Random Questions From New Owner

edtsuiedtsui
edited April 2009 in Shiba Inu (柴犬)
So I got Loki about 1.5 months ago and he's now a solid 4 months old and great dog. Housebreaking went fairly well and he's not a habitual chewer on things he's not suppose to. I still don't fully trust him to be alone to roam wherever he wants while I'm at work so I had him confined in a playpen for a couple of days which he prompted figured out to escape from in short order:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFgc30GSSSg

Next I put him in an extra storage closet we have that's about 3ft x 12ft wide and he's figured out how to climb out of that 3ft high gate I installed as well. No footage of that yet.

Currently, I go home for lunch everyday at work to take him out and let him play and eat for a bit before returning him to the closet which I've made escape proof (temporarily I'm sure). So he's never been alone for more than 4-5 hours since I've had him. Going home isn't a big deal as I'm saving money anyways from eating out all the time but there are days where I miss just eating out with co-workers. The question is, at what point would it be safe to trust him to hold it for the 8 hours or so that I'm gone. I'm in no rush to change the current routine, I'm just curious. I'm thinking this is a 6+ months ballpark figure.

Also, I've noticed that he's fairly active in spurts but he also sleeps a lot. He probably slept most of the afternoons away this last weekend. From most of research and reading, I figured I'd be dealing with Shiba 500 and having to chase him around all the time. He just does his Shiba 500 routine for about five minutes 4-5 times a day and that's it. The rest of that time is spent lounging around usually at the top of the stairs and surveying everything going on. Is this normal?

Comments

  • KaddyKaddy
    edited April 2009
    Keiko is 11 months right now, and I still don't fully trust her to roam when I'm not here. If I'm just running to the store for something and I'm not going to be gone for more than 45 minutes I usually do a 'test run' to see if anything has happened when I was away from home. She's started getting slightly more mellow now (but I think that's due to our recently added puppy - also named Loki ;o) but I still feel she needs to be crated or in her xpen for the times when I'm gone for a few hours.

    Have you looked into getting a roof for the xpen? I've never used one, but always assumed they were semi-escape proof.
    http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752846
  • CrimsonO2CrimsonO2
    edited November -1
    Rule of thumb is (age in months + 1) = hours puppy can hold it.

    I consider myself fortunate that I work 1.3 miles from my apartment. My dog is 8 months old now and even if I do go out with my co-workers (once in a blue moon), I stop by my apartment to let the dog out to relieve himself, play for a few minutes, and back in the kennel he goes. I've offset my extra half-hour during lunches with coming in 30 minutes early. My coworkers are now used to my schedule since I have pup-spammed them numerous times to let them know why I'm leaving work (taking dog to vet, sick pup, etc.).

    I understand where you're coming from.

    Jesse
  • StaticNfuzzStaticNfuzz
    edited November -1
    Yep the rule of thumb for potty holds that Jesse mentions is a pretty good gauge.

    However, leaving a puppy alone fully is not a good idea without boundaries since some will get bored and destroy items regardless. Even at 6 years of age I still can not leave my one to fully roam the house all day. Left to her own devises she ultimately she will find SOMETHING to get into.

    It depends on the dog. Usually it is a long while before a dog settles enough to test it out. Again it depends.....

    Snf
  • wliu003wliu003
    edited November -1
    around 8 months is a good time. Ive never done more then 8 hours without letting her out, however, ive seen it more then once where she just plays and doesnt go at all. so i would say shes easily gone without peeing/pooping for 8 hours. this was when she was around 8 months.

    cool video, reminds of my shiba :)
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