Puppy barks and barks when he's alone

[saturdaykid]

My Vizsla puppy is 13 weeks old and I'm worried about leaving him alone this Friday night. My dp and I will be both be out from 6pm until 12 and I'm worried my pup won't be able to handle it. In the past I've left him alone for two- three hours at the most and he used to be fine,but recently he's been getting very clingy and will bark like mad whenever he's shut up alone getting more and more distressed. He's not very interested in kongs or other toys so will literally just bark non stop until we get back. I very rarely leave him alone. Even if I exercise and tire him out before I go he'll still get anxious and upset and won't settle. Do you think I should leave him in his crate for that length of time, hoping that he'll just sleep, or that I should shut him in one room, or let him have the run of the downstairs (shutting all the doors so he just has access to 'his' room and the hallway), so at least he can run around and occupy himself? help! Not sure what to do for the best, but he's got to get used to being left sometimes.

When our dog was a puppy we got a clock with a loud tick and put it in her basket along with a teddy bear and a t-shirt I'd been wearing all day. It seemed to comfort her. We also left a radio on playing quietly.
Depends on if here's anything chewable in the hall and his room but I'd let him have the run of downstairs if there's nothing he could wreck

6hrs does seem a long time to leave a 13wk old pup alone. My pups 13wks too and I was worried when I had to leave him for 3hrs. When I went Christmas shopping for a day I booked him into kennels, he was fine there, but he did have my other dog for company. But the kennel owners made sure he was walked and happy and played with him, and its good for them to visit kennels when they are young as I know they will have occasional visits when he's older. Could this be an option for you, or could you get someone to pop in for an hour to let him out and play with him? Presumably when you get back at 12 you'll be going to bed and he'll be alone all night too?
Puppies are hard work when they are young, I declined an evening out that I'd have liked to have gone on as I knew my DH would be out and I felt it would be too long to leave my puppy for.
Do you know he definitely barks all the time you are out? If mine is left he cries at first for a few mins, then as soon as he hears the key in the lock when I return, but is quiet and settled between - I've filmed him to check!
The radio definitely helps, my puppy like Radio 2.

Hello, thanks for your responses! I'm still torn about what to do, as I really can't get out of this thing on Friday. I'm hoping he'll just fall asleep at his usual time of about 10. The radio just keeps him awake unfortunately. Aaargh, what to do!

My puppy is the same age and I am just working up to leaving her for 1/2 hour. I am probably being incredibly soft though. She will go in her crate for a while and sometimes even goes upstair to lie on her bed but we are in the house and she is asleep.

She does still fit in my handbag so is no bother to take everywhere

Don't leave him with soft toys and squeakers - lots of dogs have died by chewing through the toy and swallowing the squeaker! Instead, get something like a Kong, which you stuff with yummy food. The puppy will be occupied for some time, if you really squidge in 'difficult to remove' stuff, like some cheese...

Some DAP spray from your vet might help to calm him a little too (it comes as a diffuser also); but the best thing would be to get someone to look after him for the evening. Nothing is better than human company, and at least they'll be able to take him to the loo and play/cuddle him too.

Hi there,

Vizslas are prone to separation anxiety, and expect to be treated as a member of the family. They're not suitable for households where they would be left alone for most of the day. (which I kow isn't really the case with you).
Although they should be taught to enjoy their own company while they are puppies, 13 weeks is just a baby, and 6 hours is rather a long time...
If you don't have one, a crate is useful for keeping them out of mischief when you?re not there, I'd also recommend the radio for company. My dog liked a hot water bottle in a towel to snuggle up to too, but I don't recommend this for "chewy" types, not safe.

Can you ask someone to sit the dog, or at least pop in? That way the dog learns some time alone, but has a bit of re-assurance halfway through so they don't panic you're not coming back? Plus you can relax more and enjoy your night without feeling guilty?

When I was helping re-homing dogs, mainly adults, the rule was not to let them go to someone who would leave them alone for more than four hours at a time. Now as a dog owner I know this isn't always possible, you need a life! But certainly during the settling in period, I feel there's a commitment to the dog to do it right. Plus, a clingy, anxious dog, is a pain for you with all the chewing and howling. Probably better to take the time when they're small to build their confidence.

A good training tip to avoid/deal with seperation anxiety is to ingore them when you come in the house from being out, for at least five minutes, before looking down and saying "hello xxxx" and giving them a fuss. Hard when they're dancing around your heels, but it communicates that you are free to come and go from your house, you are not specifically leaving them and coming home for them.

My dog used to do the opposite to Little B's! He would wait till we'd gone and howl, then go quiet on hearing the car come back and then yap to greet us, I had no idea he was howling until a neighbour told me - although the chewed furniture should have been a giveaway... The ignoring tip worked well, as well as him just "growing" up.

My parents have the wussiest pointer, I think gun-dogs can be rather sensitive

Hi Lotster, ta for your advice. Yes, Vizlsas can be very sensitive, I know. I dont' leave him often as I work from home, and have been quite diligent about building up time away from him. Will have to think about this more - as it's the Friday before Xmas there's no one available to check on him/stay in with him, I wish I could get out of this thing on Friday but it's impossible. Maybe I'll put him in his crate, it's where he's quietest and seems to feel safe, perhaps he'll be tricked into thinking it's bedtime! Errrrrrgh, poor little bugger, am going to be stressing about him the whole bloody evening anyway, such a pain I can't get out of it. Ta again for all your advice.

Ah, good luck. At the end of the day, he'll be safe!