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SnowWa · 12-10-2006, 07:58 PM

I'm sure that the longer we keep our little pups with us constantly - the harder it will be for them to be left alone.

When my pup was only 8 weeks old - I put a belly band on him and let him have run of the house.

It's true that he generally sought me out and wanted to be with me.....but he also often went to his own bed in another room and would sleep there (without me) or would go off to some other area in the house and play by himself for a while or nap for a while (again without me).

So - from a very young age - my puppy learned to be happy being away from me. He never experienced being with me "all the time" -- and he learned at a very young age that he could have fun "without me."

**** He has never had separation anxiety in any way and has never cried (not even one little peep) when I have left him home alone.

He's 14 months old now - and, since he was a pup, when I go to work - he watches me turn off the TV, turn,on the radio - and then turn on a light (for him) and then head for the back door (the garage). Whenever I do these things - he runs and jumps in his bed and lies his head on the edge of his bed and just watches me go. Never a peep, whine, or anything. In fact, he's practically asleep for his first nap of the day when I walk out the back door. And, of course, he is ectastic when I get home.....

***** I don't think I have ever had a dog suffer from separation anxiety - but like I have done with my little Yorkie - I have always given my puppies space and encouraged them to become independent and learn to have fun and be comfortable without me -- even if it is only in a different room in the house.

Your question - When should I start training my puppy to be alone? I would say that you should have started the first day you got him ----- even if it was his being alone only a few feet away from you or in another part of the house. I certainly would never take a pup with me everyplace I go and have it with me every minute. Your puppy needs to learn right from the start that he can be happy and content without you being with him every minute.

**** If I were you - I would immediately encourage him to be away from you and do other things (start just in the house) - and stop taking him with you every place you go. You are causing your puppy to become very dependent on you - and I'm sure now that he wants to be with you all the time - and my guess is that he will throw a fit and be very unhappy if you leave him home alone.

I have the both of best worlds -- my puppy loves to go with me - but he is also perfectly content to stay at home. We are both much happier this way.

Good luck!

Carol Jean

12-10-2006, 07:58 PM	#9
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	I'm sure that the longer we keep our little pups with us constantly - the harder it will be for them to be left alone. When my pup was only 8 weeks old - I put a belly band on him and let him have run of the house. It's true that he generally sought me out and wanted to be with me.....but he also often went to his own bed in another room and would sleep there (without me) or would go off to some other area in the house and play by himself for a while or nap for a while (again without me). So - from a very young age - my puppy learned to be happy being away from me. He never experienced being with me "all the time" -- and he learned at a very young age that he could have fun "without me." ** He has never had separation anxiety in any way and has never cried (not even one little peep) when I have left him home alone. He's 14 months old now - and, since he was a pup, when I go to work - he watches me turn off the TV, turn,on the radio - and then turn on a light (for him) and then head for the back door (the garage). Whenever I do these things - he runs and jumps in his bed and lies his head on the edge of his bed and just watches me go. Never a peep, whine, or anything. In fact, he's practically asleep for his first nap of the day when I walk out the back door. And, of course, he is ectastic when I get home..... * I don't think I have ever had a dog suffer from separation anxiety - but like I have done with my little Yorkie - I have always given my puppies space and encouraged them to become independent and learn to have fun and be comfortable without me -- even if it is only in a different room in the house. Your question - When should I start training my puppy to be alone? I would say that you should have started the first day you got him ----- even if it was his being alone only a few feet away from you or in another part of the house. I certainly would never take a pup with me everyplace I go and have it with me every minute. Your puppy needs to learn right from the start that he can be happy and content without you being with him every minute. ** If I were you - I would immediately encourage him to be away from you and do other things (start just in the house) - and stop taking him with you every place you go. You are causing your puppy to become very dependent on you - and I'm sure now that he wants to be with you all the time - and my guess is that he will throw a fit and be very unhappy if you leave him home alone. I have the both of best worlds -- my puppy loves to go with me - but he is also perfectly content to stay at home. We are both much happier this way. Good luck! Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.