[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

We are all way at school (my parents are teachers) during the day. Sampson is home with the two cats.

When we come home, he pretty much knocks me over he is so wound up to see me. I'm wondering what we can do to entertain him while we're gone. He is a good boy and doesn't really wreck anything but I have a sneaky suspicion he chases the cats around (playing)... and today he shredded his squeaky monkey and he hasn't ever done that to a toy yet. I've heard Kongs are good, but he is so not interested it his and we've tried to get him into it several times...

How do you make sure he isn't getting into trouble and isn't to bored alone all day?

 

[tykesmom]

Sampson is better behaved than Tyke - we bought her an extra large crate to put her in when we are gone, b/c she would destroy the house while we were gone if we left her unattended! She usually goes into her crate without much of a fuss - she has some of her favorite toys, water and treats in there. I think she sleeps most of the time she is in there. I don't know how that would work all day, however. Tyke goes to work with me, and is usually only crated when we can't take her somewhere with us. Have you tried stuffing the Kong with treats and putting it in the freezer so he has to work harder to get them out? He might be more attracted to the Kong if you find something he really likes to put in there.

 

[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

Regarding his Kong..

He's not into treats at all... Only thing he'll eat is "Nilla wafers and slices of mozzarella string cheese as a reward. We haven't tried putting the 'Nilla wafers in it yet, but we did experiment with cream cheese... he licked it all out the opening and that was it... It didn't seem too healthy to give him either.

As for crates, we tried to train him but someone abused the crate with him and he is terrified of it...

So I'm not quite sure what to do. :?

 

[tykesmom]

Do you have a "doodle-proof " room perhaps? (is there such a thing?? :roll: ) Maybe the kitchen or somewhere. On the other hand, I don't know how the cats like it, but sounds like they are providing him with some entertainment!!

 

[lmtoth2]

I mean if he's not destroying anything (or much) I would be tempted to keep your situation the way it is. I think regardless of what you do, he will be really really happy to see you when you get home. We can leave them for 30 min and run to the store and when we get home they act like we've been gone for days I think he will calm down more after he gets really used to your schedule as well.

I would be careful to not leave out any toys that could be a hazard if he were to eat them. We leave our doodles contained when we are gone but he may be more lonely w/o the cats.

 

[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

Yeah, he's a good boy it's probably worse in my mind than it really is for him. I just think he's so smart and only two years old so I wonder what he REALLY does while we're gone. :wink:

 

[lmtoth2]

I wonder what he REALLY does while we're gone.

haha...we actually set up a webcam to tape ours to see what they do - we found they just lay on the sofa looking out the window

Oh yeah - when you come home, make sure to not make a big deal out of him at first. Wait for him to calm down. It should teach him to not get so crazy when you get home

 

[Jac]

You are pretty lucky because at two years of age, he is much calmer than a pup! Still, you might ask a neighbor to come in around noon to play ball with him or take him for a walk or something...
There is always doggie daycare, but you have to select them carefully, not all of them are the best.
I like the neighbor idea. We have just hired a guy to come and exercise my dogs because I don't find the time these days, and they love it when he drives up!
(My dogs have never been fond of Kongs either.)

 

[annieG]

First thing is to make sure he has exercise before you leave him for the day....remember a tired doodle is a good doodle.

Regarding the cats, I would just make sure that they have a safe place to go where he can't get them. We have a cat perch and a gate that the cat can go through but Tanner can't.

What to leave during the day....I leave a kong with treats in it, toys that he can't shred. Tanner sleeps the whole time we are gone...rarely does he even move a toy. I wouldn't leave any toy that he can shred. Don't leave bones or rawhide.

You can hide doggy treats (little doggy bones, Charlie bears, Zukes) for him to find. I would just make sure that you puppy proof where he stays.

I leave the radio on for Tanner.

He still go nuts when we get home....I wouldn't want it any other way :wink:

 

[L's Mom]

First thing is to make sure he has exercise before you leave him for the day....remember a tired doodle is a good doodle.

:

Definately a long walk if you can in the morning. I notice with Lucas, even on days I am home all day... so long as he has his walk in the morning... he sleep most of the day (charge up time)... until about 4pm...then...

 

[tykesmom]

I LOVE that picture, Jenny!! It captures the true essence of "Doodleness!!"

 

[annabelles mom]

Jenny that is a super picture, Lucas is so cute

 

[DebBrown]

I agree about the walk in the morning. Charlie doesn't always get his walk first thing but he's pesty and playful until the time we walk out the door. After that he relaxes, naps, chews...

Deb

 

[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

Cute picture Lucas! Nice air bud...

Yeah, I've come home to a sleepy doodle staggering down the stairs from my room (where his blankie is) before. Now he just knows when I'll be back and waits by the door... I just found out that my cat figured out how to climb my bunk bed (just like a tree! quire a surprise to wake up to at 2 am: what's that scratching noise? Wait, EUGENE??? How did you get up here???) so he hides out up there.

I just see so much energy in him when we get home that I wonder how he sleeps the whole day away... And how can you resist being excited when a 70 lb doodle is trying to lick your face off when you come in the door!!! :lol:

 

[*sharon*]

I walk Rosie at 5 a.m. and again at 7:30 and I think she sleeps most of the day (judging by what she does on the weekends during the day). We put up an x-pen around her crate because she was chewing my dining chairs even with tons of bitter apple spray. She's been an angel ever since. She has two kongs, a tuffie toy, a solid core "donut" toy, and a kong bone to play with. I also put one of those washable "wee-wee" pads for "just in case" but usually she lays on it when she is "in the yard". Oh, and I leave the radio on low for her. Just for some background noise. She probably doesn't are one way or the other but it makes me feel better. :wink:

 

[Jac]

Rosie spent much of her puppyhood in an x-pen, she must feel right at home! Sounds like she is doing well with the potty training.


Lucas! What a jumper you are! Darling picture...love those action shots!

 

[lmtoth2]

Trust me - I'm sure Sam sleeps most (if not all) of the time you are gone. We set up a webcam to tape ours one day and it was 9 hrs of nothing Kirby would get up and turn around in his crate and lay back down - that was the extent of the excitement. So it's no wonder they're so full of enregy when we get home

 

[L's Mom]

I just see so much energy in him when we get home that I wonder how he sleeps the whole day away... And how can you resist being excited when a 70 lb doodle is trying to lick your face off when you come in the door!!! :lol:

It's a hard thing to resist, but my understanding is, if you don't now... that super excited behavior will get worse later... just ignore him until he settles, and when you go to address him, make sure he is calm... and then when he is successful as this ( and this is the hard part ) you yourself have to be CALM, no sqealing and fussing (even though you will want to because he is being soooooo gooooood for you ) he is smart, he will catch on quickly! Hope this helps?

 

[sdrudge]

Cacao gets a walk in the morning and she sleeps most of the day. She does like a night walk. But She also plays with my sons when they get home from school. I think they help wear her out.

 

[Sammy-Doo's Fam]

Usually when I get home I just let him out to pee and he runs around outside for a bit... Should I wait until he is calm to take him out for potty? He's been home for an entire school day...