dog in pen at night

panaju · 11-11-2006, 11:58 PM

I work midnights and pen my new dog while at work. I'm wondering if I should continue to pen him in my breezeway at night when not at work (concerned with being consistant). I am not sure if I need to or not while I am there because I will be able to let him out more before bed and again earlier in the morning.

Onlinek9 · 11-12-2006, 01:06 PM

IMO keeping a dog to a certain area while not at home or sleeping is a good thing. whether it's a basement or a crate or a bathroom. Whatever. I think the consistancy helps them learn, "Okay, Mom is gone. SHe's not going to be back for awhile I best settle in." Now, if it's just evening time and you are haning out watching tv or whatever then I would think you would want your dog out with you to spend time with it.

panaju · 11-12-2006, 07:56 PM

That is what I was thinking also. but to my next question - what about when I am sleeping during the day on my work days. No one else is home and I have been leaving him out but he has been going a bit crazy. I feel like I cant pen him at night while I work and during the day while I sleep. It seems too much (this is only 2 - 3 days a week by the way). But he is driving me crazy with getting into things.

Onlinek9 · 11-12-2006, 09:28 PM

Does he like to play ball? Frisbee?Tug? The quick answer is get him outside and spend 20 minutes running him ragged. As fast as you can get him to go for as long as you can get him to go. Intense stuff. That way he's pooped while you are sleeping. Then go out and buy yourself either a food cube or 3-4 Kongs. If he is fed kibble, soak it in hot water for about 5 minutes then spoon it into the Kongs (the water will leak out so do it over the sink!) then freeze them overnight. When you get ready for bed (after his intense play session!) Toss the kongs in with him and he'll have something to keep him occupied while you sleep. The process of getting the food out will also tire him out. The food cube uses dry kibble and is pretty loud so you'll want to save that for nights you go to work.
I think you'll find if you can make the time to get some intense playtime in on a regular basis you'll be able to leave him out a bit more while you are sleeping during the day. Dogs are diurnal (sp!) animals which means they are most active in the morning and in the evening. So if you can use those times to exercise him he may settle down for you.