Give Your Pup a Workout
As the saying goes, “A tired pup is a good pup.” If you want to slip out the door without your dog barking or whimpering at your departure, you need to make sure they’re getting plenty of age-appropriate exercise. This is especially important for high-energy breeds that have lots of excess energy to burn off. Just like humans, dogs get a rush of feel-good endorphins from exercise. So, why not get your pup’s heart pumping to make them feel good? Tire your puppy out by taking them on a brisk walk in the morning or playing fetch with them in the backyard. (Don’t forget, you can also work your dog’s brain with training sessions.) By the time you leave for work, your puppy will already be settling down for a nap.
Be Choosy About Chew Toys and Treats
Providing the best calming treats and chew toys for your dog is a great way to help them beat boredom while you’re at work. (They’re good for your dog’s teeth, too!). That said, its important to remember that dogs should never be left alone unattended with items that could be considered a potential choking hazard. For this reason, we recommend using marrow bones for dogs and other healthy, edible chew treats as a reward for when you come home. Just think how excited your puppy will be when you walk in the door with a bully stick or a beefy marrow bone!
So, what can you put in your pup’s crate or playpen while you’re gone? Here are a few suggestions:
Creating Puppy-Safe Surroundings
How can you make sure that your puppy stays safe when you work full-time? If you’ll be leaving your puppy in a crate, make sure that it’s big enough. Your puppy should be able to turn around comfortably and have space for lying down without being crowded. Make sure the door on the crate is securely closed before you leave.
If your puppy is older and has been house trained, you might be able to set up a gated area when you leave. This gives your puppy more room to move around and space to explore. Make sure that no dangerous items are around, such as cords that your puppy could chew on.
Crate Training a Puppy While at Work
What to do with puppy while at work or on a full time job? No one can deny that raising a puppy while working full time is hard work.
You need time, energy, commitment and, of course, love, in order to give your Lab puppy all they need for the best start in life.
Some people preach that you won’t have the time to properly look after a puppy if you work full time, and that to buy a dog in those circumstances is ‘selfish’.
We disagree, and personally know plenty of full-time workers that have raised healthy and happy puppies despite not being able to spend all their time at home.
Of course, it can be challenging and you will need to be committed to make other sacrifices and compromises for your new pup — but it definitely can be done.
In this detailed guide on how to raise a Labrador puppy if you work full time, we’ll guide you through the various challenges of raising a pup and how you can best equip yourself to overcome any issues if you work full time and can’t ‘be there’ all hours.