In need of some advice..

[lkellen]

Hello, all! I have an 11 month GSD who has always lived in an apartment (since I've had her at 6 weeks). Well, with my now ex-boyfriend's work schedule and mine being completely opposite, she was almost always able to be out of her kennel and able to run around. He moved out of our place last Wednesday and I am stuck on what to do as far as when I'm gone from the apartment. I have been trying having her kennel face the patio and letting her be able to go from the patio to her kennel so she can still run around a bit and be able to go back into her kennel if she would like.

Any one have any ideas/suggestions on living with a GSD in an apartment that you are gone for part of the day?

[hunterisgreat]

Just leave her in the kennel?

[lkellen]

I don't want her stuck in a kennel for 6+ hours is what I was saying..

[hunterisgreat]

Originally Posted by lkellen

I don't want her stuck in a kennel for 6+ hours is what I was saying..

6 hours isn't long. How about free roam then?

[jourdan]

Could someone you know and trust come by and walk her during the middle of the day? Or maybe there is a good doggy daycare near by?


Sent from Petguide.com Free App

[lkellen]

I work 7:45 AM to 615 PM. Sometimes I don't get a break, so that is why I left it at 6+ hours..

I can't do free roam because she is still too much of a puppy (i.e. I would probably come home to an apartment that is TORN apart) and we are having to re-do potty training. So, until she calms down a little and I can trust her not to be watched, she has to be kenneled or left outside. I don't want to ONLY kennel her or ONLY leave her outside- my patio is pretty big for an apartment (14'5" X 6'7") but I don't want to leave her out there all day. I was just seeing what other people in an apartment do that could make her happy instead of leaving her kenneled all day.

[lkellen]

Originally Posted by jourdan

Could someone you know and trust come by and walk her during the middle of the day? Or maybe there is a good doggy daycare near by?


Sent from Petguide.com Free App

I thought of that- and I hate to say it, but I just don't think I trust any of my friends with her that haven't handled her before. She's very stubborn and headstrong when it comes to walking her. I would love to find a doggy day care for her, unfortunately, with only one income now, I don't see that happening until I can save a bit of money for her!

[lkellen]

I have thought of hiring a "dog-walker" just don't know how expensive that could run either!

[martemchik]

Dog walker is just as expensive as day care...could you "dog proof" a room like a bathroom or a kitchen (hard floor preferred) and then put up a baby gate there? There's really no answer if you can't completely trust her yet, so I'd start testing her for a few hours at a time. Is the patio outside? Is it a balcony? I wouldn't really want my dog outside if I'm not monitoring.

[gaia_bear]

There's nothing wrong with crating her all day, Gaia was crated in my apt for 6-8hrs a day while I was at work. I changed my schedule and got up early to get a good walk in with some play time before work. A dog walker is good if you trust them in your house and with your dog.

I personally wouldn't leave her alone outside, there's too many things that can go wrong.