A Long Wait At Home

[ruffdog]

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Hi All.

Gail and I are going to the Hebrides Tattoo today and tomorrow. This evenings event is going to be quite a family outdoor in the castle grounds event. i checked with the organizers and was told it'll be a sitting on hay bales, walking around kind of thing and that she couldn't see a problem bringing Rax, my 13wk lurcher. So That's fine and well. He has a wee proper whippet collar that should come today, should last him until he's fully grown and get's his posh collar. And i will take some treats and water for him. BTW He's 3/4 whippet and 1/4 bedlington terrier.

Tomorrow is a different ball game. It's the Concert and being held in the sports hall so no dog's allowed obviously. the event will be from about 7pm - 11pm so in fairness we will have to be away from home from 6 - 12. 6 Hours on his own. He is crate trained and at night can last from 11:30pm until 7:30am Impressive I know but he wakes up at 7:30 on the dot and needs to pee within 5 min, he even goes toilet off lead at this time. Such a good boy.

What if any Ideas can you suggest for him being at home without us at this different time. i don't want to mess anything up, ie, undo all the hard work etc

i thought maybe locking him in the kitchen which has lino floor with his crate open and some toys and water. If i put paper down will he use it or will this only confuse him when he knows it's wrong to go inside the house.

OR I could take him in the car into town, he seems to just crash out when left in the car (windows open of course, then again this is the Outer Hebrides!!!! and it's not exactly the Bahamas heat wise !! There will be a 15 min break at 9pm and i could take him out for a pee then. What do you guys think????

Toby

 

[Esty]

Just my opinion but here goes.

I wouldn't leave him in the car for any amount of time, even five minutes - not only could he make a mess of your car but I think he could become quite disorientated and upset and despite the weather you could come back to having your car broken into to either steal him or rescue him. He could also injure himself.

If you absolutely have to, leave him at home with the radio on but be prepared to come back to a mess and possibly a bewildered puppy. He will feel much more secure at home and as you suggested, it's a good idea to give him the run of the kitchen as pups have really injured themselves trying to get out of locked crates. If you come back to chewed doors/ lino etc you can't blame him/ chastise him at all!

Personally, I wouldn't go if it meant leaving him that long - I certainly wouldn't enjoy the night out as I'd be worried what he was getting up to. When mine were four months old I left them for 4 hours (got delayed somewhere) and felt terrible and there was understandably a bit of mess when I got back. I'm sure you'll make it safe but I was terrified they'd open cupboards and get something to poison themselves with (of course they didn't but it didn't stop me moving all the detergents etc into top cupboards before I went )Is there no-one you could leave him with or get to come and sit with him? Is his breeder local, would they dog-sit him? Any family/ neighbours who would have him or dog-sit for you?

Like I said, just my opinion - hope it helps

 

[Esty]

Just my opinion but here goes.

I wouldn't leave him in the car for any amount of time, even five minutes - not only could he make a mess of your car but I think he could become quite disorientated and upset and despite the weather you could come back to having your car broken into to either steal him or rescue him. He could also injure himself.

If you absolutely have to, leave him at home with the radio on but be prepared to come back to a mess and possibly a bewildered puppy. He will feel much more secure at home and as you suggested, it's a good idea to give him the run of the kitchen as pups have really injured themselves trying to get out of locked crates. If you come back to chewed doors/ lino etc you can't blame him/ chastise him at all!

Personally, I wouldn't go if it meant leaving him that long - I certainly wouldn't enjoy the night out as I'd be worried what he was getting up to. When mine were four months old I left them for 4 hours (got delayed somewhere) and felt terrible and there was understandably a bit of mess when I got back. I'm sure you'll make it safe but I was terrified they'd open cupboards and get something to poison themselves with (of course they didn't but it didn't stop me moving all the detergents etc into top cupboards before I went )Is there no-one you could leave him with or get to come and sit with him? Is his breeder local, would they dog-sit him? Any family/ neighbours who would have him or dog-sit for you?

Like I said, just my opinion - hope it helps

 

[Hula]

I wouldn't leave him in the car . He could be too hot even in the evening , you could come back to hundreds of pounds worth of damage . He could be stolen . Is there not anyone who could come round even for a couple of hours let him out , play with him etc . Or is there anyone maybe a teenage son or daughter of a reliable neighbour who could sit with him for the entire evening ?

