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I set up my 10-week-old border collie's playpen (x-pen) in the computer room, where I spend the majority of my day. A couple weeks ago, I started telling her "good quiet" when she's lying quietly in her pen and turning the back of my chair to her when she whines or barks at me. This has worked wonders for her behavior when I'm in the room. But when I leave for a couple minutes to use the restroom or make a quick run to the kitchen she starts barking and whining and acts like the world is coming to an end.
This week, I started leaving the room for a few minutes several times a day just so that I can go back and reward her when she quiets down. This is not working as well as I'd hoped. There are times when I have to leave the room for real (kitchen run, restroom visit, etc) and I might miss the pause in her hysterics. Other times, she just does not get quiet long enough to give her a treat.
Today I left her in the playpen while I went to shower. When I stepped out, I greeted by little furball. She climbed out of her 3-foot-high playpen! Thankfully, she was not injured. I fear this issue will escalate if I don't figure out how to 1) train her that she belongs INSIDE the wire walls and 2) train her to enjoy spending time alone so it does not lead to some sort of separation anxiety.
BTW, she has toys in her playpen: two balls, chew keys, cardboard box, nylabone and usually one of her Kong-type toys -- though it is filled with kibble for only one (maybe two) of her meals.
This week, I started leaving the room for a few minutes several times a day just so that I can go back and reward her when she quiets down. This is not working as well as I'd hoped. There are times when I have to leave the room for real (kitchen run, restroom visit, etc) and I might miss the pause in her hysterics. Other times, she just does not get quiet long enough to give her a treat.
Today I left her in the playpen while I went to shower. When I stepped out, I greeted by little furball. She climbed out of her 3-foot-high playpen! Thankfully, she was not injured. I fear this issue will escalate if I don't figure out how to 1) train her that she belongs INSIDE the wire walls and 2) train her to enjoy spending time alone so it does not lead to some sort of separation anxiety.
BTW, she has toys in her playpen: two balls, chew keys, cardboard box, nylabone and usually one of her Kong-type toys -- though it is filled with kibble for only one (maybe two) of her meals.