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As more and more people are quarantined in their homes, shelters are being completely emptied. I know plenty of people who have always said, “I would get a dog, I just don’t have time to train it.” And that was so true for people. They knew the responsibility associated with getting a new pup, no matter if it was young or old. They knew they could not just adopt a dog, go to work every day, and the dog be trained and happy. It takes a lot of patience to train a new dog in your home. And it really just takes a lot of time being home with the dog. With most people working from home for an undetermined amount of time, a dog is now a great addition to their family.

People who choose to get a dog now must understand they are in it for the long-haul. Adopting a dog to keep them company now and then returning it when they start going back into the office would really not make any sense. There is no sense in taking the time to train a dog and then returning it back to the shelter for the volunteers at the shelter to then deal with. So, please really make sure this is a commitment you are willing to uphold for many years to come.

Training a dog (especially a puppy) is hard work. You have to start early and get your dog trained to a routine. This may even mean keeping the dog in a different room or a crate during “office hours” that you would usually be at work. You may want to play with the dog during the day, but it is important for the dog to understand you are working throughout the day and do not have time to care for them. This will make the transition into you going back to work much easier for the dog.

While crate training a dog is always important to have a solid base for them. I like to break down shipping boxes to put at the bottom of the crate. It creates a nice padding and acts as a temporary bottom that can easily be removed if the dog creates any messes throughout the day. The shipping boxes are a cheap solution instead of constantly cleaning the bottom of the crate or buying puppy pads that can add up pretty quickly. Of course, you may not have to go this route if you are planning daily afternoon walks with your pup. You both may need the exercise during this difficult time.