Stay at home doxie

[Augie Dog]

When my wife and I got Augie we worked opposing shifts, he was rarely left in his creat for more than 5 hours a day.

Well, my wife and I are now working the same hours. She leaves at 7:30 and I leave at 8. She comes home for lunch to let him out around noon then it is back into the creat until 5:15. A nice set sched.

Nice for us but, what about Augie. He is safe in his 2X3 cage, nice warm blanket with a water bottle and toys (and as always a yummy peanut butter filled kong) but I know that he is not happy when I put him in. He goes for the kong and then when he sees me head for the door, his heart breaks (mine too) cry, bark, whimper, howl!

He does the same if I am in the garage and am working on something (anti-freeze and stuff)and he is in the house or even if I am just in another room he can't get too. I can see that this is just separation angsiety <sp> but what about when he is left alone, we keep the TV on and the kitchen light.

When we get home, out of the cage he goes. He does a dance and out to poopeedoo he goes.
Then it's play time!

He seems ok. He's coming up on 9 months, just wondering if all of this is still puppy stuff. He is deffinatly daddys dog and must be with me at all times.

Is there anyone else that has a stay at home doxie? Do they do the same thing? (howl, bark, cry) I hate going to work sometimes. But I always look forward to coming back home to a wagging tail & big sloppy kisses.

I need some input or thoughts.


David

[Meemoo]

We had a similar situation with Chiefy. When we first got him he was crated at night while we slept..taken out in the morning for about 45 minutes..then put in the crate again till one of us got home from work. He would whine. At night he would wimper...we would either shake a can and tell him to go to sleep or tap on the crate..he stopped after a few minutes of that. Now he sleeps out of the crate so he is a happier puppy..well he's about a year. During the day..as soon as we wake up I put on classical music so he doesn't associate the crate with the music. We put his food and water in..then him and a few of his toys. If we are still in the house by the time he finishes his food..he will cry for a while, if no one is home he doesn't make a big deal of it. When we come home, he still is even sleepy. It really bothered us in the beginning but felt it was better off this way then taking a chance on accidents, either chewing, eliminating or other possible things. I think the main thing is consistency. He will get used to it eventually I believe. We are now seriously thinking of getting an x-pen to give him a little more freedom during the day and also some light. Hope this helps a little.

Loren

[dutchman]

What you describe is not uncommon behavior. If you want to give Augie a little more room when you aren't home you might consider trying an x-pen. Right now both Frank and Tanner are in side by side kennels when I'm at work. 6:45-12:10 and then 12:24-4:30 on an average day. They seen just fine with this. I do hear the occasional complaints when I am leaving. In the morning they get fed in their kennels just as I am leaving so they are generally in a big hurry to get to their breakfast. My boys don't seem to have any problems eating when I leave and then not having a potty break till I get home at noon. I know some dogs eat hand have to go 20-40 minutes later. I guess it's what they are use to. As long as they get their share of attention when you are home they seem to do just fine.

Since I have the two boys now I haven't been using the x-pen. The odds are they would be OK together in the one x-pen but I just don't feel it's worth the potential risk of a battle breaking out without someone there to put a stop to it. Perhaps some day if we haven't had any even minor arguments for a couple of months and they boys start sharing cuddlier beds when I'm home I get brave and use the x-pen. Even thin it would start off for short errands and not all day. If you decide to try an x-pen get a tall one Augie is a big boy and if you put his kennel in a corner (recommended it's his safe den) then don't forget he may climb on top of the kennel to try and leap over the x-pens walls. I'm glad I wasn't home to see Frank land when he went over the 36" x-pen before I exchanged it for a taller model. He greeted me with a big grin on his face at the front door when I got home that day.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Meemoo]

Does your pen have a top? or is it similar to a child's pen?

[Krista]

David,

I answered you in the misc forum, but want to add:

I reccommend the x-pens too. It gives them more room and keeps them safe at the same time.

I started out with Rudy in the x-pen and Roscoe in a crate while Roscoe was potty training. Then I gradually started putting them in together -first while I was home but outside, then while I was on short errands...etc. Now they stay in there all the time together when we aren't home and there have been no problems- but they generally get along pretty well anyway.

You do have to know your dog,and how high they jump. My boys don't really jump, so I have the 24" model and they never even try to jump out (I think they might if there was only one of them, but they seem to like to be together. I also don't put their crate in there, because Rudy hates it anyway. I just give them their beds, toys, food, and water.

You can buy tops for the x-pens, but I don't want or need one.

