how would ya'll handle this...re: puppy post

[gator]

welp as some know, i'm gettting a new puppy in the coming weeks....now, i want to do this as "right" as i can, and as such, i'd like to know how ya'll handle issues like this.

i work a 7on/7off schedule at UMC as a pharmacist...the "on" days are 12 hrs during the week, and 10's on sat/sun....

b/c of this schedule, i'm a bit concerned about the first several weeks while the pup is being house "broke" and stuff...

here's some ways i've thought to combat this issue:

1) and right now, this is what i'm leaning too. there's a "pay" lot that is fairly close to the main hospital, but it opens after 6 (meaning the toll person leaves), so i could put pup in puppy crate, place crate in dog box, and lock box....visit every 3-4 hrs for "pottie" breaks and to let stretch legs.....MAJOR problem will be when someone (read tree-hugger) walks by and here's the lil dude wimpering -- which he will, i'm sure.

thing is, the nurses on my floor and other pharmacist i trust have said they would help keep watch when taking their "breaks", and w/ me visiting every few hours, it just seems like the best deal.....this way, it's ME letting him out to pee and poop, and he sees me as the one he needs to trust (yeah, sounds hokie, but that's how i like to do it)....

granted, it's UMC, but i don't see theft as a major concern.....the lot i'm thinking of is "gated" w/ someone there until 6 pm (i think) and this damn deerskin would take some NOISE to crack open....lot is in plain view too.

as a plus, if i start teaching for the pharmacy school (which that seems a real possibility right now), i would be parking even closer....

2) a bud i train w/ at times girlfriend said she could come by the house after work and let the pup out, but this would be around 3-4 maybe 5 each day......just too long to let pup stay in crate....nice gesture, but i dunno.....what would i do the day she can't?

3) i have a nice overhang on my back patio. i could put a kennel (as seen on tractor supply commercials) under it....it's on concrete and i could put the box in there.........thing is, those things are big, so he could poop/pee on one end and sleep on the other.....nothign learned.

welp, that's what i have.......i like option one, but there's also some downside to it too...

any other thoughts??? i know i'm not the only one that works, and i'd like to know what ya'll would do in my position.........man, as excited as i am, i'm nervous about screwing this lil dude up from jump......

gator

[H20K9]

gator -

With the pup I have, which just turned a year old, I am sort of in the same position, except I don't have 7 "off" I laid a pad of concrete in my backyard (11'x11') and put a 10x10 kennel on it and put a cover on it. Pup did fine in the kennel, never chit in there but maybe once or twice. I don't think your pup will really get anything out of riding in your deerskin to work every day unless you have an opportunity to take it to a park somewhere at least once a day. Being in a pen, at least to me, is part of their socialization and this will go a long way towards making him a "good K9 citizen". More than likely he will bark for the first 10-15 minutes after you put him in there, then he will just kick back and play/nap while you are gone.

[dukdawgn]

send 'em to a pro....... hahahaha, sorry, couldn't resist.

[gator]

send 'em to a pro....... hahahaha, sorry, couldn't resist.

dukdawgn, piss off

bama9, preciate ya....already got the overhang (it's a goodun) and the concreate....i spose i could go that route......thing is see, i ain't never been in this position. when i got gauge, i was in pharmacy school and he was just part of my deal.....everywhere i was, he was......kinda weird about leaving the lil dude alone for 12 hrs, but i guess that'll just be part of MY growing process.....

gator

[duckkiller]

it will help the 2 of you in the long run

[bigbeeducker]

I think id go with the leaving him in the deerskin option. That thing looks invincible to me, and if you are sure that noone will mess with him then that is what id do. You know that you will have to sneak out there occasionally cuz you wont be able to stand it. Just my 2 cents

[B3]

The thing that would worry me about the deerskin is he would not be able to see anything. He would be totally isolated from his surroundings except when let out. In a crate he can watch whats going on around him.

[kaustin]

Gator, I went to school at UMC. Just take him in with you and say it is a research project. Give him a sugar pill once a day and keep a ledger showing the placebo drug had no affect. Tell the administration you are trying to get a grant and they won't be able to see past the $$$$$ in their eyes. I saw a lot of crazy research going on down there. It's worth a try.

[Troy Williams]

welp as some know, i'm gettting a new puppy in the coming weeks....now, i want to do this as "right" as i can, and as such, i'd like to know how ya'll handle issues like this.

