Does my puppy have separation anxiety?

EllenCherryCharles

I'm new here, and new to dog parenting. I have a 10 week old german shepherd mix that arrived on our doorstep on Christmas Eve. He's a wonderful puppy and is learning very fast. He's already got the hang of going outside, sleeps well in his crate and has learned to sit.

My questions: We work full time, so our puppy is home by himself during the day. I leave at 8:30AM, come home at lunch to take him for a half hour walk, and then my husband is home by 4:30 or 5. I know its not optimal to have a puppy and work full time, but so far, this seems to be working. Anyway, I don't love the idea of crating him all night and also keeping him crated all day, so we have him in the kitchen gated off with lots of room to play and a bunch of toys and his bed. He has access to papers (he's paper trained) if he needs them, but he's able to hold it for the most part (again, I realize this isn't optimal, but he's definitely got the housetraining thing down, we've had MINIMAL accidents). Lately we've been coming home to some moderate chewing on random (not a big deal if they are destroyed) things. He's young, so we've pretty much attributed this to teething/puppy behavior. However, he also cries and howls at the door a few minutes after we put him away (no fanfare, we just put him there and go). I don't know if this is common behavior, or if I should be worried that we're going down the separation anxiety road.

When we are home, he's with us. Not always right ON us, but in the same room. When we leave, I've been giving him a puppy kong, but he doesn't seem all that interested in it. I put treats in there, but either he is scared of the ball, or doesn't have the mental capacity to get them out because they are still there when I check it at night. I was hoping that the kong could be his "special" treat, but he doesn't seem that into it. Any ideas about what would be fun to put inside it that wouldn't be too difficult to get out?

Does this all seem normal? Or does it sound like I'm encouraging anxiety? How common is separation anxiety? Do lots of dogs with working parents end up with it?

Springerlover

What your puppy is doing seems normal. He dose not like being left alone. That is a normal dog thing. He chews due to bordom, no matter how many toys you give him he will chew on what ever he wants to. It is great that you come home and take him for walks. Why do you crate him at night? Potty training? Dogs are pack animals and really want to be with members of the pack, that would be you and your husband and any other members of the family. Can you kennel him outside in a kennel with a run during the day? Be assured, the behaivor your puppy is exhibiting is normal, it may or may not subside.

EllenCherryCharles

Thank you for the advice. Its nice to hear that his reaction is normal. We crate him at night, mainly so he doesn't destroy the house while we aren't watching him and also for housetraining. His crate is in our room, which is working out fine. We're hoping that eventually we can either leave the door open at night and he will just sleep in there or we can replace the crate with a dog bed, once we trust him to be in the house unsupervised. We are actually going to be moving in a few weeks to a house with a fenced in dog run in the backyard. I think we'll let him stay out there during the day, as long as its nice. Is this a good idea? I'm sure he'd like to be outside with pinecones and birds and leaves etc to entertain him, more than in our kitchen. I imagine that it will help with the housetraining as well.

Again, thanks for the help!

DogAdvocat

He'd LOVE to be outside with the pinecones and birds and leaves, but only if you're there with him. Otherwise, he'd prefer the kitchen. In the kitchen, he can be getting that constant interaction (also known as nagging <g>) with you that can make him a better socialized and trained dog. Pinecones just sit there, and birds are good for barking at, thereby disturbing the neighbors. If you want the perfect family dog, he has to be part of the family.

EllenCherryCharles

We would always keep him with us when we are at home. I just thought he would be more stimulated outside with room to run around while we are at work, as opposed to being cooped up in the kitchen all day. We would of course have a nice warm bed for him to curl up if he wanted to, and a bunch of toys and kongs out there with him. Our options at the new house are more limited, as there isnt an easily gated "puppy proof" area (more of an open floorplan). We would either have to keep him crated (until we can trust him to not eat the house) or out in the fenced yard while we are not at home. Im ok keeping him crated for small outings etc, but for the 4 hours at a time while we are at work, I think he would like it more outside. Is this a bad idea? Which is better, fenced yard with doghouse etc or crate all day? Again, we always keep him with us when we are at home, he sleeps in our bedroom, and we take him to the park etc in evenings and on weekends. He would NOT be an "outside" dog. He would just spend time out there during the day when we are at work, as long as its nice. If its cold or raining he would stay inside in his crate.

Thanks for the feedback! It helps to bounce ideas off other dog owners!

