Yes - it just makes so much sense that if you take a new little puppy and hold it all the time and take it with you everyplace you go and never leave it alone for a minute -- it is going to be very dependent on you and very attached to you. And - it is going to be very upset if you ever leave it alone.
So - those of you who are getting new little puppies - please encourage them to run around and play and learn to entertain themselves and be by themselves . Help them learn to be away from you - at least part of the time ---- even if it is only in a different part of the house.
When my pup was little - I'd be working in my office and he'd run and play for half an hour or so in the front room - and then he'd run in here and want me to pick him up for a few minutes - then he'd want down and take off again. Sometimes, it would be 20 or 40 minutes before he come bouncing back in here to see me. He loves me and he loves to snuggle if I am sitting on the sofa - but he certainly isn't dependent on me and he loves to take off to other parts of the house and do his own thing.
***** He's a boy - and I had a bellyband on him all the time when he was little - so, we didn't have to worry about accidents, and he could have free run of the house with no problems.
The important thing is that when the time came that I had to leave him home alone for a while - it really just didn't bother him that much. He wasn't used to being with me every second of every day - he had learned to do things and entertain himself and be happy without me.
I have two dogs - and I have also never taken them with me everyplace I go. This was something I never wanted to get started. They learned from the first day I had them - that sometimes they can go with me and sometimes they can't..... and they are happy either way.....no crying or whinning or barking when I leave.
This is a good thing! For us and for our dogs..... It makes life so much easier! And - everyone is so much happier.
Carol Jean |