On Average, How Many Hours are Your Corgis Left Alone?

[sweetlychee]

Hi Guys,

Milo has never been home alone - ever. Maybe once for 2 hours but that was it. As a puppy, someone was always there to be with him. Now, as a 8 month old doggie, he's still with someone at home at all times.

I know next year we plan to move and he will probably need to be at home alone from 6 - 10 hours. We didn't want him to be alone that long as a puppy but I'm still hesitant about this.

That's why I want to know how many hours on average are your corgis alone? How do you deal with it and what do you do to keep him away from boredom and trouble?

Thanks, all. This would really help me have a sense to gauge and compare everything.

[tandemgal]

deleted by T-Gal

[Fluffypants]

Jackie is home alone for about 7 hours before her walker comes, and then another 4 or so until we get home. She is fine with this arrangement, and has no separation anxiety at all.

To ease the transition, though, you may want to start increasing the length of time that he is left alone gradually before you move (rather than moving and changing his entire routine - and life - all at once). This way, he will have less to adapt to after the move . . . which will probably be hard enough on its own. One thing I did that helped Jackie cope with us leaving is to give her a special toy/treat that she ONLY got when we left the house. I use Kongs, or other treat-stuffed toys (Buster Cube, Molecule Ball, Treat Stick), to keep her busy. It has worked VERY well for us. I think she may actually look forward to us leaving now!

[sweetlychee]

Originally Posted by Fluffypants

Jackie is home alone for about 7 hours before her walker comes, and then another 4 or so until we get home. She is fine with this arrangement, and has no separation anxiety at all.

To ease the transition, though, you may want to start increasing the length of time that he is left alone gradually before you move (rather than moving and changing his entire routine - and life - all at once). This way, he will have less to adapt to after the move . . . which will probably be hard enough on its own. One thing I did that helped Jackie cope with us leaving is to give her a special toy/treat that she ONLY got when we left the house. I use Kongs, or other treat-stuffed toys (Buster Cube, Molecule Ball, Treat Stick), to keep her busy. It has worked VERY well for us. I think she may actually look forward to us leaving now!

Very good suggestion! That would be a great incentive. I will think about what to give as a treat for Milo then!

[Jespah]

Rupert and Jemma (who is 8 months) are left for 9.5 hours a day. I use the same method as Fluffy P, they each get their treatball with cookie molecules inside which gives them something to do as I'm going out the door. I also leave Ms Jem some cardboard toilet paper tubes to rip up as she is quite distructive with her teething right now. (Just got home to my leather coasters being mutilated all over the floor). I also used to leave them empty cracker boxes, or small boxes with a small treat well taped with packing tape inside. It was something to do. Corgis are smart and get bored, better for you to give them something to do rather than them find something on their own!

[Cardiguy]

Ruby is alone from 8:30 to 5:30 and we have a dog walker come around noon to walk her. She either sleeps or watches out the bay window and guards the house-so she sort of has a job to do. Ruby has never destroyed anything in the house. Interestingly when we come home, Ruby basically ignores us until we call her then she comes over wildly wagging her tail. Wheh we start to acknowledge her whe grabs one of her toys and wants to play.

[sweetlychee]

Originally Posted by Jespah

Rupert and Jemma (who is 8 months) are left for 9.5 hours a day. I use the same method as Fluffy P, they each get their treatball with cookie molecules inside which gives them something to do as I'm going out the door. I also leave Ms Jem some cardboard toilet paper tubes to rip up as she is quite distructive with her teething right now. (Just got home to my leather coasters being mutilated all over the floor). I also used to leave them empty cracker boxes, or small boxes with a small treat well taped with packing tape inside. It was something to do. Corgis are smart and get bored, better for you to give them something to do rather than them find something on their own!

Jespah - I agree. Corgis don't like to get bored so I'm looking into things for Milo to play with while we're gone. Corgis need something challenging and interesting. He only uses the kong to dig out the food and treats we put in. After the treats are gone, he ditches the kong!

