So, tomorrow I go back to work and I'm concerned how Willow will react. She's never been alone. She went from her litter mates to having Dakota so I don't know how she is going to be with out him. My son has school and work so he won't be any help. The only time she has been home alone is the times I took Dakota to the vet. I do know she made a ruckus one of those times becuase my son was asleep when I left with Dakota and I guess she woke him up from the whining. I know she never made a peep when Dakota was with her. If Colton didn't have to work, he would come home from school and he said she and Dakota were always sleeping in the breezeway waiting for me. They both were always calmly waiting for me when I got home from work everyday. I could be worrying for nothing and she may be ok since our routine is not changing, but...Dakota always slept in the breezeway with her. Any ideas on how to make this more comfortable to her? I have the kong all stuffed and in the freezer waiting. I wonder if I should lock the cats in the breezeway with her so she has company. The ceiling over the stairs to the basement works as a nice big shelf area in front of the windows that I have cat beds on. The cats sleep there alot when the sun is shining so I know they will be comfortable in there with Willow. Willow will be crated. I can't really think of anything else I can do.

I'd give her kong, and maybe leave the tv on. I know my 2 freak out and howl so loudly if I go somewhere and leave one of them alone.

Do you have any dog day cares near you that you could take her to a few days a week while you're working?

Hmmm, you said that she would stay loose in the breezeway with Dakota, right? So she was never crated while you were gone?

If she's used to being crated I would crate her tonight and then tomorrow when you leave and put the kong in there. Leaving the TV on is good but I would make sure she can actually see it's the TV making noise so she doesn't think she's stuck somewhere away from all the noises.

No, she was always crated. She is a hoover vacuum so I couldn't trust her outside the crate. I do think eventually she will be able to be shut in the breezeway with out a crate but I want to wait until she is bit older. Really the only thing that will change is Dakota won't be there with her. Everything else should be our same routine. The tv is not near the breezeway. I could have a radio going. There is a doggy daycare close to where I work, but unfortunately, I have a pretty big vet bill that I owe the Emergency vet. Thankfully they are letting me pay installments. Once that is paid, then I could take her maybe two days a week but that won't be until after Christmas.

She's not crated at night. She either sleeps on the bed with me or on the dog bed by the floor and is super good about not getting into anything at night. I wish I had a camera so I can see how she will do. I'm hoping the cats will make it feel like she isn't alone.

Oh ok, then yes, I would leave the kitties in there with her also. Can't hurt. Plus the Kong and the TV she should be ok I think.

Oh wait, the TV isn't visible. Hmm...

I can do a radio.... I don't know what music she likes though.

I would ask is moving the crate to where she can see the TV is a possibility, but that might be too much change for her at once. Has she been acting semi normal the past few days?

26nikita wrote:

I can do a radio.... I don't know what music she likes though.

Ha! Maybe talk radio so it sounds like she's not alone?

Yeah, I think she is being pretty normal. It's different. I mean, she doesn't have Dakota to play with anymore so I upped our walking and play with her more....

hollywoodhuskies wrote:

26nikita wrote:

I can do a radio.... I don't know what music she likes though.

Ha! Maybe talk radio so it sounds like she's not alone?

LOL! Like Bob and Tom?

26nikita wrote:

hollywoodhuskies wrote:

26nikita wrote:

I can do a radio.... I don't know what music she likes though.

Ha! Maybe talk radio so it sounds like she's not alone?

LOL! Like Bob and Tom?

We don't have them, but I imagine yes! Something that has talk radio all day. Sometimes AM vs FM.

hollywoodhuskies wrote:

26nikita wrote:

I can do a radio.... I don't know what music she likes though.

Ha! Maybe talk radio so it sounds like she's not alone?

NPR (National Public Radio) I'm sure that would put her to sleep all day. Second choice a classical music station.

LOL!! I will try talk radio. on low ofcourse. I don't want to drive her batty!

Violet is partial to Rush and Hannity...