've also been keeping him in his pen at night and for short periods of time while I'm home during the weekends, so that he doesn't associate "pen" with "home alone."
One step at a time. I know many people work full-time and manage to have happy, healthy dogs, so it's an attainable goal. It's just so darned exhausting and scary right now. |
Wow I feel your pain. I'm a single guy and work shift work. Usually just days and afternoons, but sometimes nights too. I know he doesn't like to be left alone in his pen,but he's pretty well adjusted so far. You're doing the right thing by putting him in there while you're home too. I always give him a treat going in to the pen and one when he comes out of the pen. I purchased a metal playpen that's about 5' x 5' it actually has a door that can be connected right to a crate, so he wouldn't be able to climb it. If you're interested in more info I'll check the name of it. It's foldable for different shapes and comes with pegs to dig into the grass while you're gardening.
Question is it a good idea to leave a shirt for him that has my scent on it? I've never heard of that before. Interesting.
My pup tore up his pee pads too, so I duct taped them to the tile. Bad idea, he thought the tape was a toy and actually pulled it all the way up and tore up the pee pads even more. Lol...so I stopped with the duct tape and he hasn't touched them since. Haha. Such a strange lil' guy.