Milo also likes to chew and destroy tissues and papers. I'm sorry to hear about your leather coasters! At least it wasn't leather chairs or sofas. Did you crate them in an area say the kitchen or something? I'm thinking of buying the gates in the future also.

Milo has a small crate we used for him to carry him around and when he was younger. Now, he can't really fit in the crate.

[Fluffypants]

Sweet - if you put a variety of treats inside, and make them difficult to get out, it will take him longer to get the treats out & keep him nice & busy. I read somewhere that most damage is done within the first 30-60 minutes after you leave. So if you can give him something that will keep him busy for about 30 minutes or so, you should be ok.

The Buster Cube is very good for this also. It has a series of chambers inside, so he has to roll it around on the floor, and food falls out randomly. It can take hours for them to get it all out!

[sweetlychee]

Originally Posted by Fluffypants

Sweet - if you put a variety of treats inside, and make them difficult to get out, it will take him longer to get the treats out & keep him nice & busy. I read somewhere that most damage is done within the first 30-60 minutes after you leave. So if you can give him something that will keep him busy for about 30 minutes or so, you should be ok.

The Buster Cube is very good for this also. It has a series of chambers inside, so he has to roll it around on the floor, and food falls out randomly. It can take hours for them to get it all out!

Where did you get the buster cube? Wow, in the first 30-60 minutes, they destruct everything? Geesh! I know I put an ice once in the kong. It took Milo around 5 minutes to get it out. He uses his paws, muzzle, everything! He is quite determined. If he can't get it out in say 30 minutes, he gets pretty angry. Lol. He has my temper!

I think pets do have almost similar personalities as their owners! That should be a great topic for a post.

Is there a picture of the buster cube?

[Fluffypants]

Here is a link to it:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

[Checkers]

The buster cube is fun for the dogs, but if yours is as smart and quick as Checkers (as I'm sure all of our corgi's are). It may not take as long as you think for them to get that food out. If I put his entire meal ration in the cube he will have it all out in 15 minutes tops now. Still... it is a lot of fun for him, and fun to watch. I enjoy giving it to him on occasion just because of that. Here's a few pictures of him playing with it one of the first time. Oh.. and it took about twice for him to really 'get' it that he had to work it... it's pretty noisy so at first I think it made him nervous. Once he figured out it was dinner he got over that fast. I had to roll it for him to start so he would figure out food came from it...

[corgimom]

I have also seen the Buster Cube at Petsmart - I still want to get one of these.

[tandemgal]

deleted by T-Gal

[Fluffypants]

Jackie loves hers - she goes nuts batting it around the kitchen floor. I had to show her what to do at first, also. But by the time the second piece of kibble popped out . . . she was all over that cube like white on rice!!!

She must just wear hersef out & stop playing with it to take a nap I guess. Because sometimes, when I get home at night, there are still a few pieces rattling around in there. Works for me either way . . . whether she's eating or sleeping . . . she's still busy! And a busy corgi is a well-behaved corgi!!

[sweetlychee]

Originally Posted by Checkers

The buster cube is fun for the dogs, but if yours is as smart and quick as Checkers (as I'm sure all of our corgi's are). It may not take as long as you think for them to get that food out. If I put his entire meal ration in the cube he will have it all out in 15 minutes tops now. Still... it is a lot of fun for him, and fun to watch. I enjoy giving it to him on occasion just because of that. Here's a few pictures of him playing with it one of the first time. Oh.. and it took about twice for him to really 'get' it that he had to work it... it's pretty noisy so at first I think it made him nervous. Once he figured out it was dinner he got over that fast. I had to roll it for him to start so he would figure out food came from it...

Checker's name matches the rug! He looks so curious with that cube. He's very cute and short! Well, aren't all corgis short?

Definitely need to get my corgi one of those cubes.