Puppy & Chicken Thread #497

[Texarkana]

@MunchingonHay yes, thank you.

And on that topic, how would the hive mind handle this situation:

I’m a teacher with just a few weeks left of school this year. Ideally, puppy would have waited until summer break, but it is what it is.

Both DH and I work outside the home, so the pup will be alone ~6-7 hours these last few weeks of May.

I’m debating how I want to keep her during the day. I don’t want to set her up for failure in her crate. A friend suggested keeping her in a circular play pen area with a pee pad while we are at work these first few weeks. But I’m also worried about confusing her. Debating trying to have a dog walker do drop in visits, but I’m not sure if I’ll find someone. Both DH and I work too far from our home to “drop in.”

This becomes a non-issue in the summer, and by the time I am back to school she should be old enough to have more bladder control or at least more options.

Thoughts?

[MunchingonHay]

That is a tough one.

If I were in your shoes. I would get a dog walker, neighbor kid, trusted person to let pup out for potty, a drink, lunch and then a potty break before going back into the crate midday. Puppies this age just sleep mostly anyway. I have loosely followed the Monks of New Skete’s timeline of; play, feed, drink, nap time, potty, etc and its always been successful with the 3 pups I have raised using that method.

Can the puppy’s “breeder” keep her for a few more weeks?

I am interested to hear what everyone else thinks too.

[Texarkana]

@MunchingonHay

Can the puppy’s “breeder” keep her for a few more weeks?

Unfortunately not. That would have been my first choice otherwise.

We’ll make it work somehow. Thankfully it’s not that many days due to some days off, my MIL staying with us, etc. But there will be a few unavoidable long days between now and summer break.

Up until this school year, I taught in a portable classroom and am pretty sure I could have brought pup to work without causing a ruckus. Not so much these days now that I am back in a proper building.

[MunchingonHay]

At least its only for a short amount of time and baby will mostly be sleeping anyway.

[Simkie]

I’d 100% have someone come and let her out a couple times a day. Don’t ever teach them to pee in the house on pads unless you want to continue that behavior.

If you wanna bring her up here until school is done, I’ll take her for a couple weeks!

[pony_baloney]

I third the Go Dog toys. They hold up to her tiny teeth. We have a dinosaur, dragon and pink…thing. You can find them in Marshalls/TJ Maxx.

You can clicker train without a clicker, just cluck like you would for a horse. My timing is quicker and it’s one less thing to hold in addition to a leash, bag of poop, treat.

[Texarkana]

@Simkie what a generous offer! Thank you!

I sent a couple messages via Rover trying to book someone. I’m a little nervous to just put it out there in a community; we’ve had some issues in local social media groups with theft from people masquerading as pet-sitters and house cleaners, etc.

Pretty much everyone I know is in the same boat as me: unavailable during the day.

Five days! I’m ridiculously excited.

[lenapesadie]

What a cute puppy!

My dog preferred pig ears and bully sticks for chewing. Antlers too.

My fav dog toy is a chuck it. Love being able to play fetch with out touching a spit covered ball with my hand.

Good luck with your new puppy! And the chicken!

[kaya842]

What a cutie my god! So FLOOFY!

For a good harness my hands down favorite is Ruffwear Flagline. It’s lightweight and doesn’t cover more of the dog than necessary (so not hot), has 3 straps so it’s “escape proof” (they can’t back out of it), the colors give added visibility to my black dog, multiple leash attachments (two on the back and one on the chest), a handle on the back which is handy for buckling into cars or grabbing doggo in bad situations, and the chest strap area is wider so more pressure dispersing vs the nylon strap harnesses. I’ve looked again even after purchasing (really wanted a hunter green for our new puppy, no dice) and can’t find anything that has the same functionality and features the Ruffwear does. It also handles getting wet by swimming dogs pretty well. I have a size small Flagline I can send to you for the cost to mail it? We bought it for our now 8? Month old Golden pup and got him a medium about a month ago. Only had about 1-1.5 month of use as we got him at about 6 months.

[MsM]

What I did when I had puppies and had to work was a combo crate-expen solution. I attached the ends of an ex pen to the corners of an open crate. That way puppy has an area away from the crate if they must go. I put a tarp under the pen and newspaper on that. Didnt encourage elimination, but prepared for it. I was fortunate that I could get home for lunch (I lived close but only had 25 minutes or less for lunch!) Even when I got home midday sometimes puppy couldnt wait in the early days. I prefer this to keeping the dog in the crate when it may have accidents. Want to keep the crate for sleeping.

[Texarkana]

@kaya842 That is so kind! Thank you. Sending a PM.

@MsM that is an interesting compromise I hadn’t considered! I might see what I can rig up.

I think I found someone to do drop in visits for the next couple weeks, fingers crossed!

[MunchingonHay]

That face!! and that little tippy white toes! So cute! I can’t wait until you get the puppy on Saturday and flood us with pictures.

[Texarkana]

Tomorrow is the day! Picked up a couple
Dollar Tree harnesses in S/M, a Chuck It, a couple more toys, and a hands-free leash.

Also, I candled the eggs again last night and it looks like 2 of the 4 are progressing nicely, not 1 like I initially thought. The third egg developed some, too, but has a blood ring. It had a slight crack in the shell on arrival that I taped up, so I’m not surprised. The fourth egg hasn’t developed at all and I’ll probably toss it in a few days.

[skydy]

Is your chicken happy to have the eggs?

[Texarkana]

Rainbow says “dis kid is mine.”

She did super well on the ride home. And finally quieted down for a nap. Oy vey I knew puppies were a lot of work but forgot that it was this much.

@skydy

Is your chicken happy to have the eggs?

I mean, she was perfectly determined to sit on nothing. Now at least she has something! She’s been very sweet. I hope she is a good mother.

[skydy]

They’re weird aren’t they?

I hope she is as good at taking care of somethings as she is of nothings.

ETA correction of post that made no sense.

[snowblaze]

I got a strip of clearance vinyl sheeting to put under the puppy jail. Well worth it!!

My puppy was litter-trained, which has been helpful, but those pellets get everywhere!

I have done full scale electrical cord removal and protection, and invested in bitter apple spray. Luckily Ember thinks the spray tastes disgusting.

[MunchingonHay]

Look at the size of Rainbow’s PUDDS!! She’s gonna be H U G E !!

@snowblaze That puppy condo is a nice set up!

[Texarkana]

That is an awesome set up @snowblaze! Are those big size under bed storage totes?

Rainbow is one tired puppy today! Finally taking some naps after barely sleeping yesterday/last night. She seems to be settling in to her new life well.

[snowblaze]

@Texarkana

Are those big size under bed storage totes?

Not originally, but I replaced one with the full length tote.

Your puppy is so furry!