Puppy barking/crying when I leave the room

[tritonx]

Jamie at 11 weeks loves his crate. Plays in and out of it and at bedtime can't wait to get in and get his biscuit. He cries when I leave the room whether he's in his crate or in the pen. But when I leave him in his crate to go out on errands, as far as I can tell from the puppy cam, he barks and cries for a long time after I've gone and certainly isn't getting his beauty rest. I'm using the 'ignore when they're crying' method, hoping the behaviour will die out when he realises I do come back. And it's supposed to help prevent separation anxiety when they learn to self comfort and understand I come back eventually. I've had him 3 weeks and he's settled in nicely. Even rings the bells hanging from my patio door (in the last few days) when he needs to go out to pee/poop. Clever boy. What's your experience been with the issue of distress at being left alone? A matter of time?

[bizzylizzy]

Hi! A puppy Kong filled with liver sausage,  cream cheese or some sort of meat paste was a life saver during the first few months, Humphrey would spend quite a while licking it clean and it acted a sort of pacifier or dummy, distracted him from the initial panic when I left the room and by the time he‘d finished it, he‘d calmed down. Only other things I can suggest are the standard standbys, - an old jumper of yours in the crate, some quiet music, allowing him to calm down after playing before putting him in. I‘ve picked up lots of suggestions on here over the years but all dogs are different so its matter of picking the ones that work best. However, Jamie is still very little and I‘m pretty sure with time and kind firmness, he’ll settle down. He sounds like he‘s doing brilliantly so far, but after being used to having an older dog around you, its a bit of a jolt to suddenly be faced with the puppy phase again  .
Best of luck and enjoy the puppy phase, - I‘m a little bit envious,  I have to admit! 

[tritonx]

I definitely feel as though Ive been transported back to first days home with a new baby.  Everything is focused on sounds he makes, toileting, feeding, playing, trying to get things done while he's napping. He seems to have one of his very cute little ears cocked to where I am and when I move away, he's awake again. So not getting the depth of nap I'm sure he needs as a very young pup. Good thing I've got a very quiet life and can devote the time. I like that there's spaniel somewhere back in his lineage and he's certainly soft and human pleasing like a spaniel. But he's his own boy too and it's going to be interesting to see what other aspects of the lab and poodle genes show up. Right now, he's just a ridiculously cute little fluff ball who melts into my arms to be petted. Have to remind myself I've only had him for 3 weeks, so barely into any kind of routine established. I'm just beginning to take him around outside for socialisation. It's a bit of a challenge as I live in a very quiet suburban neighbourhood. I'll have to drive him to nearby places for new sounds and people. Not letting him on the ground yet as he's only recently had his second shots, but soon will take him for short walks in the neighbourhood. I leave him with classical music on the HomePod (I read they like that). He'll be better educated musically than I am.  Little boy has just kipped out at my feet while I've been waiting for his post brekkie poop. Hope he remembers the bells when he wakes up. That's more or less where I left off with Fraser. In his latter months, it was all about pooping and taking him out at all hours, poor boy. Still much loved.

[bizzylizzy]

 

[sophie.ivy]

He sounds like a lovely little lad

A tip for the crate that I found worked brillantly - save a high value treat for the crate and make sure you only ever give it to pup when he's in there (for my puppy, it was a peanut butter filled kong and she loves her crate to this day).

Wishing you all the best for the puppy stage! 

[ejp]

I am so pleased for you, there is nothing like a puppy to heal your heart. 

[tritonx]

Yes, a pup in the house makes for a very busy days, but they simply make you laugh. He's really a smart little fellow. He's 12 weeks now and got the basic commands down and now it's mainly repetition and reinforcement. But I appear to have become his butler. In the last week or so, he's been regularly ringing the bells hanging from the patio door to go outside to pee etc. But he's noticed that when he rings them, I come quickly, so there's an occasional use of the bells when I'm in another room and he feels like company.