When to take food/water away?

[palmettostar]

I've only had my puppy for a few days so I'm still getting used to having her around and learning to be patient with her schedule and trying to figure out her cues.

I was wondering when is the earliest I should/can take away food/water for the night? I'm trying to type up a schedule just so I can kind of see how I can schedule my time to make sure she feeds, potty, plays and has kennel time. If I work at night which is 2 nights a week for sure and a rotating Friday night every two weeks, I get home around 8:30-8:45 pm at the latest.

I want to make sure she is getting enough food/water but not so late that she'll have accidents in her kennel. I generally go to bed around 12-1 am and she sleeps in her kennel in my room.

[Dillydoodle]

With thefood. you will find it a lot easier overall to feed meals rather than free feed. when you free feed they are grazing and that means there is less predictability as to when they have to poop... so i would go to set meal times, set down the food at x time, give them 20 minutes to finish, take the food way , no more food until the next meal time. after a few times of this they get the idea and eat their meals. The other thing is that free feeding a corgi is a risk. They can get fat very easily, so meal times and measured portions are really the way to go.

As for water, i keep water down all the time and only take it up 2 hours before bed time. They should have access to fresh water all day long.

Emilie

[Jespah]

I agree with Emilie on the meals and not free feeding. Is she still eating 3 meals a day? - it's been a long time since I had a puppy.

If she isn't eating right away, put the food down and give it 15 minutes and then take it up. She'll learn the process soon enough.

The nights you get home so late - what time do you leave? How many hours is she left on her own?

I worked full time and raised two Corgi from the age of 9 weeks (not at the same time :EEK:) and I had a friend come in mid-day to feed them, and play with them. I paper-trained mine as I needed them to learn to go outside when I took them - not for them to tell me. It wasn't that hard to "unpaper" train them - but it's not the easiest way to go about things.

Do you know someone who is home when you aren't - in your building, that you trust and could be a puppy nanny?

Deb

[palmettostar]

Thanks for the tips. I think I'll be starting her morning feed/water around 6:45-7am as she starts stirring from her nights sleep around 6:30am and I get up and take her out. I have to be at work at 7:45am on Monday's & Wednesday's and have class that starts at 9:30 am but leave around 8:30am on Tuesday's & Thursday's.

I have it set up to where I am able to feed/water her again for "lunch" around 3:30-3:45 pm, is this to late to go without food from the morning to lunch? It works best with my schedule but I'm worried she'll not be getting enough or something.

Then at night since I get home from work around 8:30pm on Tuesday's Thursday's I figured around 8:30-9:00pm would be her last feeding. When I'm not home on Tuesday's Thursday's for the majority of the day because of class/work, my brother is here. I've written down time frames for him to take her out and let her play, get her water during the day but since he works at night he sleeps during the day so I don't know how well it'll work out. Since I've only had her since Saturday I'm still trying to get a schedule down. If need be, I have a baby gate to block off the laundry room where she can stay during the longer hours and she does pee on newspaper (or at least the breeder says she did/does) if she's in there. Do I just leave her water in there??

[CorgiMum]

I've done a 'Search' back into our Potty Training posts and found this thread listing the schedule that I used for Danny (now 2 yrs). It's pretty much the same one that I have used for all 4 of my corgis.

http://cool2bcorgi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1418&highlight=Potty+Training

I've never free fed my dogs, for the same reasons that the others have mentioned. And I haven't allowed water between meals if the dog does not have a chance to eliminate until they are house trained.

We are lucky that I am retired, home all day when I want to be and didn't need to go through the paper training situation.

Good luck, please keep us posted on her progress. Puppies are work, but their cuteness more than makes up for it.:WINK:

[palmettostar]

Thanks for posting that schedule CorgiMum. I was told by my aunt who raises dachshunds that I shouldn't just leave the water out either but give it to her every couple of hours as this will help with the whole house training deal. I guess my issue is just feeling like I'm being mean or not a good pet owner if I don't feed her or give her water except every so often because of my schedule.

[CorgiMum]

Thanks for posting that schedule CorgiMum. You are very welcome, hope it will help you do up a schedule for your pup.

I guess my issue is just feeling like I'm being mean or not a good pet owner if I don't feed her or give her water except every so often because of my schedule.

Please don't feel guilty, when we bring these dogs into our homes, and hearts, adjustments are made, on both sides. As long as she is getting enough food and water in a day I'm sure she will be fine. Once puppyhood is over, and it goes quickly, the food/water and potty issues will all settle into a routine.
:SMILE:

[palmettostar]

You are very welcome, hope it will help you do up a schedule for your pup.



