Hi Debra, just wondering how things went with the trainer last night.
I had posted something last night, but lost my connection and it was lost in cyberland.
My Claire is going to be one in a week. I would say probably the hardest time for us was between 7-10 months. It just takes diligence. Remember, you've had Gracie for only 3 months, whereas the breeder had her for 5 months, nearly twice as long. Three months is a relatively short period of time, and Gracie is just finding out what things she can get away with, and what she can't. Personally it sounds like you do have the ideal situation with working out of the home, and it's just going to take some patience on your part and some 'working' on her part to get her where she needs to be.
If we only placed dogs (whether they've been bought or adopted) in perfect homes, there would be no dogs placed and we ALREADY have an abundance of dogs that need homes.
I am not in a situation where I can leave Claire in a room. Our kitchen doesn't allow us to 'gate' it off, and my older diabetic blind/glaucoma dog Nash already occupies the laundry room when we are gone (it's a very large room), with the cat. Claire has a tendency to jump on Nash's head and eyes, so I don't leave them when they can't be supervised. I wouldn't want to risk Nash or her getting hurt. With that said, I do have to crate Claire. It's a very large crate, large enough for her to play a bit and sleep. She's well potty trained, and she is never left in there for extended periods where having to relieve herself would be a problem. And we never use it for anything other than when we have to leave the home, or she wants a nap.
My husband does work from home, so most days she spends the afternoon in his office with her toys, playing, napping and jumping on the cat LOL>
The biggest thing, and we've found this with ALL our dogs, is consistency. It's hard when they do have a lot of energy. But, they are puppies, and I'm already seeing a change in Claire's 'puppy' energy as she turns one. Of course, training will help, and keeping their mind occupied, as mentioned with the Kong.
I hope you will take your time before making any decisions. A few weeks at this point in her life isn't going to make that much of a difference, and it sounds like you do have a lovely home for her. Of course, if there are other things playing into this, only you can make the decision. I would just hate to see her rehomed if this is just a temporary (as has been mentioned) adolescence thing.
And yes, sometimes the doggy day care situation can energize them to the point where this is their expectations. I've had this happen with a friend. She still uses doggy daycare, but only on occassion, and uses a dog walker other times.
If having time while you are working is a problem, I think perhaps having someone come in and 'dogwalk' while you working might be more plausible. I have a friend who is a dogwalker and she is much cheaper than doggy daycare, and does this for several clients who 'work' at home.
My opinion would be to give it some time. Gracie sounds like a wonderful little girl who is perhaps just going through her 'terrible' twos.
Blessings,
Cindy and Claire