Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Snickmom on January 14, 2013 at 4:45pm

Dogs, especially puppies sleep a lot. Plan on having the little tyke confined so they can't hurt themselves and destroy your house. An X-pen would be a great investment. You can do some research on this site by using the search box at the top right to find other discussions about leaving a puppy alone. A doggie day care once a week may be a good choice if you have one near you, that will help with socialization, too.  You can also hire a dog walker or local kid to spend an hour a day with the little sweetie. My dogs have a dog door and a safe dog run area, but they aren't puppies. I would not plan on making that available without your supervision until they are 6 months old or so.  P.S. I would not have known you were not a native speaker!

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Permalink Reply by Bebe on January 15, 2013 at 12:34pm

I actually tried, but I will dig a bit deeper today, maybe I find more :) 
And... what is an X-Pen? 

Daycare is no real option since the one we have won't take puppies or dogs which can't do basic obedience/ are potty clean. So I hope to get to know a responsible person by that time to get him walked. Till then I gotta ask my family (who wont live in the same village so it's really just a shorter timed thing)

Thanks for your answer :)

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Permalink Reply by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on January 14, 2013 at 7:52pm

I also wanted to mention that daycare shouldn't be considered until your little pup has had all his/her core shots and they have taken effect (plus a few optional ones for kennel cough and whatnot). This may vary with your vet/daycare, but I wouldn't start until 4-6 months. Ask your vet before you leave your little one at daycare. Until then, you'll have to have someone come over to walk your pup when you can't be there. Their age in months + 1 = hours without accidents is a good reference point. You can also use potty pads or something to get started, but I haven't had experience with them.

As far as training them to be alone, you can work on 1) crate training and 2) longer periods in their crate when you are gone. Start with short periods of time, stay positive and include play and treats. I also suggest a puppy class that fits your schedule to help begin the socialization before your pup can go to daycare. 

I also wouldn't have known you aren't a native speaker unless you mentioned it.

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Permalink Reply by Bebe on January 15, 2013 at 12:42pm

First of all thanks for the time thing. That would have been the next thing I'd have asked since my puppy book does not say how long a puppy can stay without accidents. Like this I can at least plan a little! 

Could you advice me what would be a nice size for a crate for a Corgi?

And I am already looking for a puppy class that has good ratings, since there are actually a few here. And since I just have experience with bigger and older dogs (Berner Sennen, Irish Setter) I am sure I can learn a few more tricks there. Is there anythings I should be careful about while choosing a puppy class?

Thanks for your answer ;)

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Permalink Reply by Marcie on January 15, 2013 at 1:08pm

I would ask to watch a class from each trainer before you decide. Positive methods are always better. I audited a class when I changed to a closer trainer. It really gave me insight on how she was with the dogs and people.

With the crate I would look for one that can be divided. That way you will only have to but one instead of multiple as the puppy grows. I have two crates, the car one is 30 inches long, the house one is 40 inches. The house crate is larger than I need, but she has room to sprawl out.

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Permalink Reply by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on January 15, 2013 at 9:22pm

I agree with Marcie. There was only puppy class in town. So, we went with it and lucked out. We had positive method training, some puppy/puppy play and she was handled, asked to sit,etc by everyone else in class too.

We have three crates for Kaylee (car, kitchen/daytime and bedroom). The car one is a bit small for her but was perfect for her everyday crate as a puppy. It's whatever was suggested for corgis in Petsmart. Her daytime crate is 30" Midwest Life Stages (with a divider). The 30" is still good for Kaylee, but she's a Cardi who is likely to end up being only 25lbs. Her bedtime crate is 36" soft sided crate. We got the larger one once she was fully housetrained to let her stretch out at night. I'd say 30" to 32" with a divider would be appropriate. Also, don't get nice bedding until teething is over!  

