Talk about puppy dog eyes..,

[sasasola]

I'm very happy that hubby found a new job and I like that it's a regular "9-5" job as opposed to shift work. The downside you ask? Duke is now home alone from 7:30 am to possibly 5 pm every day. We have a girl come let him out around noon for a potty break and short walk but he's not been home alone in a crate for so long... He's especially confused since we were all off for 2 weeks over Christmas. So now this is the look I get when I put him in his crate and leave him in the morning:
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[Bosley'sMom]

OH! Lord, how do you resist that??!?!? Looks like he's been taking notes from Bosley... lol

Those eyes get me every time!

[af_wx_wife]

Awww...poor Duke. If I was closer we could do doggie playdays.

[sasasola]

I'm telling you, I have to put him in there and walk away or I want to cry! And yesterday he was acting like he was mad at us too (maybe it was my imagination... lol). I feel bad but I know leaving him in the crate is the best thing and the safest option for him. At least I know he's not gonig to chew through some wires and get electrocuted or eat something he's not supposed to (like our couch! lol).

[RowdysMom]

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't like crates. If you think he'll get into trouble, could you put up a babygate in the kitchen, or just let him be in a spare room with a radio for companionship?

When training my pups to behave while I'm gone, I put everything that could get them into trouble (hide wires), put TV remotes, shoes, anything that could hurt them (or be wrecked), up and out of reach. I put a big cuddly cushion on the bow window. I turned on the radio with low volume. Then I'd leave for just a few minutes. They were fine. Next day I'd leave a little longer. Fine.
Now I can leave them a couple hours at a time. But I make sure they go potty right before I leave. If I had to leave for several hours, I would arrange to have a petsitter come to let them out to go potty. (Mine are used to going out every couple hours).
When I pull into the driveway, I can see them sleeping on their window cushion.

[sasasola]

He's 7 months old so not really a baby anymore. He can reach the table top with no effort and pretty much everything else just by standing (including the kitchen counter). I'm quite sure he would be able to climb/jump/knock over a baby gate at this point. And if he chewed up our leather couches I think that hubby would literally have a heart attack (he picked them out).

We do have someone coming to let him out to potty and give him a walk around noon. The same girl picks my kids up from school (at 3 pm) and then either picks up Duke and takes him outside while the kids play (our townhouse complex has a private park) or she will bring the kids back to our house until we get home.

So really, it's not so bad and I'm 100% sure he is safer in the crate than anywhere else in the house. Until we can trust him, that's where he will stay.

[Mom2Titan]

man his expression says it all, doesn't it? You are completely right in crating him until he is absolutely trustworthy. You are his Momma and you know him best! I have my elderly Mother living with us and she lets my boys out throughout the day. Even then I keep my boys confined to the kitchen during the work week, it is a big kitchen which also has two large crates for them. this works for mother and the boys arejust fine. You have an awesome situation with your 'sitter' who watches your children and keeps Mr Duke happy too. And this is what gives you peace of mind knowing he is safe and not crated the whole day!

[winnie]

I'm okay with crates and crate trained all our dogs. That being said, at one year I want them to be able to have free roam of the house and put the crate away. I think Duke is a little young yet. Porter has been outside his crate for 5 months now. Unbelievably he has only had 2 incidents (two throw pillows). I close all the bedroom doors and pick up most of the tempting things off of reachable areas. When the tree was up we had to use a broken baby gate, but luckily for us he is terrified of the gate for some reason. All we have to do is prop it up and he won't go near it. My husband forgot to baby gate off the room with the Christmas tree before he left for work. To my utter amazement...he didn't touch a single thing. I would put some peanut butter in a kong and freeze to keep him busy while your gone. Don't worry, he'll be fine.

[sasasola]

I still feel kind of guilty... lol But I do know it's the best thing for him right now. And I am blessed to have neighbours that are able to help me. They love him as much as we do!

We will be testing him soon and leaving him uncrated alone for a few minutes at a time while we're home. I'm hoping to have him out of the crate by age 1 as well!

[winnie]

...he'll be fine and safe in his little crate. I think he is too young not to get in trouble on his own. Just my 2 cents.