Failing that just leave him and hope for the best filled kongs etc

 

[ruffdog]

Thank's guys,

there is not really anyone I can ask round here, the neighbors that i know are all quite old too. The main bit i wanted to see was the Dougie McLean part which is after 9:15pm. I am thinking !!!!!!!!

This was booked way back in Feb -March well before I even knew I was allowed from the housing to have a dog!!

I think it may have to be the kitchen like I first thought.

I don't think anyone would steal him from the car park at the sports center.

It's not exactly down town London here guys. Most people very rarely lock their house let alone car. Lol

I have got a dog rack for the boot so he can't get full run of the car at all. and the windows would be well open and in the shade next to the council offices.

It was just a thought as he does just sleep in the boot given the chance. Every time we have left him for 10 min at the supermarket we come back to a crashed out puppy.

All other comment's welcome.

Please >>>> although I have mentioned the car. Please don't turn the topic into a rant about people leaving dogs in cars etc. I am well aware of the dangers of doing so and necessary precautions when you have to. I myself have seen some pretty cruel incidents and would never harm my animals in any way.

Toby.

 

[rls22]

I think you are being really sensible about this - makes a really refreshing change!

If it were me I would stick with the leaving him at home option - if your house isn't open plan and you can shut off the kitchen and give him access to just that and leave him with some interesting and tasty toys to keep him occupied I think you will find he will snooze most of the time anyway.

 

[bertha]

Does you vet do short boarding? I couldn't leave any dog of mine that long, certainly not a puppy. There must be some body around who could help you surely. Any breeders or other dog owners you know?

 

[hely]

yep i agree ...leave him at home....so you might come home to a poo or two but hey ho

enjoy your evening..im sure Rax will be fine :thumbsup:

 

[ruffdog]

Does you vet do short boarding? I couldn't leave any dog of mine that long, certainly not a puppy. There must be some body around who could help you surely. Any breeders or other dog owners you know?

I wish they did do short boarding, To be honest though we only have 1 vet for the whole of the western isles. And our population is around 26000 residents so there must be a few thousand dog's + all the other pet's and livestock. it really is a dire vet situation indeed. Go figure!!!!!!

I have never heard of any actual dog breeders apart from the Hebredian Wolf Dog's in Harris. Ohhh I wanted one, but they may have moved and 800 quid a pop!!! Although I guess there must be some. Lady at the end of the row has a Yorkshire Terrier, him and Rax get on well enough but he's an old dog 12 yrs I think and Rax is too much for him. The lady herself has enough to do looking after him and her mad husband lol. I honestly don't know anyone that would sit in with him. I'm quite isolated where I am and don't know that many people closely. Looks like it's going to be the Kitchen.

 

[hely]

Does you vet do short boarding? I couldn't leave any dog of mine that long, certainly not a puppy. There must be some body around who could help you surely. Any breeders or other dog owners you know?

I wish they did do short boarding, To be honest though we only have 1 vet for the whole of the western isles. And our population is around 26000 residents so there must be a few thousand dog's + all the other pet's and livestock. it really is a dire vet situation indeed. Go figure!!!!!!

I have never heard of any actual dog breeders apart from the Hebredian Wolf Dog's in Harris. Ohhh I wanted one, but they may have moved and 800 quid a pop!!! Although I guess there must be some. Lady at the end of the row has a Yorkshire Terrier, him and Rax get on well enough but he's an old dog 12 yrs I think and Rax is too much for him. The lady herself has enough to do looking after him and her mad husband lol. I honestly don't know anyone that would sit in with him. I'm quite isolated where I am and don't know that many people closely. Looks like it's going to be the Kitchen.

its a one off...its not like you are going to be doing it all the time.........i am quite sure he will be fine :thumbsup:

 

[Esty]

I know you wouldn't leave him in a car in blazing sun etc (doh!) but I would completely rule out the car thing. He'll be much safer and happier at home. He could really injure himself if he got into a panic in the car and there's just not enough room to leave him for that amount of time- imagine if they stop the concert to get a message out to the guy who left his dog in the car....! People are quite alert about leaving dogs in cars and you may find a well meaning person reports it and 'rescues' him. I wouldn't even leave mine in the car to go and pay for petrol but I am probably overly cautious..

The best option seems to be leave him at home with his toys and his bed and the radio on etc and I'm sure he'll be fine. Perhaps just go to the second half if that's the bit you really want to see?