Please don't feel guilty, when we bring these dogs into our homes, and hearts, adjustments are made, on both sides. As long as she is getting enough food and water in a day I'm sure she will be fine. Once puppyhood is over, and it goes quickly, the food/water and potty issues will all settle into a routine.
:SMILE:

Thank you. This is what my mom keeps telling me that she'll be fine even when I'm gone for the majority of the day on my long days (Tues/Thurs). It's all about figuring out a schedule that works for me and for her. It's definitely a change having a little fur ball running around but she's so cute.

[Jespah]

Barbara is right - our dogs are pretty good at adapting to our schedules. As long as they have enough food and water and they have somewhere to "go" when needed.

Raising a puppy is very hard. It takes a lot of patience and understanding. Lots of cleaner, rags and paper towels too. :WINK:

By asking and being concerned - you are a already a good owner. :BIGGRIN"

Deb

[CorgiMum]

Raising a puppy is very hard. It takes a lot of patience and understanding. Lots of cleaner, rags and paper towels too. :WINK:
By asking and being concerned - you are a already a good owner. :BIGGRIN"
Deb
Ditto what Deb has said, and, we each have one another here for support and shared info.

[thebeach.corgi]

Certainly good advice from the others! Looks like you are gone for about 9 hours, which is a long time for a pup to spend alone. I would definately provide water while you are gone.

You could leave some kibble available (bulk of dailly intake divided for when you are there) and gradually remove that "feeding" as puppy grows and can consume enough for adequate nutrition in 2 feedings.

As a "working mom" for both of my corgis, I had to paper train and train for outside potty. It wasn't confusing for either of them.

Having an Xpen for #2 was so much better and safer than trying to block off in a room using the baby gate. My first pup would eventually find something to destroy... baseboards, etc. and then we would have the tummy upsets.

Pup #2 (xpen pup) couldn't get to anything in the room. All needs were met within the xpen space and all messes were confined, too. Given our living space layout, this worked best for us.

You will figure out what works best for you and your furbaby as you adjust and bond to each other. You can't avoid some trial and error!

As Deb said.... lots of cleaner, paper towels and patience.

Good luck.

[palmettostar]

Well luckily my brother is home during the time I am away on Tuesday/Thursday's and I am home about 2 hours or so before I go to work.

I may try and leave her in the laundry room w/ the baby gate w/ some food/water on those days but she barks ALOT when I put her in there...she won't do that in her kennel but does it in that room and I'm not sure why. She can still see everything but it's only when she can't see me that she does it. I also put down newspaper in there which she has used already but HATES the pee pads. She tears them up even when I hide them under the newspaper so it won't leak to the floor.

[Kassie]

When we first had our girls and even when Aine was a baby, they had long days. We looked into pet walkers, sitters and other options, but they were too pricey. Aine ended up doing just fine in her crate, they are denning animals, and when properly trained the crate is a safe place. That may be why she is quieter crated than in the kitchen. As long as she gets lots of loving and exercise when you get home, I think she'll be just fine. Our dear corgis need their bodies and brains exercised or they do it themselves!:SHOCKED:

[Jespah]

I highly recommend a puppy sized treat ball for when you leave for the day. You can put in some of her kibble - not extra but some that would be part of her daily quota. You can also use treats, not many - but higher value. When you leave you give her the treat ball so that your leaving becomes a good thing.

I have done this every day since my two were little and it's a soother. I can leave them in someone else's home and give them to them and they are fine. Did that at Lori's this summer when we went out shopping. It becomes part of their routine that means Mum is going out, but she is coming back.

Routine, routine, routine - is very important for pups. There babies, they need to know they are safe.

As you are leaving her for a long time on her own - be very wary of anything she could choke on or get her head stuck in. Puppies are curious and everything goes in their mouths. Heads get stuck in things or between bars. Their little short legs doesn't allow them to push things off. Just a caution. :SMILE:

I have a question for you. When are we going to get to see a photo of your little sweety?? :WINK:

Deb

[palmettostar]

Ooh good idea Deb, I hadn't thought of that. I need to make a trip to Pet Smart (which is 30 minutes away :( PetCo which is in town isn't that great!) to get some more toys so I'll have to look for one of the treat balls when I'm there! Maybe that will keep her satisfied in the other room if I choose to leave her in there on my longer days.

I posted pictures of her in my Introduction the other day "Introducing Bella & Ashley (myself)" I forget the exact title, haha

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions. This morning was a bit rough on me as I am having to adjust my own sleeping schedule so that I can get enough sleep for class/work as I'm having to get up a bit earlier to take Bella out and get her going in the morning. This morning I was so tired I wanted to pull my hair out but I'm sure I'll get use to it :) She seems to have done really well today for her first long day without me. My brother took her out and gave her some food/water mid morning. She is a bit hyper right now but that's expected. I hope she gets over the whole needing me to be in the same room though as I don't want to make neighbors made with her barking!

[ZdogZ]

You have gotten a lot of good advice here. I just want to wish you luck!