UPDATE: So they changed my work schedule, good news I have 4 days off now, bad news I am scheduled from 6 am to 6:30 pm 3 days a week now. This means I will be gone from 5:30a-7p. Really scrambling now to figure out what to do. The big issue here is that Franklin WILL NOT go potty out on my patio without me sending him out there. That is where I need advice. He knows how to use a dog door, but just won't do it unless told to so. I need some ideas on how to get him to go out on the patio. I've been trying to sit out there with him for 1/2 hour to 1 hour a day and have added grass, put treats in the grass and added potty pads as a separate potty area, etc. Nothing seems to work. HELP!

So the dreaded time has come, I finally got a job that is going to require 10 hour workdays four days a week. It is 25 minutes from my house meaning poor Franklin is going to have to be home alone for 11 hours a day four days a week. I have been dreading this, but knew it was going to happen eventually. I am trying to find a dog walker to come in mid-day to walk him and have ordered a dog door so he can go outside onto the patio if needed and have ordered him a few more interactive toys (in addition to the billion he already has). I just hate the idea of him having to sit at home alone all day! I know I am probably going to take this harder than he does. For the 2 years I've had him I have never had to leave him alone longer than 4 or 5 hours at most. He used to go to work with me when I worked long hours and then with school I have breaks to come home and walk him. He won't go outside on his own right now to potty on the grass on the patio, any suggestions on teaching him to go out on his own? He will sit and hold it ALLLLLLL day and never even think to go outside without me sending him out there. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!