When should I leave my puppy?

[agirlhasnonameX]

He is 13 weeks but can't go out for another three weeks as his first and second vaccine didn't match and so he needs a third.
He hates being left at night and howls and cries a lot.
I don't NEED to leave him. I'm a SAHM, will be for the next few years and after that will be working from home. But there may be the odd occasion he needs to be left for a couple of hours.
Advice online says to start leaving him quite early so he gets used to it. And the prospect of spending the next three weeks in the house with DD is slightly daunting so wondering if I should go out for an hour and see how he goes or if it's better just to stay with him.
Thanks

Of course you can, and should, leave him for a short time. Start with 30 minutes perhaps and quite quickly build it up to and hour or two. He does need to get used to it (and he will, despite the howls!).

Does he have a crate or an area that is his own? From a very young age, we established our puppy in a crate with a comfy bed and a couple of tough chews and she was very happy in her little nest. Even though she is not crated any more, she always loves to be back in her spot.

Perhaps do it after he has eaten and done some exercise so he's had both of those needs satisfied in the short term.

Good luck.

If he’s howling and crying when you leave him at night, that’s likely what he’ll do if you leave him for an hour during the day.

Really you want to start smaller than that, get ready to go out, but don’t, then go out and straight back in again building it up gradually so he’s used to it and not leaving him long enough to get upset.

Also you can take him out with your DD, he just can’t walk on the ground.

Have you tried taking him out in a sling or simply being carried to see the world without being put down on the floor?

The first 16 weeks is the crucial socialisation period, and they need to see and hear as many different things as possible, and have a positive experience of them, to safeguard their future behaviour and temperament. Crowded city centres, loud traffic, bicycles, countryside, livestock, cats, public transport, car journeys, friend's fully vaccinated dogs, hoovers, children etc etc etc - all the things he might see in life, either now or if your circumstances change in future, and will need to cope with.

Once the 16 week mark has passed, there's no reopening it. Take it from someone with a rescue DDog that wasn't properly socialised as a youngster - it's a lot easier to do it now than it is to try and pick up the pieces later.

I have a crate coming but the delivery was very delayed. Supposedly it's coming today. He's been in a small kitchen with a baby gate, with a bed, puppy pads, a puppy Kong, toys, radio on quietly and blankets that smell both like his dam and me.
But I am hoping to start crate training ASAP.
I can't carry him with DD she is 2 and he is quite heavy.
I'll try getting ready to leave and standing outside for 5mins.
He will definitely howl it's excessive.
Thanks for the luck I've a feeling I'll need it 😂

Yes, start short - the idea of getting ready to go out but not going is a good one! But he needs to get used to it, and you need to persevere otherwise you are beholden.

And totally agree re socialisation - the sooner the better but he does also need to be able to cope with his own company. Your family life can't operate as normal otherwise.

I took him out a few days ago whilst my mum watched DD, so this in an option but not as regularly as I would like.
Weekends won't be so bad as OH will be home so he can go out then too.
And I'm trying to organise a few play dates with dog owners I know are sensible.
And to convince my family that having an un-housetrained puppy come to visit isn't the end of the world 🙄
Have also been playing noises to him during the day although realise it isn't the same.

As pp have said, you need to build it up in tiny tiny amounts. Start by shutting him in the kitchen, baby gate shut but door open and going upstairs. Make a bit of noise so he knows you are still there. How does he react? How about if you go out of sight and don't make any noise? Then build up from there. So literally going out the door and straight back in. Several times a day. Then going out for 2 minutes, back in. Build it up gradually until he doesn't really notice you leaving.

Get a good routine going, so he goes in his crate or shut in the kitchen with a toy/chew and you just leave without saying anything. You come back, ignore, hang up your coat, take your shoes off. Go and say hello calmly.

Thanks for the advice will definitely work on building up in steps.
Not sure how it will go down as I say he is crying most of the night and whines for me even if I go to the toilet and shut the door, so not sure if it's better to wait until he has settled down at night times.
I don't make a fuss when I put him to bed and in the morning I calmly greet him and ignore whilst he jumps up until he has settled so will absolutely be following the same pattern when working on leaving him during the day.
Thanks