Raising a Puppy While Working Full-Time

Are you planning to add a new puppy to the family? One question that most dog owners ask themself is how to make sure it gets all the attention and love it needs when you have a full-time job? In this article we list 6 actionable tips on how to raise a puppy while working full-time.

1. Have a Dedicated Puppy Area

To begin with, it is a good idea to have a dedicated area for your puppy where it can feel safe. Most dog owners use a playpen for this, but you can also use a small room if you don’t have a playpen at the moment.

One of the the benefits of a puppy playpen is that it’s easy to expand. This will ensure that your puppy don’t have to shift to a different area once it gets older and need more space. Changing to a different area might take some time for your puppy to adjust to the new environment and get that feeling of security.

2. Start Crate Training

It is highly recommended that you start crate training your puppy from an early age. It is essential to help your dog understand that their actions can have consequences. It is often seen that without any sort of punishment, puppies tends to start misbehave in their dedicated area treating it as a personal den where they can do anything they like.

With crate training, puppies start to understand that they can be punished for their wrong behavior. However, ensure that you don’t keep your puppy in the crate for long periods of time. Also, add some accessories like a puppy bed, some toys, food and water to make it more comfortable in the crate.

3. Time for Potty Training

Little accidents are very common when your puppy is young. Their small bladders are often unable to hold the urine for a long time. As you are working full-time, it won’t be possible for you to be available at home whenever your puppy wants to pee. Even your friends and family members could only help to an extent.

One way to solve this is to use puppy pads that can absorb the pee. But only use these pads as a backup solution and ensure that your puppy don’t get used to them. You can avoid this by having someone visit your home at least 2-3 times a day to take your puppy for a walk.

Once your puppy gets older it should be able to go 3-4 hours without having to take a walk.

4. Consider Hiring Help

Another great way to care for your puppy when you have a full-time job is to hire some help. Your puppy will need a lot of attention in the first few weeks. While having supportive friends, neighbors, and family members is helpful too, you can not put this responsibility on them. Hiring someone like a dog sitter is a more convenient and practical solution.

Another thing you can do is to look for a nearby dog daycare center. While hiring outside help obviously means spending money, you can at least rest assured that your puppy is in safe hands and has someone to spend the time with when you are not home. Some dog sitters and daycare centers also offer training services that you can consider.

5. Work on a Fixed Routine

Puppies need stability in their daily schedule. So, it can be very helpful if you set a routine with fixed walks, mealtimes, and bedtime. In case if you work closer to your home, it’d be great if you can visit your puppy during lunch or any other time of the day. But do so only if you can do it regularly.

Alternatively, you can also rely on modern technologies for this. For instance, there are now dog cameras that you can install in your home. The camera will allow you to see and talk to your dog no matter where you are through your mobile phone or computer. Some of these systems also come with an automatic feeding system. These systems are also beneficial in cases of emergencies.

6. Prevent Separation Anxiety

It is also very common for puppies to feel anxious and lonely when you are not home. Your puppy might also cry every time you leave your home. This quickly turns into a habit that stays with them even when they gets older. However, there are some easy solutions to this problem. For instance, the dog cameras discussed above can be very helpful.

Leaving your puppy with a familiar blanket or some chew toys can help prevent separation anxiety. If you’re not able to get back to your puppy during a workday, having a neighbor or friend pop into your house at least once can also help with separation anxiety.

Concussion

It sure takes a lot of love, energy, commitment, and time to taking care of a puppy and work at the same time. But if you are up for the challenge, you are sure to find a friend for life.