My puppies day??? help?

AngusMcGee · 11-29-2011, 10:10 PM

Hi I am just looking for advice on a couple things regarding my 14 week old pup Angus.

My wife and I wanted a puppy when we moved into our house in October and I wanted to wait until spring because I will be finished with school and I will have more time for the little fella. I worry Angus is not getting the right amount of exercise and time spent with him. Here is his typical day during the week.

Wife gets up around 5am and takes him out to go potty and a little play time (maybe 10 minutes so maybe 1/2 hour of freedom for angus thus far)
She goes to work and leaves him in his crate while I get up around 6:30 and get ready for work.
I let him out of the kennel around 7 and let him eat and drink a bit then take him outside to play and run for 1/2 an hour or I take a quick 1/2 hour walk with him.
Back inside we go to try and eat and drink a bit plus more time playing until about 8 when I have to leave for work.
Angus goes back to his crate until about 1pm when I come home for lunch so I play take him out for about 20 minutes then I have to go back to work.
We have a 10x15 entryway that is gated full of toys that I leave him in until my wife gets home around 3.
from 3-5:30 wife plays with him a little and takes him on anywhere from a 1.5 to 2.5 mile walk.
I get home around 5:30 so he goes back to his entry way for a nap while we eat.
after dinner I try to let him stay out and about (in the house) as much as possible to play/train and be a puppy but he usually needs a nap.
My wife goes to bed around 9 and I have homework so he gets put back in our entryway (sometimes I take him out in the yard to play/run for 1/2 an hour before 9pm)
I take him out to potty around 10 then back to his crate and then I work on homework until about 11-12 and we start over.

Is this enough time spent with him and exercising? I had 5 GSD in my life out in the country but all our dogs had 5 acres of yard to run around in, two parents and 3 kids to watchover and play with them so it is hard for me to see if I am providing young Angus with a quality life. He is a happy puppy but I hate seeing him confined to such small areas and I will not leave him outside unattended for many months. Any thoughts or advise we would be welcome as I almost feel like he deserves a better home.

cindy_s · 11-29-2011, 10:22 PM

I think you are doing fine. How's the house breaking going. Is he OK in the entryway? The only thing I could add is doing a few short training/focus sessions during one or two of his breaks during the day before play time. And don't forget getting him out in the world to see new sights and sounds when you guys have days off. That was one thing I always made a priority when the dogs were young. I would try to get them out in the car and go somewhere-anywhere several times a week. Even if it was just a short trip.
You have rearranged your lives. You are very concerned with his quality of life. You're great puppy parents. Angus will be fine.

Kaity · 11-29-2011, 10:52 PM

You guys sound like awesome fur parents!! He isn't ever left alone for a long amount of time.. that's great! I don't remember if I read it in there or not but I wouldn't give him water some time before or after eating or let him romp around due to the fear of bloat (unless he's on raw then theres apparently a lesser chance) Jeez though.. I wish I could have put in that much time with Vida when I first got her!

Good luck!

AngusMcGee · 11-29-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cindy_s

I think you are doing fine. How's the house breaking going. Is he OK in the entryway? The only thing I could add is doing a few short training/focus sessions during one or two of his breaks during the day before play time. And don't forget getting him out in the world to see new sights and sounds when you guys have days off. That was one thing I always made a priority when the dogs were young. I would try to get them out in the car and go somewhere-anywhere several times a week. Even if it was just a short trip.
You have rearranged your lives. You are very concerned with his quality of life. You're great puppy parents. Angus will be fine.

Angus is good for the most part on his housebreaking I think he has had 2 accidents in the house on the carpet in the last 3 weeks but I try to be very watchful. He did not like the entryway at first but I started off just easing him into it for short periods to get him used to not being around us even when were home. Now he will just chew and play with his ball with the occasional whimper, he even goes into his crate on his own to sleep.
I did fail to mention I try 10-15 min training sessions maybe 3 times a night myself and my wife does the same. Angus gets a variety of social interaction 2-3 time a week away from our home so he does get out and about albeit mainly on the weekend. We are trying very hard and I have done this several times before so I know the work and benefit thereof but my wife needs to be reminded constantly.

cindy_s · 11-29-2011, 11:26 PM

I wanted to add... Don't stress it. Have fun with him. Once he grows up, with all you are doing, he'll be fantastic!

zackgsd · 11-29-2011, 11:36 PM

Sounds good to me, I feel the same way sometimes during the work week so when I get free time we do as much as possible together, I wouldnt beat yourself up over it.

katieliz · 11-29-2011, 11:45 PM

you are doing a WONDERFUL job with your puppy. i wish i could bottle your puppy parenting skills and pass them out to SO MANY people whose puppies would benefit!!! keep up the good work!!!

shaner · 12-01-2011, 01:21 PM

Just make sure to take him out as much as possible to see new things, meet new people and meet new dogs. Even just the petstore is good for socialization. Kids soccer or football games are good places for him to go. The more new people and dogs he meets, the better, but don't overwhelm him. Your puppy will let you know when it's too much, just make sure to pick up the signs.

