I'm pretty sure things are progressing very well - our new puppy, Bailey, is a well mannered little fellow. Isn't too bitey, likes meeting new people, has good food manners, is doing well on heel walking (in the garden) slept from 22:30 to 05:00 last night and then for another hour after a quick wee... ... but what does worry me a little is that he's not good with being left alone. If he's put in his crate or pen, he'll yelp, even if we're within sight. I put him in his pen earlier to unload the dishwasher and he made quite a fuss. I ignored him for a few minutes while I finished the dishwasher, waited for quiet and C&T'ed when he was and opened the pen door. Are we looking a case of lockdown puppy separation anxiety here - and if so, what's the best course of action to fix it at an early stage? We have both been at home since he arrived and I've been on holiday from work (although I'm going back tomorrow, working-from-home). Tony
Hi Tony, Welcome to the forum! I'm aware that a bit of time has passed since you posted, but I don't want to leave you hanging there! Puppies as young as Bailey can't really get separation anxiety. Separation anxiety is an abnormal or extreme inability to cope with being left alone for short periods. But at such a young age, it's a completely normal survival instinct to not want to be alone. Puppies simply need lots and lots of company. Pippa has written about crate training here, and the same principles apply to using a pen. I hope it contains some useful pointers for teaching Bailey to be alone sometimes as he grows up
Hi Sarah, Thanks so much for the reply. We're working our way through crate training and I think it's going well. Bailey is definitely becoming more used to being left alone (albeit with people still elsewhere in the house) as he gets a little older. It's reassuring to hear that puppies can't get separation anxiety and that needing company is perfectly normal. I hear stories of other puppy owners being able to leave their young pups for 1 or 2 hours and I wondered whether we were getting behind on getting him used to being left. Sounds like we're on track, so thank you! Kind regards, Tony
