Advice Please

[Melanie Westell]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

So I have a 10 week old puppy, he is adorable but I’m having some doubts on my ability due to lack of sleep and guilt.
After about 3 nights of him crying in his crate he settled well and slept through the night for a week and a half. Last night he went back to crying in his crate so I did the same as before. Assured him I was still there and eventually he settled down. Any ideas why this might be?
Also I’m finding it hard to leave the house or even go for a quick shower without him crying. I’ve been leaving him in his crate, leaving him for a few minutes and making sure I go back. Popping out for 15 minutes, leaving my phone on voice memo and he just cries. How do I get him to used to me not being there or being in his crate? I’m reading all the guidance and watching you tube videos on crate training am I doing something wrong or will this take just more time? sorry for the long ramble but I want to get this right. Many thanks, in advance.

 

[excuseme]

How many hours in a 24 hour period does your puppy get put into it's cage and how much free time does he have?

 

[Melanie Westell]

How many hours in a 24 hour period does your puppy get put into it's cage and how much free time does he have?

He is free a lot of the time. I put him in there when he is due a sleep during the day and this his ok with and goes straight off to sleep. Then at about 8:45 in the evening he was taking himself into his crate and would sleep through till about 5:30. I’ve been putting his food in his crate as a lot of people said this makes him associate the crate as a good place but I don’t lick the door. I would say during the day his in his cage for about 2 hours all together.

 

[Melanie Westell]

He is free a lot of the time. I put him in there when he is due a sleep during the day and this his ok with and goes straight off to sleep. Then at about 8:45 in the evening he was taking himself into his crate and would sleep through till about 5:30. I’ve been putting his food in his crate as a lot of people said this makes him associate the crate as a good place but I don’t lick the door. I would say during the day his in his cage for about 2 hours all together.

Lock, not lick lol

 

[JudyN]

I would let him sleep in your bedroom for now, either in a crate or on his own bed - you can get him to sleep downstairs when he's a bit older. Every time he is distressed, it reinforces for him that nights can be scary because he's all alone.

If you're leaving him for a few minutes and he cries, then for now, a few minutes is too long. Let him come in the bathroom with you. Let him follow you around - and personally I wouldn't shut him in the crate. If you need to go out, take him with you or arrange for someone else to look after him. Again, each time he cries because you're not there, it reinforces that you leaving him is an unpleasant experience. The way to approach separation anxiety is to start from 'picking up keys, putting shoes on', to 'step outside door and step back in again', to 'leave the house for 5 seconds... 10 seconds...' and building up gradually. It's an absolute pain, but the most effective way to deal with the issue. And you might be able to start from 1 minute if you're lucky!

There's more about SA in an article I wrote on another forum, with : https://positively.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=20143 And an excellent book on the subject is I'll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell.

 

[Melanie Westell]

I would let him sleep in your bedroom for now, either in a crate or on his own bed - you can get him to sleep downstairs when he's a bit older. Every time he is distressed, it reinforces for him that nights can be scary because he's all alone.

If you're leaving him for a few minutes and he cries, then for now, a few minutes is too long. Let him come in the bathroom with you. Let him follow you around - and personally I wouldn't shut him in the crate. If you need to go out, take him with you or arrange for someone else to look after him. Again, each time he cries because you're not there, it reinforces that you leaving him is an unpleasant experience. The way to approach separation anxiety is to start from 'picking up keys, putting shoes on', to 'step outside door and step back in again', to 'leave the house for 5 seconds... 10 seconds...' and building up gradually. It's an absolute pain, but the most effective way to deal with the issue. And you might be able to start from 1 minute if you're lucky!

There's more about SA in an article I wrote on another forum, with : https://positively.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=20143 And an excellent book on the subject is I'll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell.

Thank you for your reply and I’ve seen a you tube clip on the leaving the house for a few seconds at a time and building it up. Thank you again.

 

[Flobo]

I'm not a fan of crates, at all.. and yes I know they seem to work for some people, but for me in this instance your pup just sounds distressed, he is still very young , letting him just be with you at this age will lessen his anxiety as has been said before. I never let my human baby cry it out and yes she slept with me too and she was a confident and sociable child growing up and has grown in to a confident and grounded young woman... not clingy, needy and spoilt like some people said she would.. laying those solid foundations when young works with dogs too...just saying