Leaving puppy alone

[UGH1]

Our puppy is just about to turn 12 weeks. I work from home so perhaps this is the problem...but he really struggles being alone even for just a few minutes and starts whining. Are we trying to soon? On the other hand my partner thinks we should leave him to cry which goes against everything I have read. Can anyone help?

Crate small times alone gradually extending the time. Have you spoken to the breeder? Ours was brought up in crate so knew what was going on. Even though we work from home she still has crate time

Thanks for your message. He's in a pen with a cage which he now happily settles in by himself. I've just managed to leave him whilst in another room with a stuffed Kong for 30 minutes in his crate.. so hopefully making some steps!

Our puppy (now 5 months) is a nightmare and howls if I even go upstairs to the toilet🤦‍♀️ She’s having to learn though-it doesn’t hurt them and she forgets when I go back down...I think there are going to be a lot of needy animals with all this WFH and lockdown!

Nope I am no help but I feel your pain as my 17 week old pup is exactly the same. At our last puppy check the vet suggested we tried to leave her for a few minutes and build it up bit by bit so she gets used to being left alone, we have really tried since she was 8 weeks old and she hates even being on a different floor and she poos and pees through anxiety.
We had to ditch the crate, even the sight of it upsets her.
I wish you good luck and if you hear of a miracle cure, let me know please x

Thats fantastic they he did 30 minutes. We just built it up gradually. For us, the key was picking the right time so make sure they're ready for a nap. Give them the kong and return before they start whining.

The DTAS Facebook group has a premium group on separation anxiety. They recommend 'flitting game' = walking from room to room doing something boring - she settles - you get up and move again- do something - ignore puppy etc etc so that she learns that choosing to stay where she is nice and settled is a good idea.

We crate trained our dog from day 1 he slept in crate at night, but in the day he slept on the carpet. To get him used to going in crate when I went out, firstly I would give him a walk and when we got back, popped him in crate with a couple of biscuits and left him for 10 minutes and gradually built up the time. I did put a camera on him so I could see him. Sometimes he just slept, sometimes he barked the whole time, but by 7/8 months old he knew the routine. He doesn’t like going in the car, so all I had to do was get car keys and he would go in the crate himself.

He's only a baby and has been away from his mum and siblings and constant company for less than 4 weeks. No wonder he's a bit nervous being on his own! You need to build alone periods up gradually so he can get used to it without getting scared - even if when you start you're just closing the door and then coming back straight away. I second the flitting game also as pp suggested - it reinforces the idea that choosing to be alone can be rewarding and builds confidence. I would also suggest teaching a good 'settle' in the crate or on a bed so he knows how to be calm and doesn't need constant entertaining.

Please don't leave him to cry it out. The longer he is scared and stressed for the worse he will get. He's too young for separation anxiety at the moment but if you turn being alone into a bad, scary, stressful thing then that is what you will end up with.

Thanks all, this is super helpful. I certainly won't be leaving him to cry. I'm already a member of that group and have been doing the flitting game and will continue to build up gradually.

Reallt helpful to hear from everyone and knowing that this is normal behaviour.

I took mine at that age with me everywhere. I started to leave them alone when they were older. I took for a walk first to tire them out then left for 15 minutes and built it up. I have never crated though. They are always laid near the front door waiting when I come in.