Ash
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That IT Guy that Fishes...
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Reged: 05/17/03
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Loc: Lacey, Washington
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I work from 0600-1600 5 days a week day, the lady of the house works 8 to 10 hour days, but leaves around 1000. I'm trying to figure out if 5 to 7 hours a day is to much alone time for a pup. I'd really like to get a Chesapeake but I'm not sure that spending that much time alone is healthy for a pup (or grown dog.) I don't want to get a dog if I can't provide him/her with a healthy living environment.
What do you folks say? What do your best friends do when you go to work?
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fishyness
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cowlitz killer
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Loc: bellevue wa
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i have two dogs so they play outside all day when im at work if you get a lab and it gets bored it will cause hell and discontent i left mine alone for a hour or so when he was 6 months old and he pretty much turned my house upside down i still love him though. do you have a big yard to leave him to play all day?
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cca
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Mojo
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Sturgeon Trainer
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Reged: 09/10/03
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Loc: Bootsville, Idaho
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No worries if you have a concrete walled and floored dog run.
I got my pup at the beginning of summer vacation. My wife teaches and Rod_bully is a student. Bailey had company till she was 6 months old, 24-7. It worked out for us. Last dog was the same deal. Dog before that was so long ago I can't remember, but I believe we locked her in a room inside that got destroyed while we were at work.
Dogs will chew stuff. I have found that a bone is more fun than sheetrock, and the dog will go after a bone before your wall. There is never the perfect time to get a pup. You should get the perfect dog when you can. Find the dog you want, and accomodate it.
That's my 2 pennies worth... 
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Ash
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That IT Guy that Fishes...
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Reged: 05/17/03
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Loc: Lacey, Washington
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I just bought this house, and it just so happens that it came with a nicely sized dog run, albeit the walls are chain link not concrete. I imagine I will have to put something up to prevent the pup from chewing the metal and damaging his/her teeth. I have a bunch of roof sheathing that would probably suffice.
My yard is also a pretty good size, but the fence is in disrepair and I still can't figure out who the fence actually belongs too. But I WILL have it fixed.
I pretty much expect that my house will be a disaster area for the first 6 to 12 months, I can live with that. Small price to pay.
Thanks for the input!
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2 Forks is Confusing, 3 Forks makes for Excitment
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Mojo
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Sturgeon Trainer
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Reged: 09/10/03
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Loc: Bootsville, Idaho
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A pup won't hammer chain link till it is 4 months or so, based on my experience. Give 'em something to do, and they will focus on that.
Chessy's will eat concrete, so be prepared. Labs are a bit more mellow. Golden's more mellow than labs. If you plan on hunting 100 days a year, go Chessy. 15-90 days, a lob. 10 or less, a golden. I base my figures on the pain you will deal with versus the amount of hunting you will have. 
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Mojo
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TeXMojo
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Old Fishermen never die, they always smell that way!
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Loc: Fort Lewis
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Take him to work with you if you can.
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Hooah!
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Ash
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That IT Guy that Fishes...
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Loc: Lacey, Washington
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TeXMojo,
I work at the Camp Murray DOIM. I don't think the J6 would appreciate my puppy chewing on his network equipment.
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TeXMojo
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Old Fishermen never die, they always smell that way!
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Oh, Ash, he wont mind, that is as long as hes a dog lover. LOL
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Hooah!
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3RivrFishr
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Jonsin' for Steel
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Loc: Lewiston, Id.
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I took my current dog to work with me for the 1st 6 months I had him. The socialization and constant interaction got him off to a great start. After that 1st 6 months I sold my share of the business to my partner and got a job where I couldnt take Kobie. He did fine being alone and has been the perfect dog his whole life.
Its ideal if a pup can be with people 24/7 so that any behaviour issues can be corrected immediately before they become habits but if you can keep it corraled and out of trouble with chew toys like Joe said and room to romp a little bit it should be fine.