3) i have a nice overhang on my back patio. i could put a kennel (as seen on tractor supply commercials) under it....it's on concrete and i could put the box in there.........thing is, those things are big, so he could poop/pee on one end and sleep on the other.....nothign learned.

gator

I like #3 with a kennel crate inside the kennel but left open. He can rest sleep, eat in the kennel. go to end of concrete to pee/poop. Ithink you will find that he is cleaner than you think. HOPEFULLY. Nothing I can't stand more than a nasty dog...They just aren't enjoyable.

My new one will stay in the kennel run (5x10) out back with Cody during the day...He doesn't pee or poop in there unless he has to. If I am late or whatever he will pee....He hasn't pooped in there yet. He holds it. Man was I proud to come home that first day of his outside kennel stay and once let out he ran for the yard and did his business. It's also all about timing...Feed and water, train, play and crate time as close to a regular schedule as you can get and you will be surprised....Also, PLAN ON A LOT LESS SLEEP!

As you know I struggled with this problem same as you but have been pleasantly surprised. THANKS GOODNESS!!!

I would try to do like me with one thing however....That first 5-7 days I would do something extra to spend as much time with him as possible(trying to make that bond).....He may be nervous about his new surroundings....Leaving his littermates and going to strange new places can be somewhat stressful...Depends on the dog.

[Got Chocolate?]

i like kaustins idea.

[Troy Williams]

welp as some know, i'm gettting a new puppy in the coming weeks....now, i want to do this as "right" as i can, and as such, i'd like to know how ya'll handle issues like this.

3) i have a nice overhang on my back patio. i could put a kennel (as seen on tractor supply commercials) under it....it's on concrete and i could put the box in there.........thing is, those things are big, so he could poop/pee on one end and sleep on the other.....nothign learned.

gator

I like #3 with a kennel crate inside the kennel but left open. He can rest sleep, eat in the kennel. go to end of concrete to pee/poop. Ithink you will find that he is cleaner than you think. HOPEFULLY. Nothing I can't stand more than a nasty dog...They just aren't enjoyable.

My new one will stay in the kennel run (5x10) out back with Cody during the day...He doesn't pee or poop in there unless he has to. If I am late or whatever he will pee....He hasn't pooped in there yet. He holds it. Man was I proud to come home that first day of his outside kennel stay and once let out he ran for the yard and did his business. It's also all about timing...Feed and water, train, play and crate time as close to a regular schedule as you can get and you will be surprised....Also, PLAN ON A LOT LESS SLEEP!

As you know I struggled with this problem same as you but have been pleasantly surprised. THANKS GOODNESS!!!

I would try to do like me with one thing however....That first 5-7 days I would do something extra to spend as much time with him as possible(trying to make that bond).....He may be nervous about his new surroundings....Leaving his littermates and going to strange new places can be somewhat stressful...Depends on the dog.

To clarify....
Kennel crate inside kennel run under overhang...Leave the kennel CRATE open....

[skuna]

Could you put half of the run on the grass/dirt and other on the concrete?

You would have to put wire down so he could not dig under, but this way he would learn to go on the grass instead of kennel floor (concrete). This aid in house training. I would also have a crate inside for him to lay in.

[lilwhitelie]

I wouldn't trust that big of an investment in the parking lot of UMC!!!!!!! I don't care who is watching!! There have been too many breakins with "guards" watching etc!!! Do you really wanna worry EVERYDAY while at work what is going on outside and who is F-ing with you s$@!!!! Let gauge baby sit em!!! I believe it best to leave him at the house!! You can use cheap wooden fence boards to fence in you patio so he at least can stretch his legs and put some hay in there so its easy to clean up his business!!!! I did that when I had a litter of pups!! Gets messy with 11 of em but should be easy with just one and as he grows just add a board to make it higher so he can't escape and guage can come and go as he pleases!!!

[Doc & Nash]

Gator,

If it is a possibility I would move the kennel to where it is half way off the concrete. The little guy will not crap on the conc. he will instintively go in the grass. This is a round of about way to house break him.

[Chuckle12]

The thing that would worry me about the deerskin is he would not be able to see anything. He would be totally isolated from his surroundings except when let out. In a crate he can watch whats going on around him.

That's exactly what I was thinking. The Deerskin is nice for a big dog that undertands it, but I'm not sure that the pup would see it as being a good thing. At least he would be able to walk around and "explore" while he is in a 10x10. A dark metal box with all kinds of unfamiliar noises going on would be no fun for a young pup and may create more problems than it helps.