Part 4: The Foundation | Living the Plan: Navigating Work and Routines

With the ‘little brown bear’ officially named Monte, the focus shifted from theoretical research to the practical reality of daily life. The immediate challenge was the logistics of balancing a puppy’s needs with a work schedule that required me in the office three days a week.

Managing the Space

Living in a tri-level home with open staircases and two cats meant I had to be very intentional about where Monte spent his time. I set up two play pens, with the upstairs one being his main base. Inside that pen, I kept his smaller transport crate with the door open and a bed inside. I wanted him to have a “safe spot” he could retreat to whenever he needed a quiet moment.

The surprising thing was how much he respected those boundaries. Even though one of the pens was quite low, he never tried to climb out or escape. He genuinely seemed to consider it his own room; even when the gate was wide open. He would often just wander back in there on his own. It also gave my cats the space they needed to get comfortable. They eventually started walking right up to the pen to check him out, knowing they were safe on the other side.

The 24/7 Routine

The first few weeks were a bit of a blur of sleeping with one eye open. I had a soft crate set up next to my bed so I could hear him stir. Initially, I was up roughly every two hours to take him outside. I decided very early on that I didn’t believe in using “wee pads” inside the house. I wanted to maintain a clear distinction that business was to be done outside only.

Because of that commitment, the effort was worth it. Throughout his entire puppyhood, Monte only ever had a couple of accidents in the house, and those were on me for missing the timing. As he got older, we could gradually prolong the time between bathroom breaks. Eventually, I stopped the scheduled alarms and only took him out at night if he actually woke up. To transition away from that strict daytime schedule, I introduced a dog talking button by the door. Teaching him to press it gave him a way to ‘speak up’ whenever he needed a break between our usual trips.

The Work-Life Balance

The logistics of my three-day office schedule required a real tag-team effort. I would never have been comfortable leaving a puppy alone for three full days. It simply isn’t fair, and it’s impossible to maintain proper toilet training without someone there.

I would get up early for a solid cuddle, some play, and short training beats using his breakfast ration. As he settled for a nap, I headed to the office while my husband took over. I was lucky to have the flexibility to finish early and work from home some afternoons. Without that overlap, I am not sure how we would have coped. We used a puppy cam to keep an eye on him, occasionally popping our heads in for a quick cuddle or bathroom break to keep him reassured.

Building Confidence with Crates and Games

We gradually started testing leaving him in the crate with just his bed and water for small blocks of time. I used Susan Garrett’s crate games and a few other methods to make sure he saw the crate as a positive place. I know crating isn’t for everyone, but for us, with the cats and the open stairs, it was the only way to ensure everyone stayed safe. Because we started this from the very beginning, Monte never showed any real anxiety about it, just the occasional puppy tantrum which is to be expected.

Socialising and the Hills Dog Club

While we waited for him to be fully vaccinated, we stuck to the backyard for exercise while still making an effort to get him out in the world. He became a regular at coffee shops and even the occasional Bunnings trip, which he absolutely loved.

Once he was cleared by the vet, I wanted to start proper training. I wasn’t interested in a one-off class; I wanted something long-term. This is how I found the Hills Dog Club at Castle Hill. It is run by volunteers and has a great system where you progress through several levels right up to full obedience training. You can go once or twice a week, and after the joining fee, it was only $5 per session. Having so many other dogs around was perfect for teaching Monte to focus in a distracting environment. They also have options for trick training and agility once he is older, so it was a path we could stay on for a long time.

Looking back, consistency and perseverance were the keys; even then, the effort was already starting to pay off.