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Permalink Reply by Bebe on January 16, 2013 at 8:45am

Thanks, I will look around and ask if I can watch once or twice before I join :)

For the crate I will see, there are so many versions... I think a softer one for the house is nice, and a metal one for the car. Is one for the passenger seat better or rather one for the Trunk? Or is it not important as long as it's put safely? ( I have so many questions sorry )

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Permalink Reply by Priss, Charlie & Kaylee (PK) on January 16, 2013 at 8:37pm

For a puppy, go with a metal or plastic crate. They will chew through a cloth one. For a 6 month+, cloth is probably fine, but we still don't leave her alone with it.

I drive a 4-door sedan and I keep Kaylee's crate in the back seat, which is safer for both of us.  We have something like this. Sorry I couldn't find the exact product.

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Permalink Reply by Bebe on January 20, 2013 at 4:54am

Thanks, I would have totally wasted some money without that advice! 

well the first year my doggy has to cope with my Smart... so no back seat. But I think with such a box the trunk should be okay, since the trunk is not very far from my seat anyways~

(and NP I am not from USA so I could not take the exact same anyways, but links always help me for searching on our local stores, since I know for what I have to look picture vise)

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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on January 15, 2013 at 1:34pm

Basically when you get your pup, he/she will adjust to your schedule. Since your schedule is being gone a lot, then thats what your dog will be used to. I would consider getting an older puppy if possible (like 4 months to 1 year) because young puppies are not physically able to hold their bladders that long and I think you will have a very difficult time with potty training if you are gone so much. Every city has dog walkers, I would definitely plan to hire a dog walker to come in once a day when the pup is older and at least have somebody in twice a day or more if you get a young puppy. Where I used to live they had a service that would come pick up your dog and take it to a day long daycare/playgroup type thing. That may be an option too so your pup has a lot of interaction and play while you are gone. Its awesome that you will have a dog door, but I have found that Franklin WILL NOT use the dog door unless I send him out. It makes it hard for me to leave him for really long periods of time because, even though he CAN, he won't take himself out. I've seen him do it maybe 4 times in the almost 3 years I"ve had a dog door. I think the problem with him though is that he didn't have the dog door for the first yearish of his life. 

Make sure to provide lots of safe, interactive toys to keep your pup's mind busy and take those long walks to keep his body tired. It will work out fine after the initial settling in period. Also, get to know your neighbors! EVERYBODY loves corgis and neighbors can be so much help. At my old house I had 2 people who were willing to walk and feed Franklin when I was having to work 12 1/2 hour shifts. Now I have made enough friends here that I can have a friend stop in to take care of him if needed. When you have a corgi, especially a puppy, meeting new people is a piece of cake. People will stop their cars to come over and say hi to Franklin so meeting my neighbors just involved me being out and walking around the neighborhood with him. It'd be great if you could find somebody else with a dog and you could exchange babysitting time/playdates that way you both benefit. Post on your local craigslist (or other classifieds) looking for playdates and talk to local trainers and see what they suggest. Often trainers know a lot of what is available to you and can help get you in contact with other people who can help you out.

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Permalink Reply by Bebe on January 16, 2013 at 8:53am

Kay, I will keep in mind to train with him/her and the dog door quite early then, hopefully it will wok out, then the little one can play outside while I am gone if he/she wants (of course when the puppy is a little older).

And I really hope to get good with the neighbors, maybe they have dogs as well, then one could help each other out :) - Would also be good for a healthy socializing and to exchange knowledge and stuff! 

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on January 16, 2013 at 1:41am

I forget how we did it, but crate training is what I'd recommend.  Once the dog is crate-trained, it can be left crated for quite long periods.  Eventually -- not, I think, until Al was over a year old, maybe older -- we decided they were safe uncrated, and we've left the crate doors open ever since.  But the crates are their refuge, always there if they want them, and for travel, or visitors, or when I have to vacuum, we can lock them up when we have to.  It seems hard, but when they are used to it, I don't think it is stressful.

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