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DogAdvocat

I'm sorry, I misunderstood. It sounds like you have a great plan. As long as he's safe outside, and has shelter, then yes - he'd probably prefer to be out there than in a crate inside for long hours. I'm glad he'll be with the family the rest of the time. You might want to discuss your plan with a neighbor so they can give you feedback about whether he's having any problems with it - like barking too much. It's better to enlist their help beforehand than to find out later that they are upset with the barking.

Dog do have a tendency to bark when left alone for various reasons. Some of it is calling to you (their pack) to guide you back home (seen in wolf behavior). Some of it is boredom, and some is encouraged when the bark achieves something for them. For instance, if he barks at birds, and then the birds leave, he thinks they left because of him -- and he will think the same thing about airplanes, which also leave when he barks. <g>

But, he could also bark in the house out of boredom and calling you -- though it might not be as disturbing to the neighbors. Of course you might get lucky and he won't bark at all. Do rotate his toys so that he doesn't get bored with the same old ones.

Good luck, it sounds like you really care and you're really thinking about his needs. That's great.

babydolwv

ok i have a question... i am a stay at home mom and am still house training my 4 month old pup...shes doing really well with it...i had planned on not doing the crate training as i thought it was sort of mean keeping it locked up in there all the time, but then i got to thinking with me being home all day she wouldnt have to be in there much at all....so she goes in there now while we are not home and at nite while we are sleeping....i have been considering putting her in the crate while i am cleaning and what not when i cant keep constant eyes on her, but then i thought i have a rope set up for her outside..... would that be better to put her outside on the rope then locked in the crate?? i feel horrible when i have to put her in the crate suck a confined place opposed to being outside where she can get up and walk around??? i want her to get use to being out there by herself since we have a nice bk yard for her to run in once we get the fence fixed...as of right now when i put her out there she barks and whines for hrs, but i dont want to go out and get her as i dont want her to think barking will get her what she wants....so i wait until she quits barking then i go out and get her a few mins later.....1 good thing she is worn out from barking and is ready for a nap.... so would it be better to put her in the crate or outside when the weather permits??

DogAdvocat

Well, from your description, I wouldn't put any dog on a rope in a yard where the fence is not fixed. I personally don't believe in tethering dogs at all. I think it causes psychological problems, and unless you live somewhere with no neighbors, I can't imagine your neighbors being too happy about all that barking. But to tether a dog, unattended, in a yard with bad fencing is taking a risk that she will break or chew through the tether and she could be gone before you ever noticed.

The crating concept uses a dog's natural instinct to den. They like cubbyholes to crawl into. The only difference is a crate has a door. Some dogs need a little encouragement to accept that door being closed, but some dogs have no problem with it, and the crate is really like their own private room. And, the crate is the perfect place to put the dog when you are busy elsewhere and can't be vigilant (while still housetraining). Eventually, your dog will be reliable enough to be free in your house, but even then crates can come in handy when workmen (workpersons?) are coming in and out of the house, or you are moving furniture and don't want the dog under foot, or you are removing hot heavy things from the oven, etc.

Teaching a dog to accept a crate will also make it easier if the dog ever has to be in a cage at the vets, or at the groomers. And a crate is a great way to keep you and the dog safe while traveling in the car.

As far as being outside, I'm assuming that your dog gets plenty of outside time when you can be with her. Outside time is great, but it isn't going to do much for her if her whole interest is on what you are doing in the house.

babydolwv

ok thank you... when i do put her out on the rope i make sure to watch her and check on her often. As of yet she doesnt try to chew on the rope, but that doesnt mean she wont start... also we have a hook on it that we attach to her collar and it is a very good and sturdy rope with a lot of length to it but far enough away from anything she could hurt herself on or get into that she shouldnt......once she does seem to settle and quit barking she seems to enjoy being out there on the rope.... if this is wrong...i didnt realize it.

as far as the neighbors go.. my dog is not the only 1 outside barking and howling...lol we have another dog out behind us (altho we dont put her out there yet as hubby hasnt had the chance to get the grass cut and sray the yard for any pest that might get on her dont plan on putting her out back until we can fix the fence and spray the yard... prob wont be until next summer) but our landlady is one of our neighbors and she hasnt come to us about the dog barking or whinning as of yet.... but i thought putting her out there while i was doing stuff would be a good way to get her use to being outside with out us...so i dont have to constantly be out there with her while she is out playing or going potty once she completely get the housetraining down....

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