Hi everyone,
I am a new puppy owner, first puppy that I've ever owned, so things are exciting right now!
We got our new puppy on Friday. He's an 8.5 week old little minature long haried daschund called Toby. He's so gorgeous and funny. I'll post some pictures up of him shortly when I figure out how to upload them!
Just to outline my personal circumstances soyou know a little about me. Now Toby lives with me and my other half, and we both work full time (I have not come on to start a debate over whether we should have a dog because of us working, I have come on for some advice that will help us acheive a well trained and well behaved dog )
My other half works leaves home roughly around about 06.00.
I work in an office, and will be leaving home at approx 08.15/08.30.
I will be popping back home at around about 10.30/11.00 ish to see puppy, let him out, short feed and play session.
Other half is usually back home for some lunch anytime between 12-1.30.
He then has another hour or so at home before popping back to work at about 2.30ish, and is back in the house usually by 3.30.
I will return home at approx 16.00/16.30.
We will generally be home all evening, and if not, puppy will come with us, where he can.
Now as I said we have had Toby since Friday and he has settled in very well. His toilet training is going OK, and he is a little gem at night time. He has a big play session at night time which tires him out. Outside for toilet and then he goes into his crate, snuggled up with a blanket, hotwater bottle and a cuddly toy and a comforting ring to make him feel safe and secure He has been sleeping all through the night and wakes up again between 06.30/07.00 ish. His crate is up all day and he goes in it but isn't too fussed by it.
I'm following the advice I've picked up from reading - control toys, set meal times, take up food in evening, toilet training, handling, examining him, socialising etc and we've started gentle training with him so all these things are going well.
In the day he's happy to lie down to sleep on his own, although he doesn't really go into his crate, he prefers to lie by the baby gate so he can still see us. But he whines terribly and puppy "barks" when he's not with us, even if he can see us through the baby gate. If he whines, we don't go too him, but waits until he stops for a second before we go in the kitchen to him. We try not to fuss him when he is yapping away, and try to keep the interaction with him short and calm, but he still continues yapping as soon as we leave him again.
Now I am off work for a few days and will be going back to work on Thursday and need some tips on how to prepare him for being left over the next few days. This morning, he's been toilet, had breakfast and had a short play period with me. I put him in the kitchen and sat on the sofa where he could still see me and he started yapping. I waited for a second when he stopped, returned to the kitchen and ignored him, which he was happy with. As soon, as I repeated leaving, the same thing happened. He is now sitting by my feet as I type, when I should be ready and ready to head out of the door (if this was a work day)
Any tips on how to work with him over the next 3 days so that I can get to a point on how to leave him without him whining and barking?
I also need to point out, that I will generally be working 3 days for the next 6 weeks, whilst he is so young, so he will be left Tue, Wed and Thur until he gets a bit older. The plan is that as he gets older and is trained better, he will be dropped off at mother in laws, at least one or two days a week on the way to work, therefore reducing the number of days/hours he'll be alone.
Any help, tips will be appreciated as I really want to sort this issue out before the problem escalates. Thanks.
I am a new puppy owner, first puppy that I've ever owned, so things are exciting right now!
We got our new puppy on Friday. He's an 8.5 week old little minature long haried daschund called Toby. He's so gorgeous and funny. I'll post some pictures up of him shortly when I figure out how to upload them!
Just to outline my personal circumstances soyou know a little about me. Now Toby lives with me and my other half, and we both work full time (I have not come on to start a debate over whether we should have a dog because of us working, I have come on for some advice that will help us acheive a well trained and well behaved dog )
My other half works leaves home roughly around about 06.00.
I work in an office, and will be leaving home at approx 08.15/08.30.
I will be popping back home at around about 10.30/11.00 ish to see puppy, let him out, short feed and play session.
Other half is usually back home for some lunch anytime between 12-1.30.
He then has another hour or so at home before popping back to work at about 2.30ish, and is back in the house usually by 3.30.
I will return home at approx 16.00/16.30.
We will generally be home all evening, and if not, puppy will come with us, where he can.
Now as I said we have had Toby since Friday and he has settled in very well. His toilet training is going OK, and he is a little gem at night time. He has a big play session at night time which tires him out. Outside for toilet and then he goes into his crate, snuggled up with a blanket, hotwater bottle and a cuddly toy and a comforting ring to make him feel safe and secure He has been sleeping all through the night and wakes up again between 06.30/07.00 ish. His crate is up all day and he goes in it but isn't too fussed by it.
I'm following the advice I've picked up from reading - control toys, set meal times, take up food in evening, toilet training, handling, examining him, socialising etc and we've started gentle training with him so all these things are going well.
In the day he's happy to lie down to sleep on his own, although he doesn't really go into his crate, he prefers to lie by the baby gate so he can still see us. But he whines terribly and puppy "barks" when he's not with us, even if he can see us through the baby gate. If he whines, we don't go too him, but waits until he stops for a second before we go in the kitchen to him. We try not to fuss him when he is yapping away, and try to keep the interaction with him short and calm, but he still continues yapping as soon as we leave him again.
Now I am off work for a few days and will be going back to work on Thursday and need some tips on how to prepare him for being left over the next few days. This morning, he's been toilet, had breakfast and had a short play period with me. I put him in the kitchen and sat on the sofa where he could still see me and he started yapping. I waited for a second when he stopped, returned to the kitchen and ignored him, which he was happy with. As soon, as I repeated leaving, the same thing happened. He is now sitting by my feet as I type, when I should be ready and ready to head out of the door (if this was a work day)
Any tips on how to work with him over the next 3 days so that I can get to a point on how to leave him without him whining and barking?
I also need to point out, that I will generally be working 3 days for the next 6 weeks, whilst he is so young, so he will be left Tue, Wed and Thur until he gets a bit older. The plan is that as he gets older and is trained better, he will be dropped off at mother in laws, at least one or two days a week on the way to work, therefore reducing the number of days/hours he'll be alone.
Any help, tips will be appreciated as I really want to sort this issue out before the problem escalates. Thanks.