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Originally Posted by Kellyxx  Hi everyone,
This is my first post and boy am I glad I have found this site, our puppy is 17 weeks old and he's so well behaved, he is my first dog from I got him he has slept in his crate after first three nights he slept all night no problems at all, the last two weeks I have started to leave him for two hours during the day in his crate, now he does not want to go into ir at bedtime and cries and scratches for about 20 mins, I feel so sorry for him, also during the day should I maybe leave him in kitchen with his bed instead of leaving him in crate? I tried leaving him in kitchen tonight for 10 mins I closed the door he broke his wee heart, I just need proper advice as to door whats best for him I don't want to distress him but do need to be able to leave my house, am I keeping him with me to much ? Apart from when he's sleeping and two hours in crate he's with me all the time I take him everywere do I stay with crate? Or just bed in kitchen with door closed? Please help I'm worried sick I'm putting of doing things that I need to leave him for, I don't want it to get any worse, thank you |
We have been successful using a crate with a bed in it in our room for night time only sleeping and then have a pet fenced area that is larger in the kitchen with a throw rug, bed, blanket, chew toy and her food and water for daytime if we have to be gone. The gate is always open for food/water access when we are home and then the gate is closed when we are gone.
We have a bedtime routine where she goes potty and has a treat and then is put in her crate - always with us going to bed at the same time. When we leave during the day she is put in her kitchen kennel with a treat and we always say "We'll be back in a little while" and leave. Sometimes she is a little shaky when we do that but I think it's like the yorkie version of a guilt trip, lol. As soon as we're gone, she settles right in.
We also have a bed in our tv room so she has a place to lay in the room with us if she's not wanting to be up with us. Three beds may seem like a lot, but we get identical beds for $10 to $12 from Pet Smart that are washable and the right small size. We get baby blankets from the dollar store for her crate bed so they don't take up too much room. For her kitchen kennel she has chosen a blanket by default - one we had around that she gravitated to.
Good Luck!