I got my pup at 8-weeks of age. I took a week off to be with him (and believe me - he slept 75% of the time) - and the second week I dropped him off at my sisters when I worked.
The third week - I went back to work and left him home alone. I am gone for about 6 or 7 hours four days a week. He never cried when I left, and I know that he and my other dog slept most of the day away while I worked.
It's now that he's older that he has decided to cry or whine a little when I leave.....and, I don't think it's separation anxiety. I think he has simply learned that there is a world on the other side of that door, and when I leave he wants to go too......because he has learned that it is fun to go places.
***** I think it's probably good to leave your dog alone some when they are very young.... even if it's just to go to the mail box or run to the store or something. This helps make them more used to it at a younger age (when they sleep most of the day away). I would think it would be much harder on a dog to start leaving them for the first time when they are older and used to constantly being with someone.
Good luck!
Carol Jean |