Puppy

[debbiesimmo]

Hi my puppy who is 13 weeks, will not be left alone, he continues to bark and yelp. So someone is with him all the time, he even sleeps in our bedroom. How can i get him to settle down downstairs so i can at least go out shopping during the day and leave him for an hour or so? Pleas help he is a bull mastiff.

[ClaireandDaisy]

What is his routine? Have you had him for long? What is he fed and how often?
Have you read a good puppy book btw? Gwen Bailey`s The Perfect Puppy is good.

[xxwelshcrazyxx]

Originally Posted by debbiesimmo

Hi my puppy who is 13 weeks, will not be left alone, he continues to bark and yelp. So someone is with him all the time, he even sleeps in our bedroom. How can i get him to settle down downstairs so i can at least go out shopping during the day and leave him for an hour or so? Pleas help he is a bull mastiff.

Have you got a crate? If you have then I would say put him in the crate with a toy and put a blanket over the top of the crate so he feels snug and warm. Put him out side to toilet just before you leave, put him straight in and leave him dont say anything to him apart from Good Boy. put a radio on so he feels he is not alone. I would try doing this for short periods of about half hour until he gets used to knowing you will come back. making the times longer each time until you can go out for about for hour and half. make sure you let him out for toilet AS SOON as you come back and after he have done it PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE him. It will take time as he is still only a baby.

[cheekyscrip]

Willsay the same..start with few minutes...then gradually increase the time..and praise and reward him...maybe leave in his basket something of your clothes like old T..smelling of you..it helped one of my dogs...
Night routine...?... where do you want him to sleep?,,,Can he hear you there?...My dog was just left in living room..no way OH willl et him into bedroom!..he cried for three nights...but less and less and fourth night slept well and that was it...
best luck

[Sled dog hotel]

Originally Posted by debbiesimmo

Hi my puppy who is 13 weeks, will not be left alone, he continues to bark and yelp. So someone is with him all the time, he even sleeps in our bedroom. How can i get him to settle down downstairs so i can at least go out shopping during the day and leave him for an hour or so? Pleas help he is a bull mastiff.

The problem is if you allow access to you all the time, then he wont be able to learn how to cope on his own, if may solve the problem of him whining and crying but it will just make him more and more dependable on you.

You need to start leaving him for very short periods whilst you are in. Set up an area, where he is to be left like for example the kitchen. Put his bed in there, some toys and chews like a Kong is good, you can coat the inside with peanut butter or cheese spread and pack it with wet and dry or wet food from his allowance, and add extras like little pieces of chicken to give interest. Treat balls and toys are good too, filled with kibble that you set so as they are played with it distributes a piece here and there. Leaving a T-shirt or jumper you have worn in his bed as your smell can re-assure him, or a large soft toy to cuddle up to, to mimic a litter mate (these two suggestions subject to him not being sort of pup to rip and ingest fabric of course) leaving a radio on a talking station down low can help as the sound can be re-assuring, Using a DAP Dog appeasing pheromone diffuser (works like a plug in air freshener) its an artificial version of the pheromone mum emits to calm and soothe pups, you just plug in and leave them on in the area he is to be left. Crate training can help, but if you have never used one then you need to get tips beforehand as done wrongly it can backfire and pup wont take to it.
Vet-Medic - the same medicines as your vet at consistently low prices. is where I geet my DAP, cheaper then vets and Pets at home but you can get them there too. Putting a dog control gate on the kitchen instead of shutting the door can help too as they dont feel so closed in.

You need to start putting him in his wind down area several times a day while you are in. Just pop him in there with his goodies, get him interested and leave no fuss, no goodbyes nothing like its the most natural thing in the world, start for a few minutes, then just let him out equally no fuss either, ignore him for a few minutes longer, then praise and attention. You need to time it so he doesnt start to get really stressed before you let him out, even if the first couple of times are less than 5mins. Then gruadually as he gets used to it, then you build up a little at a time, with routine and consistancy it should become the normal routine. He should learn then that leaving means you will also always be back.

Hope this might help.