Hi everyone! I could really use some advice/reassurance 😅
I have a 9-week-old Labrador puppy and I’m currently in nursing school, so my schedule is a bit intense. My boyfriend also works a lot, so we’re doing our best to balance everything.
Right now, her routine looks like this:
She’s in a large crate/kennel from around 6am to noon
I come home and give her a potty break + about 15 minutes of play/exercise
Then she’s back in until around 5pm
After that we spend time with her, play, train a bit, etc.
She also sleeps in her crate at night
I make sure she gets attention, food, and playtime when I’m home, but I still feel guilty about the longer stretches during the day. I’m definitely a bit of a helicopter parent and just want to make sure I’m not messing anything up long-term.
She seems okay so far (no major issues, just normal puppy behavior), but I wanted to ask:
Is this schedule harmful for a puppy this young?
Should I be doing more during the day (like a walker or sitter)?
Any tips to keep her more mentally stimulated while she’s alone?
Please be kind 🙏 I’m really trying my best to give her a good life while also surviving nursing school.
Thank you so much!
submitted by /u/maria_943108
[link] [comments]