Any advice for crying/howling?

[Welsh cocker]

My husband and I collected our 12 week old working bitch 'Wilma' a little over a week ago. She is our first cocker but we have previously had a border collie and springer spaniel. Training is going well generally, but she has become overly dependant on us...particularly myself, to the point where she will whimper if I leave the room or cry if we separate her from us behind a baby gate.

Some progress had been made in the past couple of days. She spent last night in the kitchen (as opposed to crated in our bedroom) with crying gently for only 20 mins, and a brief episode of howling upon waking 2 hrs later. She has her crate open in the kitchen but remains behind the baby gate, effectively providing a puppy pen for her where she can toilet on puppy pads, which she uses well. 

The main concern is when we leave the house. If she escalates to loud crying/howling in the house, she quiets quickly after a firm 'no' by retreating to her bed and settling down. But if we are not in to provide this 'no' she continues to escalate. We have tried to gradually build time away from house, but always return to her howling. as we are attached to neighbours and will need to leave her home alone for 3-4hrs a day, we really need to get this under control. 

Some things we have tried include: tiring her before leaving (which works if we stay in house and lock her in separate room but doesn't if we leave), feed, water, toilet, stuffed kong toy (only plays with this when in the same room as us), her toys (again, only if we are present), spending time separated during the day to acclimatise to being alone (slow progress made, but again requires a firm no to settle for any length of time), radio on, puppy heartbeat sensor in crate, etc.

We collected her from her mother and brother so she has never been alone until recently. Am I expecting too much too soon? Has anyone had similar experiences, and found that perseverance paid off? Any ideas of what else may help her?  Besides not wanting to annoy the neighbours, I want to ensure we are minimising her distress.

I was aware that cockers 'love people' and company, but want to build her tolerance so this doesn't escalate further. Surely cockers are able to tolerate some time alone??

[HBP]

Do you know she cries when you're away, have you left her yet? I only ask because my 6 month pup still whines and cries when anyone leaves the room or when put in a room on his own. However right from being tiny we have left him with a Kong when leaving the house, so he barely notices us leave, then he is quiet when we are out. (Our neighbours would definitely have told us if he wasn't!!)

Only advice is be strong and ignore ignore ignore!! Try not to engage until quiet, otherwise you are rewarding the crying. Its heart rending but necessary. You may have to jump in with attention between cries and build up to longer periods of quiet. We started off counting to 3 then 5 then 10 etc...

Good luck x

[HBP]

Sorry, obviously didn't read your post very well!! Maybe have a word with the neighbours and explain the situation, it nay improve as she gets older. Is a sitter/ day care an option?

[jonnytrabant]

You say she spent some time crated in your bedroom then have moved her to the kitchen in a week which won't help, she could be confused.

I think you just need to build up the separation time little by little, make sure she sees you leaving the room/house start a few minutes at a time. It's still very early days yet, but stick in there it won't happen overnight. My little fella is perfect (IMHO) loves the attention but is equally happy to be left alone but he's 18 months now.

[Welsh cocker]

Thanks both for your replies. I will continue building up separation time over the coming weeks and hope that it helps her. I will also go speak to the neighbours to explain that it (hopefully) won't be a long term issue. It's been such a long time since we had a puppy...guess I'm expecting her to behave too perfectly too quickly 

Her adorable face doesn't help with ignoring the cries 

Guess I'm gonna have to toughen up a little.

[Welsh cocker]

Just wanted to post an update on Wilma. She is just 15 weeks (3 with us) and has made huge progress over past couple of weeks. 

The crying/howling has pretty much stopped. We video record her when we leave and she will settle and chew her kong for 10-20 mins, and then will whimper gently for a few seconds before going to bed. On waking, she will follow the same routine. Checking through the baby gate to see if we are home, expressing her disappointment with a whimper, but then settling again. She has even began eating her leftover breakfast if we leave it down, which I take as a good sign (surely a distressed panicked dog would not eat?).

At night, she settles immediately (again with a kong), this time no whimpers. She sleeps 8 hrs and does not toilet even on the puppy pads. The crate is left open and there is no evidence that she leaves her bed.

We found progress was made rapidly at night when we began using a hot water bottle under her blanket. Day time progress was made when we implemented the 'ignore for 5 mins on return' rule, and increased her time alone (using baby gate to keep her in kitchen) whilst we remained in the house! Also, I think reducing general fuss of her when she is with us (just occasionally) made he learn to play/entertain herself.

And now I'm less anxious leaving the house, it can only continue to improve 

[HBP]

Sounds like she just needed to settle in a bit  Good news xx