[dutchman]

Krista posted this link under the "sleeping Habits" thread in the miscellaneous forum. http://www.midwesthomes4pets.com/Catalog/pens(1).htm If you scroll down the page you will come to the exercise pens (no top). The nice thing is that they are so easy to setup and take down. I didn't get one with a door. It's so easy to just undo the clips and move one end panel I didn't see the sense on spending more for a door. If you have the space and plan on leaving the pen setup all the time then I guess a door might be nice. MidWest is one of the largest manufactures of x-pens and is the one most commonly sold at dog shows in this area. These Items can be rather expensive to ship and unless you have a store that carries them in your area I suggest you start looking for dog shows not too far away. The shows (at least in this area) generally have one or more vendors selling the pens at a discounted price.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys

[Augie Dog]

Ok, I have seen the x-pens.

the question I have is Augie, at just under 9 months is a very strong 20 lb needy pupper. The x-pens have no bottoms and I don't see how they can be attached to the floor.

Thank you for all of your input. I am weak when it comes to a L@@k, but I am doing better with the cries.

the cage he is in has a top and plastic tray bottom. being 2X3 foot I figured that it was a lot of room for a doxie, well, not Aug. he is starting to bend the bars, he is VERY strong and uses his body as leverage on anything he wants. If the x-pen has no way to attach to the floor, he will move it or even lift it. he surprised me everyday with his strength.

David

[Penny's Aunt]

What about fencing off the kitchen, & leaving a blankie, toys, chewies, etc? Or have you tried that?

Dog Walker?

Doggy Day Care?

Retired person who would like to have a dachsie in their home during the day?

Horse hot-walker set on high speed for 3 hours before you leave in the morning?

[Jennifer]

Have you thought about hiring a teenager in the neighboorhood to walk him in the afternoon?

I did this when my border collie was a puppy and it worked out great. It was a lot cheaper than a professional dog walker. I paid them 15 dollars a week to take Charlie out and play with him.
Jennifer

[Oscar's Mom]

I gate Oscar in the bathroom when we're at work and I leave the radio on for him. Could you gate Augie in a small room? 4 days a week he's in there for 8 hours and I just couldnt keep him in a crate for 8 hours during the day. He goes thru phases where he's ok with it and not ok. Now he's not ok with it, he hides (or so he thinks) next a chair in the kitchen when its time to put him in the bathroom. The bathroom is like his room, he's got a bed and water dish we keep there all the time and ofcourse all toys any dog could ever want. It does make you feel bad when they cry for you, but just have to be strong.

[wireweiners]

My puppies are crated while I am at work. I kept them in an xpen when they were tiny but it didn't take long before they could scoot the x pen all over the dog room. Rita and Pippin are gated in the dog room so the pups do have some company. Wheeler is gated in the utility room and Katie has the rest of the house. The pups will fuss a little when they are first put in their crates but they settle down as soon as they hear me shut the door. I guess they don't have as much separation anxiety since there are so many of them.

[Augie Dog]

I am sorry that I have not gotten back to you all. Thank you so much for the input! I had a test to take today and have been doing book work for the past 3 days. (microsoft exam # 70-059 for all you geeks out there, passed<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm44.gif" border=0> )

Aug is home alone for about 4 hours at a time. At 9 months he is still having separation anx (pup wise)

now, x-pen, looked at one. Aug will move this with little effort.

I have the kitchen area (kitchen and dining room are one area, big too) gated. Loads of room to play. We tried that.......... once. The blinds to the sliding glass door...... he laid waste to them in less than 4 hours. That was when he was 5 months old though. May be different next time. Gotta puppy proof the area better I guess.

I know I am a real softy when it comes to Aug. But, you look into those eyes!
<IMG SRC="http://home1.gte.net/res00icr/whome.jpg" border=0>

[Oscar's Mom]

Awww...what a cutie!

[Uschi]

Woo, Augie Dog! Congrats on the Microsoft exam! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/bounce.gif (I wimped out and opted not to take any of the MCSE exams, myself)

As for keeping your little Augie out of harm's way and too much mischief while you're away... Hmm. He sounds like quite a rascal. My nearly-two year old Dachsie has a bit of a distructive streak when we leave her for more than a few hours, so she's crated during those times, and BOY did she whimper and protest for the first few times, especially once she got booted out of our bed at night and crated by the "pup" (see below)! She still won't go in her crate very willingly, but she doesn't put up the vocal fuss that she used to.

Our 60 lb Rottweiler/GSD "pup" has ALWAYS been a tyrant and regretfully has spent a great deal of time in his crate because of it. When we tried gating him in the laundry room at 5 months he chewed through the sheetrock down to the wall's metal frame. When we tried crating him in there, he somehow managed to get the locked crate open and was sitting on top of the washing machine when we returned (he was nearly renamed "Houdini".) Our next step wasn't an x-pen, as he'd surely glide that around the house, but rather we got him a HUGE Midwest crate, and it's been a literal lifesaver for the 'little' guy.

