Quote:
Originally Posted by MickNMaL  Suzy, Thank you so MUCH for taking your time to post all of that helpful information! I really really appreciate it!
My problem now is trying to decide if Mickey actually has Sizy anxiety, or if he is just being a fresh puppy. He doesnt shake, and he dunnest bark when we leave, he kinda just gets this sad look on his face.... and proceeds to trash his pen.
After doing a lot of research on it, and reading everyones posts on here, I am thinking it may NOT be "real" separation anxiety - or maybe it is just a mild case. So I guess that is my real question.... do you think that what Mickey is doing sounds like separation anxiety, or is he just doing 'puppy things'?
He is six months old now.... will he grow out of this, and if not is it separation anxiety? Any tips on getting puppies not to dig in their water bowl? He only does it when we are gone, so he is obviously NOT happy about us being gone? But is it something more serious than just fresh behavior? HmMm...
Thanks Again everyone for all of the helpful info!  |
Glad my post helped you-I didn't know if I gave TMI
I think that it sounds like Mickey has a mix of normal puppy behavior and a little anxiety-but it's just my opinion.
In my experience/talking with friends, it seems like sometimes the boys are a little more rambunctious than the girls when it comes to destroying things-I think they do it a little longer. To keep him from digging in his water bowl, try a water bottle. He'll eventually learn to drink from it if he's thirsty
You also might try putting something absorbent (like a little rug, towel, mat, etc.) underneath where you install the water bottle-that way, if he plays with it, at least you don't have a huge mess to clean up when you get home.
I definitely think that you should leave him alone for varying amounts of time every day-and maybe a couple times a day. That way, he'll be used to being alone during the times you DO need to leave him.
I would recommend that if you put his crate in his pen with him, that you put it in the middle of the pen if the pen is out in the open, or if the pen is against a wall, put the crate against the wall. That way, he won't learn to climb on top and jump over and OUT of the pen. (We have some little Houdini's in our house!) You also don't want him to get hurt trying to do this.
I hope this helps!