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whitewilsom 09:42:24 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline posts Reply |
Hi I could use some advice please! We have a 2 year old red boxer, (my baby) and recently had to change careers! Wilson is my babies name, and currently cared for during the day whilst I am at work by my partner. Other than the rare few hours he is rarely left alone.
My partner is due to start work full time next week and I am going to be starting shift work at the end of August. Whats a reasonable amount of time to leave a boxer alone for? I'm looking at 3 times a week perhaps for about 5 hours or so, hopefully no longer? Is this a bad option and will it end up with us having a badly behaved dog?? Any advice or comments welcome! I am going to be with him full time for 3 weeks before my new job starts. I dont want to upset him but on the other hand we really need to be earning more money.  |
seasidecarl  10:03:23 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline 66 posts Boxer  Reply |
thats a tricky one, we all need more money, i am not sure what we will do if that arises, sorry
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dominic1 10:14:29 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline posts Mood Now:  Reply |
Hi..What is the longest period of time that Wilson has been left alone before?
Is Wilson destructive at all? Has he ever shown any signs od distress when you have left him alone? people I know have left their dogs upto periods of 4 hours and had no problems,some are left for 10 mins and destroy everywhere. If he has been used to have company all the time,then he will find it hard to be left alone.Boxers love company and hate solitude. If you are going to be with him for 3 weeks then I would slowly build up the ammount of time you leave him and see what his reaction is to being alone. You will need to make sure he is safe and has plenty of things to keep him occupied, such as toys,a filled kong etc....My dogs are nearly 2 and nearly 3.I know that if I left them they would be fine as they have never been destructive and have each other for company.I have only had to leave them alone for a long period twice though,that was for family Weddings.The dogs were great then but they also knew we were coming back.. Plenty of reassurance is needed to show Wilson that you will be back.Other than that I think it is going to be one of those things were you wont know untill you try. I am sure that someone with experience of this will be along very soon to give you better advice than me. Good Luck
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SashasMum  10:38:20 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline 4352 posts Admin   Mood Now:  Reply |
Definitely agree with Carol. Each boxer is different and, if Wilson has shown no signs of being destructive and is a fairly calm, easy going dog, then you shouldn't have any problems.
Keep him well exercised and entertained and he should be ok. You can only suck it and see I'm afraid? My last girl coped with me working full time and I think Sasha would if necessary, but Tizzy is a whole other ball game!! Like Carol says though, boxers do thrive on company, so be prepared to have a sulking dog when you come home. He will miss having someone around all the time. 
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Lisa_1981 10:46:29 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline 79 posts Boxer  Reply |
I know we're different because Kai is a pup and we got him used to being left alone from the start but we're also a working family with a boxer so it can be done. Kai is normally left for 3 hours in the morning then a further 3.5 in the afternoon. He's left in his crate as we felt it was safer for him and our cat! From when we got him we built up the time that we left him alone even if it meant putting him in his crate whilst we walked to the shops which is only 5 mins down the road. On your 3 weeks off I'd start getting Wilson used to being left, make sure he has plenty to occupy him though, I find filled kongs a god send as they keep Kai occupied for ages. Also remember to never leave him with his collar on when he's alone.
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whitewilsom 10:57:39 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline posts Reply |
wow you guys are amazing and so fast! thankyou so much!
Ok wilson has been left alone before and sometimes up to 4 hours or so. Sometimes he is destructive and othetr times he isnt, so like you say, maybe i should get him usesd to being alone for a while building it up over time! He has full reign over the flat we live in (its big enough) and the normal mess he makes it just pulling his bedding of his bed, other than that he is fine. I will try when I start work to arrange shifts so that he isnt alone for more than a few hours each time. Even when its just the 2 of us he tends to cry for about an hour after my partner goes out, running to and from windows to the front door and spends most of the day with his head out the cat flap! Hes quite nosey! (the cat flap no longer has a door as he smashed the plastic out soo many time)! Hes a little rascal but a little babe too. Am sorting out my space now so you can all see piccies of him! thanks loads!! |
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SashasMum 11:18:06 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline 4352 posts Admin Mood Now: Reply |
If he gets upset immediately after he is left, the best way to stop that is to prevent him being able to see the person actually leave.
Don't let him be able to watch your departure from windows etc as that will just heighten his anxiety. If he is destructive at all and has free run over the place, prehaps limiting him to a space you know is safe is better. Also, the more they have to wander around looking for folk, the more upset they can get. If he is shut in a hallway say and he can't see you, he knows you aren't there and wont try and find you.
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whitewilsom 11:24:32 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline posts Reply |
aww never thought of that! You think it might be wise to close up the cat flap? I posted myspace addy on newcomers page with some piccies of him.
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SashasMum 11:30:54 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline 4352 posts Admin Mood Now: Reply |
It might be wise
 He will be spending his time looking for you and that will heighten any stress.If you are going to be leaving him for longer, he needs to be as calm as possible 
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whitewilsom 12:12:30 Sat Jul 28 2007 Offline posts Reply |
ok will get my hubbie onto it then! thanks guys!
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cooky79 22:24:38 Sat Aug 11 2007 Offline posts Reply |
Hi
Its a difficult thing cause every dog is different. I had a boxer once and I left it for 10mins and when I came back he had emptied the bin, trashed the living room and chewed and inch out of two doors and lifted them off their runners. Plus when I went to bed I discovered he had P****d niagra falls on my bed. Bonnie who I have now (also a boxer) is no bother when we go out most of the time but she likes to raid the cupboard for the fish food every now and again and sometimes but rarely she might wee. Try to build up the time you go out for. Gradually for longer periods. it may take quite some time for the dog to get used to this but im sure he will. GOODLUCK Cooky xxx |
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