 

[~Annie~]

Personally I'd skip the concert. I understand how 'once in a lifetime' these things can be, but your pup is 'for a lifetime' and leaving him for that long at this age risks triggering some form of separation anxiety which you may then struggle to ever put right. Those who say he'll probably just sleep have a point, but it's not something I'd be prepared to risk ... I know my whippet pup, 13 weeks on Monday, would simply not cope with being left for that long.

Annie

 

[ruffdog]

Thanks everyone.

Yep I think he will stay in the kitchen. Esty I hadn't thought about that. I could just see someone saying that poor sleeping crashed out dog is in the car and stopping the concert. You are quite right. And i'd be mortified too!!!

It's bad enough when you hear the (would the person with No: plate xxxxx please move their car!!) never happened to me yet but i've seen the look on the peoples faces lol.

I can make up a Kong and some toys. He normally has dinner at 6pm so can feed him before we go (will have to see OH if we can just go to the 2nd half)

so I fully expect the floor to be covered, never mind it won't be his fault and we will be no doubt staying up and playing when we get home anyway.

At least the weather looks ok for this evening. Just hope the breeze keeps up or the midges will make it not worth the hassle and totally ruin the show.

Taking camera so should have some photo's to post. Not dog related but still. may get a puppy snap in somewhere.

Toby

 

[Macha]

I would put the newspaper down because if he needs to toilet he'll probably head for the more porous surface. You are going to leave him this long very often, I presume, so it shouldn't set back his housetraining too badly. Hope the pup doesn't do much wrecking (you'll be "ready for the storm"! as Dougie McLean would say); if I'd seen your messages earlier I would have suggested some practice runs leaving the pup in the kitchen for shorter periods.

this must be the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornaway. I was there a few times; I was learning Gaelic & during my dog-free years I used to go to the Western Isles every chance I got. Never saw any sighthounds (Skye doesn't count, did see a greyhound there); they wouldn't be the most popular dogs in areas where there are loads of sheep.

 

[Nicola]

I had to smile at the suggestion of a car being broken into on the Outer Hebrides (sorry Esty ). I suspect car crime/any crime is very low on the Islands, although I agree in as much as leaving him in the car isn't a great idea. As you're away over night i.e. from 6-12pm, I think you may just get away with it, if no one can pop in to check he's OK. Good luck.... :luck:

 

[Fizgig]

He normally has dinner at 6pm so can feed him before we go

I'd consider NOT feeding him before you go, either no din at all or just a light snack. Then put his regular meal in the Kongs or an interactive toy. (they have balls that roll around to dispense kibble, or you can get creative with the Kongs). Being hungry will make him more likely to work at eating and give him something to do, rather than chewing your counters and shredding the linoleum.

 

[ruffdog]

Hi all and thank you for all comment's and sugestions.

Just to ease the confusion from one of the last comment's. I never know if midnight is AM or PM

Rax was supposed to be in from 6pm untill midnight. But as it turned out we didn't leave till 6:45. The concert was fantastic and the only big negative

was the ending which was very baddly done. Not to rant too much and it doesn't belong on this forum. But i must tell you all. As the concert over run

they HAD to cut the last 2 acts down in time. I say HAD because they couldn't possibly still be playing as the clock struck midnight. Dougie McLean managed to get another chourus out of us and the whole show finished at 11:59 !!! Then people were stampeeding to get out of the hall. Very embarrasing to say the least.

Anyway We got home at about 12:45 to realise that I'd forgot to put the kitchen light on for the we guy oops. We had put a newspaper down, some toys, some dry food (just a little bit) water and I got him one of those meat filled Bob Martin bones, the largest one i could find in the box (GSD size lol). Well we opened the door to be greeted and tail wagging. He was extatic to see us and wouldn't stop bunting me and making happy noises. He had done no damage. He HAD peed on the paper and moved it about abit and the bin (which i had emptied prior to our departure GO ME) was over. That was it. No Ripped up lino or chewed cupboard doors. Fantastic.. I fed him and then he went into his crate at about 2am and didn't get up until 8am this morning. So again, thank you all and I'll see you on the fourums.

Toby Gail and Rax.

 

[AnnSa]

Glad all went well with your little man

I can just imagine him when you got back lol

 

[Dar Khan]

Its great when you know that you can leave em at home and all hell dosent brake loose ,good on your dog

 

[tasha01]

Wow, How nice to see dogs. That's right, you need to treasure your pets.