u/IntelligentSkin5353

I’ve really only seen a puppy crate trained once, usually the puppy was always left in a puppy proof room.

I just got a puppy (12 weeks mixed breed, he is sweet, calm and very smart).

Anyways, I’m finding it really hard to see him in the crate - it’s not really what I want to do, but I know it’s for his safety while he is young, while I’m at work and it has some benefits for him in case of the vets/travel/boarding etc. (it’s also more like a medium sized cage).

I’d only like him in there until he can be trusted in a larger puppy proof room - what age do you think will be appropriate?

I also only need him in there during the day, then he can sleep in my bed/on the sofa at night when I’m home, is that confusing or will day crate training be okay?

I have been training him on alone time but of course he is just a little scared pup, he can manage for a small amount of time (like minutes I think) but I made a few mistakes early this week with both the crate and alone time, so I’ve been careful not to push him again.

When he first came home I fed all meals in the crate lots of treats and he never really had a fear of it. Once I closed the door it was a different story he started to panic clawing at the gates etc. but I quickly took him out. I then abandoned the crate for a few days.

I’ve just moved the crate into the room we have been hanging out in all week and he will go in there, he sulks a little but won’t fully relax or sleep. he still puts his paws through the wire and keeps giving me the side eye. I don’t think he likes it either. but what’s a girl to do?

I thought about a gate but he figured out how to climb it and jump over it. any advice, words of comfort or support would be appreciated!

edit:
I’ll be going back to work soon - I’ll be gone about 28 hours a week which includes travel time. Next week, I’ll have friends with him for all the hours I’m out, but in two weeks, he’ll have to manage in the crate mostly by himself. There will be no full time pet sitters but neighbors and friends popping in and out to check on him/potty break/play every two/three hours or so.

I’ve been wanting and thinking about getting a dog for a while. Suddenly, the day has come for me to pick up lil pupper and I’m having massive cold feet! I’ll post a little underneath about my lifestyle/plans etc. I wonder if you would be able to give me some advice/wisdom that I may not have thought about.

Single, live alone in my mid-thirties in another country in the countryside I work with travel time around 30 hours a week. (Although this is reduced from September - December) There’s two days I’m gone for about 6.5 hours at a time and I have already organized someone to check in on puppy half way through the day.

Sometimes, I have to work away for a week or so, most likely I can find a trusted friend/neighbour to house sit or watch the dog. But my first choice (while he is a puppy/teenager) is to take him to a kennel at a training center. (The training center I’ll be getting lessons from…because I do want to raise a good boy).

I read a lot about how much of a commitment a dog is and how disruptive it is to daily life, but some years ago now I got diagnosed with a longterm illness which pretty much killed all spontaneity in my life.

I have a pretty set routine, take myself for walks, don’t go out partying late etc. and I think having buddy to walk with will be so nice. (my illness responds really well to exercise, I used to be really active so I am hoping the dog will help motivate me to get back out there more consistently).

my long term plans are to make art, which requires me to be at home, and further study the language of the country I live in. things that require me to be at home, so I’m hoping in a couple of years I’ll have a little buddy to hang out with.

I live in a pretty dog friendly place, bars and things that welcome puppy. I also live in a surfing area, with lots of mountains and river and things to go to. I wonder if getting a dog will be a good addition to my life or not?

I think my main reason for wanting a dog is companionship. I know I perhaps should consider an older dog. but, I really love the momma dog of this pup and her temperament and the dad dogs temperament is also pretty chilled. it’s a mutt, I didn’t get to pick my puppy it was chosen for me by my friend. it feels like he is already a member of the family. so, I’m a little bit nervous in case I can’t give him the good life he deserves.

any thoughts, advice or words of wisdom would be appreciate.

After you were diagnosed, how long did it take you to get a handle back on your life?

I feel like the illness leading up to diagnosis, being diagnosed, medication starting to work, trying to adapt every aspect of my life to assist my recovery, readjusting my life expectations has taken ages.

I feel like I briefly get a handle on things then boom a flare and I’m sick for a month or however long it takes to get back to functioning. By then life has piled up and it’s like I take two steps forward and three steps back.