How long will it last?
 

Just curious about something...

Sadie hates going in her ex pen. I put her in there often enough when i'm home so she doesnt' always associiate it with us leaving, but that's always where she goes when we both are gone. Today is one of those off days where DH works the same shift as me and we're both gone for 8 hours today. She must have known something was up from the beggining because both mommy and daddy were getting ready for work and she was in the x pen. She didn't pee or poo outside like normal due to the wet grass. She whined and barked her head off all morning and then finally i convinced DH that since he was dressed and ready he needed to at least give her a little playtime...he can be a bum and a pain!!

so after we played more we had to leave and penned her up with her toys, bed, crate with blankets, water, some dry kibble, and pee pad. she cries and barks like she's dying

my question is: will she always do that so long as she has to be penned for potty training or will she someday get used to it and stop the barking and whining when she goes in there? is there anything i can do to help her transition into the pen for the day?? usually she's only in there a max of 3 hours a day without us home, but once or twice a week we both work the 7-4 or 8-5 shifts due to walgreens truck day (DH job) i always work 8-5 and am gone 7:30-5:30 Mon-Fri....

can someone help me to understand her better and to help her not whine and bark so much in her pen...

really would like some advice even if it's just that they never get used to being crated up and she will always rather be with me than in her x pen....

just wanted to know what you guys think

Well I have two that are home all day for a long period of time since both hubby and I work. Best advice is to not make a big deal out of leaving. I've watched several of Victoria Stillwell's training on Animal Planet and you put the dog in their x-pen and leave without saying a word and same when you come home. Don't make a big fuss over it..it should be like any other time you come and go.

Also I leave busy toys for both..like puzzle toys you put treats in. So when I leave they both go into their separate pens, I leave them their busy toys and walk out the door. It works trust me.

Also since Cosmo is still a puppy and in puppy potty training I have to keep him in his x-pen more often especially when I'm getting ready for work (husband is already gone by the time I even get up). So when I go upstairs to get ready Cosmo goes into the x-pen and in the beginning he used to bark and cry his head off. I stood my ground and ignored him.

Victoria Stillwell says ignore that way they stop. If you do anything while they are barking, whining and you talk to them or give them something they think to themselves..wow..I barked/whinned and I got attention frrom Mom and Dad. Bingo I'll keep doing it.

Hope this helps a little.:D Oh it took about a week then it started to get better but don't cave in to their cuteness..hehehe

that's the hard part, everything in me wants to say "HUSH" but i need to stop saying anything at all.

i leave her plenty of toys, i guess i need to get some other stuffing for her kong toy, she doesn't ever chew the treat that's in there, maybe she doesn't like it, i might go get some of the peanut butter stuffing that sprays inside the hole instead....

thanks!!! and it's also so hard not to tell her good bye and get kisses from her and then i LOVE how much she is excited to see me when i come home and i can't help it that i want to hold her and get kisses then tooo...

need to stop those things don't I???

I hate to tell you this but i've had Bailey 5 years and i've never been able to get rid of his seperation anxiety... :( He SCREAMS when we are leaving. I have tried everything. I've broght in multiple trainers and worked with him but i've never been able to help him. He just doesn't want to be alone. I hate leaving him too... boo! I'm at a point where I think I might have to put him on anxiety meds for his own health because i'm so afraid he'll have a heart attack. I've put it off so long now but he's just not getting any better. The little guy gets so worked up and I have really really worked with him and tried every possible solution. I hate to medicate him, but I would hate to lose him even more. That's how bad he works himself up. :(

Jut think of this training time as temporary to get the dog you want. Now with Izzy I can say anything to her and get kisses and put her in her x-pen with no issues. Now Cosmo is a baby and still learning so I can't do that with him so guess what? Hehehe..Izzy is training again with him. I keep telling myself it's only for a few weeks and then all will be good.:thumbup::D

hi! It's SO hard to stop giving them that attention, especially when you've been gone all day and they deserve some lovin'. But it really is to their advantage and they'll thank you for it some day :)

Do you have a friend or family member close enough to check on Sadie on the days you and your husband both work the same shift? Eight hours is a long time to leave a nine week old puppy alone.

i guess my MIL or BIL could come by, but i really don't want my MIL in my house at all. mike can go home if he needs to but she's been home that long a couple times before and does just fine, she plays in her water dish and makes a mess for me when i get home... Mike gets home at 3pm today...i just don't want to bother anyone and she does so well being home, she's never had any sick issues or any troubles.

