My new puppy gets very stressed when left alone :(

[AB1984]

Hi, I'm hoping you may be able to help me. We got a puppy 4 weeks ago and we are having problems when leaving her alone. So far me or my partner have always been around her so when she is left, even for a few seconds, she wines and barks. If left for longer, maybe a few minutes, she yelps loudly and throws herself at the door and gets very distressed. We have tried leaving her with lots of toys, bones and kongs but she isn't interested, we have tried feeding her before we leave, and have left the TV/radio on for her. We have even tried just putting her one side of a childgate whilst we are the other, but if we go out of her sight the yelping begins. Does anyone have any suggestions? We do not have a crate, but do have a childgate. She is about 3 1/2 months old. Hope you can help! Thanks.

[nick_j007]

Hi.

Never easy to address this via typing, but...

Always wait for the slightest of quiet moments before returning to the dog. The concept you are looking to offer is that you do not return in response for noise. Over time the quiet periods should increase and then you are able to be out of sight for longer.

When you do return avoid making cooing and sympathy noises at the dog (I bet somebody is?!) Just be calm and quiet. Do not pick the dog up to console it either. Only ever address your pup when it is calm and quiet. This way you are reinforcing that type of behaviour and you will begin to see more of it.

Assuming someone is home during the day, I would now start a routine where the pup is left about 6 times each day for just five minutes each time. DO NOT return to the dog whatever it does! A test for you I know. Each time the dog is left, you can put down 1/6th of its daily intake of food.

Over time things will settle and the dog can be left 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes for each feed time. You can reduce the feed times down in the long run too.

DO be sure to ignore your dog upon initial greetings. Big fuss will only teach it that there will be a party on your return/arrival...this is not the message you want to be giving out, as it then places stress when you leave the dog alone as you're currently experiencing.

Good luck,

Keep me posted.

(Away next week btw.)

[susan.doglover]

Originally Posted by nick_j007

When you do return avoid making cooing and sympathy noises at the dog (I bet somebody is?!) Just be calm and quiet. Do not pick the dog up to console it either. Only ever address your pup when it is calm and quiet. This way you are reinforcing that type of behaviour and you will begin to see more of it.

I think you're right. Dog owners need to that in order for the dogs to behave and do not become a spoiled brat (like a child does).