Leave pet, puppy, home alone?

[Janna]

I searched and didn't find any info, so decided to ask here.  I am doing the ark LTW in Pets and I have adopted a puppy, I am a dog person, can't hav a home without a dog in it.  I chose a puppy over an adult because she reminded me of a Elkie we once had, and she was listed as a hunter.

I figure she is too young to take hunting, so is it okay to leave her at home alone?  Unfortunately, they don't have dog crates to put a dog in.  She is doing good in the non-destruction but to leave her home alone with temptation isn't fair to her.  Plus, she seems to be housebroken, but again, it wouldn't be fair to put her in the position of accidents. 

[loveSims]

You can leave the puppy alone at home. Just make sure the food bowl os full. I always adopt at least two pets. If a pet get to lonely the pet control will take it away. And puppies can't climb stairs, make sure he can reach the food.

[CSquared2]

In addition to food, if you want to avoid accidents in the house, it's best to leave her on the ground floor or, if your house is on a foundation, outside.  She probably won't go outside on her own at first, so you'll have to direct her to potty outside until she does it on her own.  Praising her for doing so helps, of course.  I would also get a toy crate and take the toys out of it for her.  If I remember right, puppies can't get the toys out themselves, but they can use them if they're already on the floor.  That should keep fun up.

[Korva]

Yes, puppies and kittens can't get toys out of the box by themselves. Having two (or generally an even number) of pets is what I recommend as well -- not only can they keep each other happy, it's also fun to watch them interact. Lots of cute animations there.

If your house is on a platform, you could build a small outdoor kennel with the toy crate, food bowl and house for the puppy so she doesn't have to "go" inside due to not being able to use stairs.

[Janna]

I must have gotten lucky because she seems to be housebroken already.  When she needs to go out she just goes to the door and takes care of her business.

I prefer to build my houses and have them one floor, makes it easier to see where everything is so she doesn't have to worry about stairs, just tiring herself as she goes from one end to the other 

I think I will get another puppy, build a kennel with a locked gate to keep them in for when I have to leave them.  I'll put in some toys for them and since they will have each other I won't have to worry too much.  I have been around dogs all of my life, have even breed, raised and shown dogs for a period of time so I have no problem with live ones; we have two right now, a Wimie and a mixed Manchester and Yorkie Terrier, we lost my girl a while back (she was 17 years old) but sim ones are different. 

Thanks for the help

[heatherliz2002]

If she seems to be housebroken already, it may be because she has the neat trait.  I believe that is the trait you encourage when you praise the puppy/dog for going outside to "do their business."