  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy is curled up and sleeping soundly in a plush, white-lined car booster seat. The puppy is secured with a green palm-leaf patterned leash.
  • A brown puppy stands inside a white wooden playpen with vertical black wire bars, leaning over a double-sided food and water bowl. The pen is lined with a grey and white polka-dot mat and contains a patterned plush dog bed with a blue blanket and soft toys.
  • A high-angle shot of a young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy using a round snuffle mat. The mat features concentric circles of ruffled fabric in vibrant red, yellow, green, and blue. The puppy has his nose buried in the centre of the mat, searching for treats. The activity is taking place on a grey and white polka-dot floor mat inside a white-framed puppy pen, with a double water bowl nearby.
  • A high-angle shot of a young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy standing on green grass during a heavy rainstorm. The puppy is facing away from the camera, wearing a black leash attached to his collar. Large raindrops are visible creating ripples in a deep puddle on the adjacent paved area
  • A series of photos showing a small, fluffy chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy during house training sessions in a backyard. In one image, the puppy is seen from above on a leash, standing on green grass while rain creates ripples in a nearby puddle. Another shot shows him in a typical 'potty' stance next to a low rock garden wall. A third photo captures him in bright sunlight, standing near the same stone edge on a well-maintained lawn.
  • A high-angle, side-profile shot of a young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy standing on a wet green lawn during a rainstorm. The puppy has a damp, fluffy coat and is wearing a turquoise collar with a black leash attached. In the background, there is a low garden border made of reddish-brown stones. A single orange leaf lies on the grass near the pup's tail.
  • A close-up vertical shot of a brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy sleeping soundly inside a tan plastic travel crate. The crate is lined with a dark, white-patterned bolstered bed and contains a teal rope toy. A large, white plush dog toy rests on top of the crate. The setup is placed on a grey and white polka-dot mat inside a white wooden playpen, with a blue silicone slow-feeder mat visible on the floor to the right.
  • A high-angle vertical shot of a brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy sitting inside a grey metal playpen on a polished timber floor. The hexagonal pen contains a tan plastic pet carrier, a grey bolstered bed, a pink patterned toy, and a water bowl. The setup is placed on a tan and white polka-dot Flannel-Backed Vinyl Tablecloth from Kmart floor protection hack in front of a wooden door with frosted glass panels.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy lies on a textured, light grey geometric-patterned rug beneath a dining table. He is intently chewing on a long, colourful plush caterpillar toy featuring bright segments of blue, pink, and yellow. Nearby on the rug are other vibrant plush toys, including a round orange and blue textured ring and a yellow squeaky toy. The puppy’s front paws are tucked under his chin as he focuses on his prize.
  • A brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy with a green leaf-patterned leash sits inside a metal shopping trolley lined with a plush dog bed. In the background, stacks of "Aura 450 Low Smoke Fire Pit" boxes are visible on a wooden pallet
  • A chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy with tan and white markings sits attentively on a polished timber kitchen floor. He has fluffy, slightly floppy ears and is looking directly at the camera with a focused expression.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd with fluffy, alert ears sitting tucked into a round, light blue and white checkered dog bed. He is resting on a highly polished timber floor that reflects the light from a nearby glass door and a black metal puppy gate. The pup is looking directly at the camera with a calm, steady gaze.
  • A fluffy tortoiseshell cat stands on polished timber floorboards, reaching a white-tipped paw toward the black wire of a puppy playpen. Inside the pen, a small brown puppy stands with his nose close to the wire, sniffing toward the cat. A large pink plush dog bed is visible in the background of the pen. Bunnings clear PVC floor protection hack for the dog pen on hardwood floors.
  • A fluffy tortoiseshell or calico cat, seen from the back, sits on polished timber floorboards. She is looking through a black wire puppy playpen at a brown puppy who is standing on the other side. The cat and puppy are positioned close together with the wire mesh separating them as they sniff toward each other.
  • A fluffy grey and white cat sits on polished timber floorboards, looking through a black wire octagonal puppy playpen. Inside the pen, a brown puppy is resting in a grey plush dog bed. A wooden elevated stand holding two stainless steel bowls is positioned near the pen's gate. Bunnings clear PVC floor protection hack for the dog pen on hardwood floors.
  • : A close-up of a brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy's head and paws as he intently chews on a bright orange and light blue textured ring toy on a cream geometric rug.
