I can`t understand why people expect baby animals not to be scared and are so unfeeling to their fear and distress. There seems to be a new move to the `ignore them and they`ll learn` regime. Of course they will. They will learn that the world is a scary, hard place. Really helpful for their socialisation.
In the past people were encouraged to take their pups everywhere and to keep them with them. The pup became well-socialised and accepting of people. Now most advice seems to be `put them in a cage and ignore them`.
What has changed? The animals haven`t. I can`t help feeling that it is the attitude to animals that has changed. They are so `disposable` now.

I tended to put my pups in crate and I would lie on the sofa in easy reach of the pups during the night, I dont have any of my dogs upstairs so want my pups happy to sleep downstairs, for me to get this it meant I had to have a few uncomfortable nights on the sofa, and gave the pups time to settle, thankfully my last few pups have been home bred and used to this house, but once all their siblings went they still had to go through being the only pup, I also have other dogs that sleep in the same room so the pup got used to the sound of them being there too. I did used to beleive in the "let the pup cry" theory at one time, but when it came to practice it, it was a different story, so now I dont give that advice,

Mo

As stated I have puppies upstairs with me in a small bed in a tall box next to my bed , I do this for a number of reasons: so I can hear the puppy cry when it wishes to relieve itself / so it can hear me breathing and have the touch of a hand for reassurance if need be /so it can smell my scent, all of these things help with the bonding process. The puppies usually go to sleep very quickly even on the first night.


Whether upstairs or downstairs , it doesn't really matter, the main thing is that the puppy gets used to being left alone gradually and is not subject too a lot of fear and stress as soon as it goes to a new home.
I have small breeds so for me carrying them upstairs is not a problem and I prefer my bed to a sofa.

As the puppy gets used to the new home and grows in confidence, with correct handling it should get used to being left alone with no problems.


I had a very interesting conversation with my vet Clair about this subject , she breeds Norfolk terriers and does the same thing as me. Claire is convinced that forcing some puppies to be alone for long periods too soon (as opposed to gradually)can contribute to separation anxiety (there are of course other factors which contribute to this condition and this includes breeding from nervous dogs) .

I never have a problem with dogs who don't like being left, when I am getting ready to go out my present dog Chloe sits and watches me then before I have a chance to say a word she takes herself off into her bed in the kitchen (she has a bed upstairs and one downstairs) ready for my departure

I do agree 100% on that Mini

And again!


Yes, this is something I also think can occur. It makes sense unfortunately.



Wys
x

I totally agree.
I would like to add.......what is the difference between a puppy and a baby in this respect, babies spend the first part of their lives with mother and close by at all times. Why is it assumed that doing the same thing with a puppy will make it insecure in later life.
Like a baby, when the pup grows she/he will be more than happy to be left alone without seperation problems, just in the early stages you need to give them love and security when they are scared!!

Put your iPod on full blast and you won't hear the crying!

Seriously tho you don't want to go and comfort him as then he will cry every time you leave him.
Maybe leave him an hour or so and then let him outside with no fuss and then straight back in the crate.

Good luck!

Well I did go and comfort my puppy - in fact let her sleep in the bedroom- and she doesn't cry every time I leave her now........

I'd rather get up 10-20 times a night to sit with and comfort a crying upset bewildered puppy (who's in a crate with comfy soft bedding and a cuddly toy to snuggle upto) than listen to the the heartbreaking sound of it crying because they dont understand why they have been taken away from mum and their litter brother/sisters.

Me too- and it not because I am a big softie (I am a pt by trade!!) its just the right thing to do for a scared and confused animal!

2 months ago I was in the same position, and if i could go back again, I would have had him in the room with us from the start.

We tried for almost a week to ignore him, when I think about it now i feel absolutely terrible. he was distraught and so were we. In the end we took him in beside us, leaving the door open, within a couple of days he chose to sleep where we wanted him to, as long as our door was open. Within a couple of nights we could close the door.

What a lot of heartbreak could have been avoided had we just did this in the first place.