What kinds of busy/puzzle toys do you use? I get to the store and get so confused looking at everything that I can't decide what to buy, but I think my guys would really love these.

i'd like to know too since i can't give Bailey a kong with a treat bc of his Pancreatitis and IBD! :)

I know you haven't had a problem so far, but Sadie is still at risk for hypoglycemia for the next few weeks. If it's doable, it really would be a good idea to have someone check on her midday. It will also help with her separation.

What I've done (all by accident) is go in and out several times. I am always forgetting something. lol They seem to go thru the excited greeting phase, then I leave again without fussing and then come back in and so on. They have gotten to the point that they never know when I come or go. Sometimes when I come back in they've gone off and found a spot to play or lay down already. Maybe this might alleviate some the "leaving me alone" crying. Good luck. :)

This is a great toy site and they ship fast..we buy a lot from them! They have great puzzle toys and so does Amazon.com

Also Izzy is also has pancreatitis/IBD/SIBO and she can tolerate the Cloud Star treats just in case you guys are interested. Oh the Fruitables she can have too!

http://www.bestfriendsgeneralstore.com/

they seem neat but i don't think Sadie would care at all having those, she'd never bother playing long enough to find anything inside them...how do you get a dog to even know what to do with the toy or to realize they have a puzzle to play with and solve???

These are so cool! I've never seen most of these locally. Thanks for posting the link - I'm gonna go shopping now! :D

I also use these for my kiddos: the busy buddy toys

Amazon.com: busy buddy dog toys

WOW ty so much!!! this is a DANGEROUS site for my pocketbook :eek: :D I'm goin shopping!!!!! :thumbup:

Lady loves her Busy Buddy Twist and Treat! :thumbup:

I know it's amazing how quickly they catch on. They just see me getting it and filling it and they get all excited.:)

where do you get those two treats from? the same website?

I just wanted to add that since your little one is so young she isn't just having separation anxiety from you but from her mother and litter mates as well. could you buy her one of those stuffed dogs that has a heartbeat? That would comfort her when she feels lonely. Little ones sleep a great deal of the time too and she could cuddle up to it.
Just a thought.

Oh Lou that's a great idea..I saw those heart beating teddy bears at either Petco or Petsmart not sure which one.:thumbup:

I found both at Petco and at our doggie bakery but if you can't find them locally then Google and search. I think even Amazon might carry them as well.

Even Cheerios is great for a pancreatic/IBD/SIBO doggie, too!!

Skeeter had one and it made all the difference in the world for him. We kept him in a playpen when we left and at night.

thanks!! good idea, i had my shirt in there with her at night for her first night and she has her comfy blankets that she sleeps with every night in a doorless crate in the x pen...

i just hate the barking and crying it breaks my heart. and sometimes when i'm tired and i'm still home it actually just stresses me out lots...it's like it never stops for the whole 10-20 min i'm getting ready and it's hard to shower and think about leaving for work when she's going nutts barking....poor baby.

i'll try some puzzle toys and maybe the heartbeat toy

Then there is always the day care option!

i'm seriously contemplating it now...it's only $10 per day and it's literally down the street from my work....when she has all her shots i may just have to bring her here when we both work for a day care day!! i can see her at lunch that way!!

good idea, makes me feels lots better!!

I have made a frozen snack for my pups inbetween meals and they go nuts for it ...keeps em busy for at least 30 minutes and thats with four of them.
I mix plain yoguart,peanut butter and honey all together put in dixie cups and freeze.Peel off the cups and you have a frozen treat that will keep her busy at least it may keep her distracted until you get out the door;).