[DarthSimon]

Hey guys,
My wife and I are moving into a larger home... Been living in a 2 bedroom condo for 3 years... Always wanted a lab, but felt it would be cruel to him being the place was small....

New house has nice fenced in backyard... Lot's of running room....

Question is... Both of us work.... She works Monday thru Friday... I work Tuesday thru Saturday... Do we have time to train a new lab pup?? Can the puppy be alone in crate for 7 hours a few days a week before someone gets home???

Any help greatly appreciated...


Thanks,
Steve

 

[Tanya]

Do you have time to train? that really depends on YOU. Are you willing to put an hour a day aside to be with/work with the dog?

I work 8hrs a day. I dedicate 20-25 minutes to walking Rocky in the morning and we take a 45 minute run when I get back home. So he gets abit more than an hour a day of exercise (usually more, we do another 30 minutes walk alter in the evening).

For the first while I'd have to add training daily (instead of that last 30 minutes walk it was training) to that but now work on training every few days or so.

Note: A yard is great but you have to be out there with a dog for exercise (either walking, of playing fetch, or play dates with another dog) - the yard ITSELF is not exercise (very few dogs will run around alone).

A young puppy will not be able to hold it in for seven hours (rule of thumb is # months +1, so a two month old pup can, on average, hold it in for 3 hrs). The IDEAL scenario is to have someone go to let the dog outside once or twice a day (at first) if you cannot get home yourself. Otherwise, you have to leave enough room in the crate for the puppy to lay down AND to pee, and this will confuse house training (and cause delays).

 

[DarthSimon]

Actually,
My In-laws live 2 blocks away, and most likely would help and let him out... So that could work. I would spend at least an hour a day with the dog....

 

[Trickster]

Do we have time to train a new lab pup??

Depends. You can absolutely have a dog and work. If you are around all morning/evening and at weekends (or whenever your days off are), then yes. Just bear in mind that if the dog has been alone all day, it will want company during those times. That means no social/work/family commitments without making some kind of provisions for the dog.

Also, as Tanya mentioned, a puppy won't be able to hold it for 7 hours. You'll need someone to come in during the day to let the puppy out. Actually, could you take the pup to your in-laws during your working hours? that would be wonderful for the pup. Otherwise having them or someone else come in during the day to let him out for a break and play with him is fine.

 

[DarthSimon]

There would be 4 days a week we would both be working... Sat thru MOnday one of us is off... I kinda make my own schedule being I won my own store, so I can go in late... 11-12... So most dog would be alone would be 4 hours or so... But yes, I would have someone stop in first few months and let the dog out....

 

[Tanya]

definately sounds like you can make the trips home while the puppy is young for potty training, that's great

So it's just a matter of being honest with yourself (and only the two of you know the answers to this) about hwo much time you are willing to commit to the dog. For example, my brother and sister-in-law LOVE dogs and would love to have one, but do not have the lifestyle and commitment to make it work. So they make do with my Rocky who visits often Are you ok with having to come home every night after work and dedicating an hour to your dog? Waking up a little earlier so you can walk and feed them? (and even for those of us who make it work, there are days we just wish we didn't have to). Do you go out with friends or family often? If so, how would you work that around the dog?

It's abit harder for me, it's just me and Rocky. So I can't go out for drinks after work (luckily I live 10 mins from the office so sometimes I can come home, walk Rocky for 30 minutes then rush back to meet coworkers), that I'm up 30 minutes earlier in the morning to let him out, that when I work overtime I have to pay a doggy sitter. WHen I want to go out of town I need a dog sitter. At least you are two, that makes a difference.

 

[DarthSimon]

Between my wife and I, we would make the commitment. I would give time in the morning, as well as night... Afternoons on the work days we would work out the walks, or let outs.... Can't wait.. Looking for a Chocolate....

 

[imported_BigBrownDog]

Not that you asked , but you may want to check out the sticky post at the top of the LabChat board here concerning how to find a great breeder. Getting a responsibly bred puppy from a reputable breeder is critically important. Too many novices wind up with puppy mill or back yard bred dogs and you run a much greater risk of temperament or health issues from those sources.

 

[DarthSimon]

I was planning on local breeders, and staying away from pet stores.... Want a healthy dog...

 

[Baloo317]

I was planning on local breeders, and staying away from pet stores.... Want a healthy dog...

GREAT start, have a read of the post BBD mentioned, all breeders were NOT created equal, and unless you know what to look for it is SO easy to end up with a bad one.

Good luck!

 

[Tanya]

I was planning on local breeders, and staying away from pet stores.... Want a healthy dog...

