Time alone

mebesa · New User Joined: 27 Apr 2008 Posts: 6 Location: Mexico

Hi, I am planning to get a doodle for my family. The thing is, there is someone at home most of the time during the week. But most weekends we go out for aprox. 5 hr. each day.
It is possible for a doodle to stay home and not become bored (destructive) for that amount of time?

Also where do you recommed we let her sleep?

Thank you so much... we want to know as much as possible before we get him/her Very Happy

hmz819 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:47 pm Post subject:

I think it would be fine to leave her for 5 hours. I would get a crate and put crate train until you know if your doodle is destructive or not. I had Maya sleep in her crate until she was potty trained and now she's claimed her side of the bed.
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MichelleB · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:57 pm Post subject:

I also use a crate, it seems to work out great for Brodie.
Brodie can not be left uncrated yet, he is a very curious boy who loves to
chew just about anything except his toys Rolling Eyes

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KingstonTodd · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:31 pm Post subject:

We usually crate our doods for 4-6 h every weekday. As long as they get attention and exercise first it should not be a problem. I am home all day for the last few weeks writing part of my doctorate and have kept the morning routine the same for the dogs. they sleep all day even with me here so i dont feel bad crating. You could always build an outdoor dog run for nice days and let the doodle have some outside time too.

lmtoth2 · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject:

If you get them in a schedule they'll be fine Smile

Dex has been alone 9 hrs a day (Mon to Fri) since he arrived. He adapted...now we have 2 and they are also fine. Our house is quite loud w/doodles running amok for a few hrs when we get home, but otherwise it's fine.

Just be prepared to give your doodle some extra exercise on those days Smile

Oh one more thing - if you get a young puppy, he/she will probably not be able to go 5 hrs w/o needing to pee until he/she is closer to 5-6 months old.
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MaxandMe · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject:

a crate is best as you know your doodle is safe and they usually sleep alot if you're gone.

once home bring your doodle out for a good run and once inside lots of hugs and small game of fetch
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blueteal · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:28 pm Post subject:

Definately a crate until they can be trusted to
roam free......................
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L's Mom · Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2008 Posts: 933 Location: GA

Ours are left in crates on some days for up to 8 hours. They do just fine, but we make sure to do plenty of excercise both in the morning and in the evening. Even when the days we are home with them, with a good hard work out in the morning, they sleep most of the day... but if you get a puppy, won't be able to stay without potty for so long...
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sdrudge · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 1:18 pm Post subject:

Ditto with everyone. A crate and a schedule will make it easy for you and them.
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A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.-Josh Billings

MaxandMe · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:14 pm Post subject:

lmtoth2 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:22 pm Post subject:

deepnite10 · Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:28 pm Post subject:

dgeggis · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

Remy is 9 weeks old and we leave him in his crate during the day.
He goes in at roughly 8am and gets let our for lunch at noon, back in at 1 and then out at 3:30 for play/potty and then back in until 6 pm.

The morning stretch has been a little long, evidenced by the wet spot in the crate but he's getting it.
He is also crated all night (10pm - 5am) and has been doing pretty well with that. W got up at 3am to do a potty run becaus ethe cats woke us all up. Evil or Very Mad

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Jac · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

Everyone has given you great advice and I echo what they have said.
Although I prefer that doodles are not left alone longer than 5 hours, maximum, at a time...especially routinely, I understand that sometimes that is a necessity. For those who do need to leave the doodle that long (as you read in these posts) it is critical that the dog be exercised and given a LOT of love and attention. These dogs are social and need company, love, playtime and socialization.
Doggie Daycare is an excellent option.
My concern is that you also mentioned in another post that you had a bad knee and may have trouble exercising a puppy...I might suggest that you get an older dog, one at least 2 years old, because they are more mellow (they still do the zoomies sometimes, but not like puppies).
I think that the combination of long crate time and little or no exercise is bad for a doodle. You may want to look into a different, less active, less socially dependent breed.
Here is a nice article regarding crating rules and potty training:
http://www.inch.com/~dogs/cratetraining.html
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