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Real joy comes not from ease or riches or from the praise of men, but from doing something worthwile. -Wilfred T. Grenfell
Keep fishin and keep smilin -Tooter
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pez
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hobo
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Reged: 05/22/07
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Loc: Wishin I was in elk camp...
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I don't think spending 5-7 hours alone each day is necessarily a problem. I do believe, however, that the more time you spend with them, the better they'll be adjusted to your family, and to being generally good dogs.
I'd recommend you get the pup at a time when you can dedicate as much time as possible to them. Get the pup on a 3-day weekend, and maybe take a couple days off. The several days that you'll get to spend completely together will jump start the entire process.
Then think about whether you can come home for lunch, etc to make the time spent alone shorter. I know it sounds like overkill, but I completely believe the most important thing is spending a lot of time with the dog, and taking them everywhere.
It would be perfect if you could take him to work like 3Rivr, but that doesn't work for most of us.
If you're a newbie to hunting dogs (or even if you're not), I found the Gun Dog books by Wolters to be very good.
Good luck - you're in for a ton of fun.
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Ash
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That IT Guy that Fishes...
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Reged: 05/17/03
Posts: 95
Loc: Lacey, Washington
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I'm planning on taking a week off to spend with the pup and familiarize her with the house and neighborhood. Can anyone recommend a good resource for "crate training"? My brother in law swears by it, but he got his dog "started" or pre-trained.
I'm getting ready to put my deposit down on a female pup from Skywatcher Chesapeakes in Kalama. I'm all kinds of excited at this point, had to send the credit card to work with my lady. She was afraid I'd start buying dog "stuff", lol. I'm really looking forward to having a running partner that doesn't show up an hour late. Thanks again for all the input everyone!
TexMojo,
The Boss is pretty flexible, he's agreed to one hour lunches so I can come home. I'm not going to push it. lol.
Pez,
I just ordered the Gun Dogs book by Wolters. (She forgot the Debit card, silly lady.) Thanks for the tip.
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2 Forks is Confusing, 3 Forks makes for Excitment
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Southfork
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River Bum....
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Reged: 04/01/03
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Loc: Idaho
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When you get the dog before you even hug it make sure it's in it's crate. Buy big and section it off as they grow. They only need enough room to stand up in and turn around. It will become "there space" and they won't have accidents unless they can't help it. With puppies it happens so don't get mad just clean it up. It won't take long and they realize it's there space.
I started Trouble from moment one and when I picked her up she went right into a crate. I work a lot and for the first six months that was her place for 10 hours a day. After she got older I left her in the house not in the crate and I dealt with the aftermath of a young lab that's bored. The crate is now in the back of my truck and it only takes the word crate and she's all over it (it's her space).
Never use the crate as punishment for disobedience.
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fishyness
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cowlitz killer
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Reged: 11/01/07
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Loc: bellevue wa
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i got my lab when he was 6 months old it was hard to train him i now know that a black lab can be crazyier then a &chit house rat lmao
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freinds of the cowlitz
cca
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TeXMojo
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Old Fishermen never die, they always smell that way!
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Reged: 04/16/08
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Loc: Fort Lewis
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Yep, both my labs were retreads from the pound. They were around 13 months old when I got them and boy let me tell you. One is trying to settle down but the female is out of control.
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Hooah!
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GrimmReaper
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Chromer
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Reged: 07/01/04
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Loc: Pasco, WA
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Read the Wolters book, it has tips on how to pick a pup & it starts the traing off from day one and socialize...100 new people & 100 new dogs in the first 100 days. Most places won't bother you if your taking a "cute" puppy into them.
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DAWG IT (verb) - To play an entire season of a sport and remain completely defeated.
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Castingpearls
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familyman
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Reged: 10/12/06
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Loc: Elma, WA
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I was in the market for a pup a few months back and asked a lot of the same questions you are. I can say the best advice is to buy all 3 Wolters books. Gun Dog, Family Dog, and Water Dog make training a pup very doable.
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