  • A fluffy grey and white cat sits on a rug on one side of a white door with a glass pane, looking down through the glass. On the other side of the glass, the back of a brown puppy's head and ears are visible as he looks up at the cat.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy with tan markings and a white chest patch sits on a light-coloured couch, nestled among crimson red, fluffy blankets. He is looking intently out of the frame toward the balcony.
  • Four Galahs with bright pink chests and grey wings are perched along a black metal balcony railing. Two are perched on the left, one is in the center near a wooden post, and one is on the right with its pink crest slightly raised. Lush green palm fronds and a suburban house are visible in the background.
  • A large group of vibrant green, blue, and orange Rainbow Lorikeets are crowded around a white feeding dish on a weathered wooden balcony. Many more lorikeets are perched on the black metal railing in the background, surrounded by green trees.
  • A high-angle shot showing two large white Cockatoos perched on a black metal balcony railing. One cockatoo has its wings spread wide, revealing yellow plumage underneath, while the other perches next to a metal bowl filled with seeds. A small green and orange Rainbow Lorikeet is also visible on the left side of the railing.
  • A profile shot of a fluffy brown puppy with tan markings on his face, resting his front paws on a white textured blanket. He is looking intently out of focus toward a window, with a soft cream couch and a vibrant crimson blanket visible in the background.
  • A high-angle vertical shot taken from inside a house looking out onto a wooden deck. A young, dark-furred Monte is sitting perfectly still on a small black mat by the open glass door. He is looking up at a white cockatoo perched on the black metal balcony railing. Two more cockatoos are visible in the large gum tree just beyond the railing. The scene is bathed in warm afternoon sunlight.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy with tan markings and fluffy ears rests in a grey plush dog bed. He is lying down within a white-framed puppy pen that has a grey and white polka-dot floor mat. A large light grey stuffed bear toy and a smaller striped toy are scattered in the bed around him. The puppy is looking thoughtfully toward the left of the frame.
  • A chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy rests inside a black wire dog crate. The crate is lined with a plush white and grey bolster bed and sits on a polished timber floor. In one image, the puppy lies with its chin on the edge of the bed, looking through the bars. In another, the puppy is curled up snoozing, hugging a large light grey plush bear toy, with a bright pink chew toy nearby.
  • A wide-angle Furbo camera screenshot looking into a white wooden dog pen. Monte, a brown Miniature American Shepherd, sits on a polka-dot mat next to a red chew toy and a colorful rainbow snuffle mat. An open travel crate is in the background
  • A night shot of a large, green grassy field illuminated by bright floodlights. Multiple people are scattered across the field with their dogs. In the foreground, a person in a high-visibility yellow vest leans over a tan dog near an orange cone and a sign that reads "New Members". A line of white cars is parked in the dark background.
  • A woman in a dark jacket and jeans bends down to reward a small brown puppy who is sitting attentively on a large grassy field. In the background, other dog handlers and several people in red or blue shirts are scattered across the grass near a long, green metal building.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy with fluffy, upright ears runs across a green lawn toward the camera. He is carrying a small red ball in his mouth. In the background, there is a stone retaining wall and a paved garden path dappled with sunlight.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy with tan markings and a white chest patch lies comfortably in lush green grass. He is resting with his front paws extended and his head up, looking directly at the camera with a calm expression.
  • A young chocolate-brown Miniature American Shepherd puppy rests inside a black metal wire crate. He is lying in a grey and white plush dog bed with his front paws extended, looking calmly toward the camera. A small stuffed animal toy sits on the brown crate mat in front of the bed. The crate is placed on a timber floor with a light blue mat partially visible underneath it.
  • A vertical shot looking down into a blue fabric pet carrier. Inside, a brown Miniature American Shepherd lies on a white fleecy mat, sleeping soundly next to a well-loved light brown KONG teddy bear. The bear has a small orange patch on its chest. Black mesh panels are visible on the side and top of the carrier, which is illuminated by a warm, orange glow from below.
  • A brown Miniature American Shepherd lies comfortably on a polished timber floor inside a black metal playpen. He is resting his head near a large green cushion, and a double-sided food and water bowl is visible in the foreground. The background shows a wooden door with frosted glass panels. Bunnings clear PVC floor protection hack for the dog pen on hardwood floors.
  • A wide shot of a black metal playpen set up on a polished timber floor near a wooden front door. The pen door is wide open, yet Monte is lying calmly inside next to a large green floor cushion. Bunnings clear PVC floor protection hack for the dog pen on hardwood floors.

Ready for the next chapter? Part 5: First Puppy Essentials| Research vs. Reality: My Master Checklist

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