Puppy separation anxiety

[mudman]

I have a new addition to the household, a now 16 week old HWV dog puppy.

House dog like my others (11 year old HWV and a terrier). Everything going fine, typical puppy, full of life, no manners (yet).

Had him two weeks now. He is caged in the kitchen overnight and when we go out. House training has gone very well / almost not needed.

But…..when we go out and leave him caged we return to trashed bedding in the cage and he has invariably peed in his bed. Generally but not always he has been yapping when we leave and generally but not always his is still yapping when we return. He will have also drank his water dry and be very thirsty when let out but not looking particularly stressed, no panting etc. I think he may be barking himself dry.

Shortest time he has been left for is an hour longest 3 1/2 hours, so nothing excessive. Most times the other dogs are with him in the house, but they are now sometimes showing signs of stress when we return, especially the old dog.

He goes 8 hours overnight in his cage dry and without wrecking the bedding or making a noise.

Any suggestions…? I hope he will grow out of it but I not had similar issues before with other pups.

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Does he associate the crate with his chill happy space ie give him level one treat ( bone etc ) leave him in there with it so he learns that this is my space where good things happen and I’m left in peace .
Also a t-shirt unwashed with your scent as a bit of a comfort blanket .
You could start by doing the time ramp leaving alone, put in crate with bone ( he’s happy ) leave for five then back in remove bone let him out, two three times a day and build up the time left each day till it gets to an hour and keep building . Might work for you might not just throwing ideas in the mix to try out.

 

[Heym SR20]

Puppies get bored and are highly distructive especially when teething.

Use them as part of the recycling process. Put cardboard box or two in his cage with him. It will get shredded. I would just use brown cardboard and remove plastic tape etc if not under close supervision.

 

[LarryLightFoot]

Puppies get bored and are highly distructive especially when teething.

Use them as part of the recycling process. Put cardboard box or two in his cage with him. It will get shredded. I would just use brown cardboard and remove plastic tape etc if not under close supervision.

Yeh my one loves a any kind of cardboard totally shreds boxes in minutes, perfectly prepped for the recycling bin

 

[mudman]

Puppies get bored and are highly distructive especially when teething.

Use them as part of the recycling process. Put cardboard box or two in his cage with him. It will get shredded. I would just use brown cardboard and remove plastic tape etc if not under close supervision

I think there is more to this than normal puppy teething behaviour.

 

[Buchan]

Does he associate the crate with his chill happy space ie give him level one treat ( bone etc ) leave him in there with it so he learns that this is my space where good things happen and I’m left in peace .
Also a t-shirt unwashed with your scent as a bit of a comfort blanket .
You could start by doing the time ramp leaving alone, put in crate with bone ( he’s happy ) leave for five then back in remove bone let him out, two three times a day and build up the time left each day till it gets to an hour and keep building . Might work for you might not just throwing ideas in the mix to try out.

I quite like this approach. I'd also look at getting an adaptil collar or diffuser in place.

 

[Davids901]

My HWV was noisy and didn't like his crate when I first got him at 8 weeks. He'd howl and yelp continually.
After a couple of days, I managed to get hold of another another crate and used to give him all his meals in this new one.
This gave him a positive experience with the new crate and after a couple of days he was left in it for short periods, eventually extending it until he was fine to be left. I also made sure the other dogs had their bed right next to his crate.

 

[WalkedUp]

He is caged in the kitchen overnight and when we go out.

This is your issue. I didn’t spot it first time I read through. From day one the pup should be crated intermittently whilst you are in the house. A small pup (8 weeks) has a 30 minute battery, runs around playing then put into the crate sleepy. Has an hour rest. Repeat etc. The crate is just its happy resting place.

 

[VSS]

Just to add to all the various points made so far:
I think it's important that whoever shuts the puppy in the crate is the one who lets it out again.
It doesn't matter so much once a dog is older and fully trained, but I think it matters a great deal initially.

 

[Dogtra UK]

Follow the advice above. Your dog needs to be used to being separate from you but not separated.

Crate your dog in a place where it can see and hear activity in the house. Go about some daily tasks or watch TV, let your dog watch you.

I’ve done this with countless dogs and never get separation anxiety. But I will say that the time I had a Vizsla it was the softest dog I’ve ever owned.

 

[Scotty99]

Does he associate the crate with his chill happy space ie give him level one treat ( bone etc ) leave him in there with it so he learns that this is my space where good things happen and I’m left in peace .
Also a t-shirt unwashed with your scent as a bit of a comfort blanket .
You could start by doing the time ramp leaving alone, put in crate with bone ( he’s happy ) leave for five then back in remove bone let him out, two three times a day and build up the time left each day till it gets to an hour and keep building . Might work for you might not just throwing ideas in the mix to try out.

This is good advice. Plus use Adaptil either spay on bedding or get a plug in diffuser if you have an electric socket, near to the crate. Also play with the pup in the crate and give him all his meals in the crate. He has to get to the point where he considers the crate as his safe place where he feels comfortable and secure.

You could also get a Clever Dog camera to see and listen to what he is doing while you are away. It also has a microphone where you give commands and talk to him remotely to reassure him.

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[Timmy k]

Try leaving the tv or radio on when you go out

 

[georgedoubleyou]

I have a 6 month old springer and I had the exact same issue. I was trying all sorts e.g., leaving music on, slowly increasing the time he was left alone etc. at around 4 months he just stopped doing it and now his crate is always immaculate regardless of the amount of time he's in there for (thats never more than 5 hours max). I appreciate this isnt the most helpful response, but you may find he just grows out of it and all of a sudden he just stops doing it.

 

[kenbro]

Try leaving the tv or radio on when you go out

But not with Sir Kier on….

 

[Timmy k]

Definitely not, dog might get locked up for being right wing