11-29-2011, 10:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
AngusMcGee New Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: MinneSNOWta Posts: 21	My puppies day??? help? Hi I am just looking for advice on a couple things regarding my 14 week old pup Angus. My wife and I wanted a puppy when we moved into our house in October and I wanted to wait until spring because I will be finished with school and I will have more time for the little fella. I worry Angus is not getting the right amount of exercise and time spent with him. Here is his typical day during the week. Wife gets up around 5am and takes him out to go potty and a little play time (maybe 10 minutes so maybe 1/2 hour of freedom for angus thus far) She goes to work and leaves him in his crate while I get up around 6:30 and get ready for work. I let him out of the kennel around 7 and let him eat and drink a bit then take him outside to play and run for 1/2 an hour or I take a quick 1/2 hour walk with him. Back inside we go to try and eat and drink a bit plus more time playing until about 8 when I have to leave for work. Angus goes back to his crate until about 1pm when I come home for lunch so I play take him out for about 20 minutes then I have to go back to work. We have a 10x15 entryway that is gated full of toys that I leave him in until my wife gets home around 3. from 3-5:30 wife plays with him a little and takes him on anywhere from a 1.5 to 2.5 mile walk. I get home around 5:30 so he goes back to his entry way for a nap while we eat. after dinner I try to let him stay out and about (in the house) as much as possible to play/train and be a puppy but he usually needs a nap. My wife goes to bed around 9 and I have homework so he gets put back in our entryway (sometimes I take him out in the yard to play/run for 1/2 an hour before 9pm) I take him out to potty around 10 then back to his crate and then I work on homework until about 11-12 and we start over. Is this enough time spent with him and exercising? I had 5 GSD in my life out in the country but all our dogs had 5 acres of yard to run around in, two parents and 3 kids to watchover and play with them so it is hard for me to see if I am providing young Angus with a quality life. He is a happy puppy but I hate seeing him confined to such small areas and I will not leave him outside unattended for many months. Any thoughts or advise we would be welcome as I almost feel like he deserves a better home. __________________ Angus 8/26/11

11-29-2011, 10:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
cindy_s Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: DE Posts: 462	I think you are doing fine. How's the house breaking going. Is he OK in the entryway? The only thing I could add is doing a few short training/focus sessions during one or two of his breaks during the day before play time. And don't forget getting him out in the world to see new sights and sounds when you guys have days off. That was one thing I always made a priority when the dogs were young. I would try to get them out in the car and go somewhere-anywhere several times a week. Even if it was just a short trip. You have rearranged your lives. You are very concerned with his quality of life. You're great puppy parents. Angus will be fine. __________________ Cinzar's Dark Shadow Too (Ruger) CGC, RN 1/8/05 Quinn Z Old Farm (Cues) IPO 1, AD 6/7/09

11-29-2011, 10:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kaity Master Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Surrey, BC Posts: 951	You guys sound like awesome fur parents!! He isn't ever left alone for a long amount of time.. that's great! I don't remember if I read it in there or not but I wouldn't give him water some time before or after eating or let him romp around due to the fear of bloat (unless he's on raw then theres apparently a lesser chance) Jeez though.. I wish I could have put in that much time with Vida when I first got her! Good luck! __________________ Kaity Vida

11-29-2011, 11:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
cindy_s Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: DE Posts: 462	I wanted to add... Don't stress it. Have fun with him. Once he grows up, with all you are doing, he'll be fantastic! __________________ Cinzar's Dark Shadow Too (Ruger) CGC, RN 1/8/05 Quinn Z Old Farm (Cues) IPO 1, AD 6/7/09 Last edited by cindy_s; 11-29-2011 at 11:29 PM.

11-29-2011, 11:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
katieliz Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: york township, mi Posts: 6,323	you are doing a WONDERFUL job with your puppy. i wish i could bottle your puppy parenting skills and pass them out to SO MANY people whose puppies would benefit!!! keep up the good work!!! __________________ mom to seraphina blue & the cashman miss jeni-take-a-ride, rescued 7/07 shangri la's great white caesar, rescued 4/09 hearthside's cinderfella (RIP 4/20/09) shep von bellefontaine (RIP 6/9/10) voodoo lily (dsh) & cricket (african grey)

11-29-2011, 11:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
zackgsd Junior Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Kentucky Posts: 41	Sounds good to me, I feel the same way sometimes during the work week so when I get free time we do as much as possible together, I wouldnt beat yourself up over it.

12-01-2011, 01:21 PM	#8 (permalink)
shaner Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 393	Just make sure to take him out as much as possible to see new things, meet new people and meet new dogs. Even just the petstore is good for socialization. Kids soccer or football games are good places for him to go. The more new people and dogs he meets, the better, but don't overwhelm him. Your puppy will let you know when it's too much, just make sure to pick up the signs.

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