We got Sebastian's crate from the R.C. Steele catalog, and with shipping costs was still less than what we could've paid for a smaller model at the local Petsmart. It's been almost a year now, and his cage is still in great shape, despite his mammoth teeth and vigorous chewing on the cage (gotta love 7 & 9 gague wire!) The removable, heavyweight plastic floor has been a Godsend as Sebastian has only recently stopped peeing/pooping in there... (happy sigh!) Also, his crate is foldable, so if we need to move it, it's not a lot bigger than a suitcase and has carrying handles.

Oh, I should clarify: my doggies are in large, WIRE crates... Perhaps if you had two crates, one BIG one (like Sebastian's) for when you're gone, and a smaller, more portable one you could bring Augie along into the garage (etc.) with you so he wouldn't feel quite so alone. I've also seen pups brought along in a human infant's portable play yard...that may also work for Augie.

As long as you're providing him with lots of love and companionship when you're around, lots of chances to run his little puppy legs off and plenty of safe chew toys, I wouldn't worry too much. He's still a baby and will whimper for all the attention he can get...and as long as you keep giving it to him, he knows it works :wink: I think he'll be fine...

--J/U http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/square.gif The Very-Long-Winded Today

[Meemoo]

WOuld you happen to know what model it is. I'm still searching for something like that. As of now he is in a little crate that just fits him and his food. Want to give him more freedom but I'm afraid he will move around in the x-pen and we have hardwood floors and am afraid the neighbors downstairs will complain. Any info. would be appreciated.

Thanks and gobble gobble

Loren

[bigotis]

David, I could never resist those eyes, either! Augie really is a great looking standard. Why do we have such a hard time leaving them? Why are we SO attached. It's just like when my boys were smaller--I worry every minute that I am away.

<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm19.gif" border=0>

Did you every read the post: Otis or Houdini? I failed at crate training so I gave Otis run of the laundry room. That would be his space. Well one day he met Kevin at the door and I hadn't forgotten to latch the door! He was only about four months old and he had jumped up on his crate, then onto a shelf, then out a window that leads into the family room, landed on a bunch of boxes (thank God) and made his great escape. I had to do some rearranging after that. And I thought I had been so careful to make sure he had all the comforts and was safe. He absolutely hated that room and gave me those eyes when he had to go in. I am a full time student so MON and WED are our long days where he is alone the most. And against all the great dachsie board advice, I let him stay on the couch now. I just make sure EVERY door is closed and there is nothing he can get into (a little scary now that the tree is up, but so far so good). He's been doing this about a month (he's 8 mos) and so far, no accidents. It does sound like Aug might make some mischief if you left him out. I guess I don't have any great advice, just to let you know how much I hate leaving my baby, too. I also think you are doing the right thing. You know Augie is safe and warm and comfortable. Of course he misses you, but I'm sure you two more that make up for it when you get home from work!

Otis's mommy, A.
<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm30.gif" border=0>

[Uschi]

Originally posted by meemoo:
WOuld you happen to know what model it is. I'm still searching for something like that. As of now he is in a little crate that just fits him and his food. Want to give him more freedom but I'm afraid he will move around in the x-pen and we have hardwood floors and am afraid the neighbors downstairs will complain. Any info. would be appreciated.

Thanks and gobble gobble

Loren

Loren,
Sorry for taking so long to get back. I've been having computer problems. (Yeah, o' yeah!)

The model we have for Sebastian is #510. It's 48L x 30W x 35H". Sebastian's a pretty long doggie and he's got room to stretch in there and chase his tail, so I'd image any Dachsie would do more than fine. Our Dachsie Ripley is in a smaller model, #502 (24Lx18Wx21H") though she only sleeps on a rug/under a blanket and is only there at nights or when we're gone. Midwest makes three sizes between our two crates, also. Depending on the size and finish you want, <a href="http://www.rcsteele.com">R.C. Steele</a> (1-800-872-3773) carries them from $46-$135. For the gold zinc one Sebastian uses, it ran us $115 + shipping. I'd visit their site or give them a call -- they've always been very courteous to me and answer even my silly questions at 3 a.m. :laugh:

Hope that helps!

--J http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/square.gif

[Uschi]

Oooh, one more thing I just noticed -- Just in time for the Holidays, R.C. Steele is offering <font color=green>$10 off</font> any order of $100-$149, and <font color=red>$25 off</font> orders of $150 or more. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wow.gif That'd sure take a bite out of the shipping costs! Offer's good til 12/15.

Time for ME to go shopping! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/walking.gif

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Uschi on November 30, 2000 at 07:05 PM</font>

[Meemoo]

Do you all have a top to your x-pens and do the dogs move the x-pen around while you are gone and when you come back is it half way across the room? Just trying to get an idea and concensus.

Thx
Loren