"Alone" Training I've been trying to work on this. I put her in her xpen and leave for 10 minutes at a time right now once a day. I just go for a walk. When I walk out the door, I can hear her crying and it breaks my heart. I need to work this up to 3 hours. (That is the most she will ever be alone.) She is 4 1/2 months old, so I figure its a good time to start this training. She is already crate trained, but I dont want to leave her in that unless she is sleeping at night. In her xpen, she has food/water, safe toys, and her blankie. I take off her harness. Any other suggestions to make this easier for us would be appreciated. I feel so bad leaving her alone. I know that sounds bad. Im just tired of running my errands until after my husband gets home. |
Oh, my goodness, I know how heartbreaking it is to hear them cry like that. I can't stand it, either. You're doing it the right way from everything I have read. I guess you can cry right along with her.:( Good luck! |
A friend recently told me she crate trained her weimaraner pup and had similar problems at first. She solved it by putting a blankie in there that she'd slept with and had her scent on it. I wonder if a small crate inside the X-pen would help? You could even leave the door open, but sometimes they feel more secure in tiny spaces. Though mine aren't crate trained, Eddie crawls under the bed into a tiny spot when he's afraid of something. Also, make sure you don't show a lot of emotion when you come into the house after being away. Just walk in. If you teach the dog to be excited when you get home, there's more of a chance they'll miss you terribly while you're gone and anticipate your return. At least that's what the experts say. I admit I have a hard time stifling my emotions when I see them. Good luck. |
Baxter has serious separation issues except for when I leave him in our master bathroom which is where he spends his time when I am gone. I give him a treat and then leave. He never whimpers. Now if I leave him in the kitchen where he can see me outside, he barks and whines constantly. Try giving a treat to occupy her until you are gone. |
I totally feel for you. At first, when I walked out the door to go to work, Wall-E would bark at me and it made me sooo sad :(. Now, right before I leave I give him his Kong filled with treats and it keeps him pretty happy :D I felt sooo guilty leaving my pup alone while I'm working so I bought a pheromone plug-in that simulates the same pheromone that their mothers give off. I can't really notice a HUGE difference in his behavior, but I bought it just in case it would sooth him while he's alone. I also notice that he rarely cries, so again, I don't know if thats because of the pheromone plug-in or not but it might help. I also leave the radio on for company. It's good to train your pup now in small increments. She'll get used to it in time. Good luck! |
I got Canyon a week ago today, he was almost 13 weeks at the time. Before he came home with me, he was surrounded with people and other puppies and he was always being held or coddled in some way. He comes home with me and everything is great, he's adorable, he plays well, eats well, sleeps all night in his crate on my bed without any worries or anxieties and is unbelievably good about running to his potty pad to go pee. Now all I have to say is Canyon, go potty, go potty and he runs in there and pees on his pad. Well this past Monday rolls around and I have to go to work, he's gated in my laundry room with his small crate (door off to be used for his den) all his toys, food/water and potty pads. He's screaming bloody murder when I leave (and I put him in there at the last minute before I grab my purse and head out the door to work) and he's screaming bloody murder when I come home. How do I make this better for him. Will he eventually learn that ok, when Mommy goes to work, this is where I stay and Mommy will come home? I'll add that I also leave the television on for him all day too. Nothing seems to be working. |
You might try leaving the radio on while you leave. Turn it on a talk station before you leave. Can you exit without her knowing that you left? I noticed with my two that they cried for a bit, but quickly quieted down and either played or went to sleep. I also got this dog bed that has a heart beat in it. That really helped Gracie. Holly wasn't so bad because she had Gracie to be with. |
I've had the television playing every day, on Monday, I'll try the radio. I'm also thinking about getting him a brother or sister as I'm not sure he'll ever get over his lonliness. Or perhaps I'll move the wire crate to another part of the house so he has more to look at during the day. Believe me, I'm willing to try everything. |
I've heard advice similar to gracie2006's. Try not to make a big deal about your departures and your returns. Just leave. Then when you come back, wait a while before you acknowledge her. You might do some practice leaves. Walk out for a few minutes, then come back. I know it sounds cruel, and I still don't do it all the time because, frankly, I'm excited to see them when I get home. But I've heard that when you create a lot of excitement when you return home, it rewards them for being fussy and makes them miss you all the more. Good luck. It will improve. |
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