New Member

[jonymac1984]

hi my name is Jon i recently purchased a eight week old fox red lab fox hound mix puppy, I researched both breeds and saw that both breeds like a lot of activity, i work straight midnight shift through the week sunday night to thursday night and sleep during the day and my wife works most days my kid was at school, I have a good sized fenced in yard but would rather not leave my puppy outside by himself and i am against crating while i am sleeping, I would like to let him roam the house somewhat and have read leaving toys out is a good idea but also worry about my furniture, i usually get up at least once through the day and have purchased training pads my puppy (Wyatt) seems very intelligent so i am hoping he wont have accidents while i sleep i was just wondering if you or anyone else had any helpful suggestions of what i could do for him while i sleep, any advice would be appreciated thanks

[WhoopsaDaisy]

Welcome. What are your reasons for being against crating?

[4Thelove]

Hello and welcome-my pack have enjoyed crates and i agree on not letting dogs outside with out supervision

[Tanya]

hello and welcome (and congrats)

crates are a wonderful tool and "home" for a dog. If you train it right it becomes their safe place, their den. A place they willingly go to. it is not cruel and it is not punishment (unless you actually punish them in there or shove them in and make them spend hours). It is unsafe to let a puppy wander unsupervised as they could not only damage your "things" but seriously injure themselves and even die.

[MikeLynn]

Hi and welcome!

[POPTOP]

Hello and Welcome!

Leaving a pup outside is an invitation for disaster. Keeping the pup inside and crated is not being cruel. You're pup will need to be potty trained to go outside; it is tough at first but they learn relatively quickly. At the beginning, a pup is physically not capable to holding it; muscles have yet to develop the tone they need.

We home seniors and they all were crated at first. It's for their own safety and for the house until they get used to the routine. All have willingly gone into the crate as it is their spot, their safe place. It's never used for punishment. With a pup, it can be used to settle them down, keep them safe while you can't watch them; i.e. taking a bath.

[BaconsMom]

Welcome!

[Maxx&Emma]

Hi and welcome!

Another vote for crating and outside supervision here, all the same reasons as above. I have a 3 and 9 year old and my 2 are never alone outside, ever. With a new puppy you will need to set an alarm to take this puppy out every 3-4 hours. Using pee-pads only lengthens the housebreaking time and confuses a puppy. Someone will need to devote time to exercising, playing with and training this puppy or you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with a destructive puppy.

[Halcyon]

Hello and welcome!