Okay here’s the situation. I recently purchased a black lab puppy, and was super excited to get her home. I’ve been trying to potty train her, as well as create train her, but every time I step out of her view she’s howls and cries like crazy. This wouldn’t be a problem if I could stay home all day. But I own my own business, and I have to take her there to keep an eye on her, as well as take her to potty every hour. I own a therapy clinic, and she will become an AAT Dog, so I also want her to get used to people loving on her as well as people crying or yelling. How do I get her confortable enough to be left alone for 2 seconds while I use the restroom, or I walk down the hall to grab a paper. No one has complained, but therapy is going on, and I need it to be quiet. Also, if your wondering, no I don’t have anyone to stay home with her, nor can I take anymore time off of work. Any feed back will be much appreciated. Thank you!
Hi @Felicia did you go through a process of creating the crate as a postive place to be or did you just place her in the crate expecting that she woild get used to it? Second, when she cries and whines what do you do? Third, does she cry only when you leave the room or does she whimper all the time while in the crate? Four, what things do you place in the crate when she is in there? Five, how old is the puppy?
Hi Felicia, Welcome to the forum! It's very normal for a puppy to object to the crate if they haven't been crate trained. Fortunately, it's not too late to start the process. You can find a great guide to crate training here. Let us know how you get along
Before you can progress to walking out of sight, you first need to get the puppy comfortable in the crate with you sitting right next to it. You can give the pup a Kong, and then sit right by the crate on a cushion and read a book or work on a laptop. You need to associate the crate as a place which is HOME or a BASE for both you and the pup. Pups need their attachment figures and they need to associate the crate as 'you and their' spot - not as a place which restrains them away from you or prevents them from accessing you. Many sensitive puppies will need this early step... Only walk away from the crate once it is firmly established as the place where both you and the pup hang out...