GREAT start, have a read of the post BBD mentioned, all breeders were NOT created equal, and unless you know what to look for it is SO easy to end up with a bad one.

Good luck!

I agree!
Make sure both parents have certified hips and elbows and have checked eyes and heart (this isn't done by a regular vet visit). Also, it's recommended to go with a breeder who is active with their dogs in something (if not conformation, agility, hunting/field, obedience, rally...). There are ALOT of dogs out there being put to sleep every day. Even if people are very well meaning when they breed their pet (not for money but because their dog is just such a great pet), they increase the pet population needless unless they prove their dog is a step above the rest. They often don't realize all that is invovled in raising a litter either (some important socializing might be missed).

 

[imported_Belles mom]

Have you considered a rescued older dog?

 

[DarthSimon]

I would actually would... I live in Central New Jersey... But I do want a pure bread lab... Where should I start looking??

 

[Baloo317]

Hmm...

How 'bout this girl?
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12842954

Or this super handsome young man?
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12762295

Or this cute choco girlie named "Donut" (who looks like shes eaten a few too many of them... but that's fixable!)
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12738690

Or cute choco boy (they say he's a mix but I see all lab)
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=11844039

Sure you don't want a doodle...?
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12853721

Can you tell I'm a *wee* bit partial to black boys...?
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12854957

CUTE smile on this dude!
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12136283

Everybody say it with me: "Awwwwww!!!"
http://www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=12816560


Sorry.... sometimes I get a little carried away.... :embarrass:

 

[blackandyellow]

I know the weather right now is very crappy but if your yard is fully fenced and the dog can´t dig his way out or jump the fence, why not provide adequate shelter (a doggy door to access a room of the house) and let him roam free instead of crating?

I leave mine like that. My garage is fenced, I lock the garage door carefully (it´s not a covered garage) but let them access to a service room that has shelter from rain and is warm. Since I have two dogs, they do play on their own and have space to run.

Labs will tolerate being left alone as long as you do provide them with company, play time and let them be part of your life when you are home (and take them with you whenever possible). Mine are always with me inside the house whenever I´m home, I only leave them out when I´m not at home. They don´t seem affected but of course you will always find the destruction of something here and there, no matter how many appropriate toys you leave

 

[Baloo317]

I know the weather right now is very crappy but if your yard is fully fenced and the dog can´t dig his way out or jump the fence, why not provide adequate shelter (a doggy door to access a room of the house) and let him roam free instead of crating?

I'm not sure about your area, but in North America there are lots of folks who will steal dogs that are left alone in yards, or throw them harmful stuff to play with/eat (sometimes trying to be nice, sometimes not so much). There are some sick people out there. :no:

 

[imported_BigBrownDog]

I know the weather right now is very crappy but if your yard is fully fenced and the dog can´t dig his way out or jump the fence, why not provide adequate shelter (a doggy door to access a room of the house) and let him roam free instead of crating?

I'm not sure about your area, but in North America there are lots of folks who will steal dogs that are left alone in yards, or throw them harmful stuff to play with/eat (sometimes trying to be nice, sometimes not so much). There are some sick people out there. :no:

Yes, and given how close together most houses are in NJ (where I live) his neighbors will hate his guts if he leaves his dog outside all day barking. Many communities have laws that will fine a person whose dog barks for 20 minutes or more. No kidding!

 

[blackandyellow]

I forgot fences are not high in most houses in the US. Fortunately I don´t have that problem, I have a brick wall that is 4mts tall and the garage door is all wood, so nobody can see the dogs, and they can´t get into trouble.

Barking can be an issue, but isn´t it the same if they are crated? I would actually think they bark more because they get bored inside the box

 

[imported_BigBrownDog]

I forgot fences are not high in most houses in the US. Fortunately I don´t have that problem, I have a brick wall that is 4mts tall and the garage door is all wood, so nobody can see the dogs, and they can´t get into trouble.

Barking can be an issue, but isn´t it the same if they are crated? I would actually think they bark more because they get bored inside the box

In my experience they sleep inside the box. Outside they bark at what they see (birds, squirrels, passersby) or hear (the UPS truck, the mailman's truck, the dog going down the sidewalk, the birds, kids shouting, other dogs barking, people talking). Unless you are in a rural situation you have to be really conscious of the impact your dog has on your neighbors.

 

[robbiesmom]

i think a great way to get a great dog is word of mouth. maybe find a dog park, if you see a lab ask the owner where he got him. or any where you see a lab. we got robbie that way, my friend owns his aunt, so no hip problems known and a great temperament. i met the mom and the dad. he is a special guy. good luck. it's good someone can come in during the day, they are just babies and need lots of love.