Puppy help PLEASE

[HelgatheHairy]

Trying to keep this short, I have 2 issues really.

I have a 13 week only Golden Retriever puppy. Issue 1, is he doesn't really "entertain himself" during the day. I'm at home with him all day (used to be anyway, see issue 2!) but if i'm not playing with him he doesn't really play with his toys by himself. He does a little but nothing really keeps his attention for more than 5 minutes. Then he either lies looking bored or tries to bite my legs. Which is annoying when I'm trying to do the washing up!

Issue 2. The last 10 days have been very disrupted for him. Due to a family member going into hospital suddenly I've had to leave him for 1.5 hours a day at least while i visit this person. He's not used to this at all. He never had a problem with being left occasionally but now he's started whinging when I leave when it's every day.

Also issue 2.5, the last few days he point blank refuses to go on his walks which he loved before. Digs his front paws in and refuses to move. Which is annoying as I used to be able to take him for his walk, get home and leave about 30 mins later relieved he'd sleep for a bit after his walk.

If anyone has gotten this far, thank you!! and PLEASE help.

P.s. just in case anyone suggests it, putting him in the garden isn't an option as due to the weather building is seriously held up and the garden isn't enclosed.

Issue 1 and 2 are closely linked.

He has been busy bonding with you and suddenly all is changing. And no doubt you are different with him too because you have so much on your plate/are worried. He will sense your worry and notice the change, and all of that together is making him feel very unsure of himself and uncertain about what's going on.

I'd say the walking thing is also linked - he's worked out walk means being left shortly afterwards. Can you do some training with fast returns? Leave him alone with no fuss, no warning for say 5 minutes and come back with no fuss, repeat and slowly increase the time he's alone. Teach him that alone isn't a bad thing? Separation anxiety is very hard for such a young puppy.

He is very young and i would guess is frantically looking it you to know how to behave, to know what's going on and what the sudden change in dynamic is all about.

He will learn to entertain himself, some dogs just take time; others will only play with specific types of toy. He is trying to get you to play with him, using typical puppy tactics of nipping, pouncing and so on. He needs to know that's not what is acceptable but also what he is supposed to do instead. Rather than walk, can you do a 10 minute or so training session with him in the garden before you go out. Concentrating will wear him out far more than a walk!

I'd agree with DaisyDot.

He's associating being left with walks.

Do you have a neighbour who could take him, not neccessarily when you go out but to socialise him? Or could you walk with a friend who has a dog? again for socialisation?

These dogs are often used as working dogs so are quite intelligent and easy to train. Doing the same types of things but in a different rotation each time could help so his daytime isn't predictable. Special snuggle times might help

Hope your family member is ok.

If your pup won't play on his own, have you tried a kong? Our pup would play for hours if we stuff a kong with goodies (low fat :)).
Also agree with the others - can someone else walk him - just around the block so he doesn't associate you/walk/being left?

Good luck!

Thank you all so much.

I had actually trained him to be alone (so I could shower in the mornings!) so it wasnt a massive shock to him, its just the frequency, but I'll start leaving him for 5 mins again and going back to reinforce it.

I've started taking him on short walks, at times I won't be leaving him after to get him used to it again. I can walk him at my mums because after I walk him there he goes in the car and goes home.

Unfortunately there is no one else available to walk him. He does the same with DH.

He likes the Kong, I put peanut butter in it, but again it's a 5 minute wonder.

I can work more on training, he has got most of the basics covered but we really need to work on recall.