Am I creating a monster?

[Cupcake]

I recently got laid off from work. So Cupcake is with me all day. I take her everywhere, except the gym. I don't want her to start getting seperation anxiety. Should I start putting her out of site(in her crate) for a couple housrs? My dad recommended it, so she would not have problems when I got back to work. She is fine now, when I leave and come back. Her toys are played with, she eats her food. But I am worrying, will it become a problem later.

[njoydaride]

I want to know this too because I will be with my puppy almost 24/7, but won't be around as much when September comes. I'm planning to put him in doggy day care or work something out with my schedule.

[MyFairLacy]

I don't know...it sounds like it might be a good idea. Lacy has always had separation anxiety. I graduated from college in December and I was never away for too long to take classes. Since December she has gone to work with me every day and is hardly ever away from me. I'm starting vet school in the fall and will be gone a lot during the day and I'm going to feel so bad about leaving her at home alone. I do have lunch breaks to come home (an hour two days a week, two hours one day, and three hours one day...so not too bad). And it's only a full day mon-thurs with friday only being morning. We're about to have a doggie day care open this summer so I plan on letting her go every once in a while.

[Booboo'smommy]

Well, I am always with mine as they come to work with me every day but when I do leave them in the house when I have to go shopping they are just fine. And with me shopping takes about 2-3 h so I don't think it will be a problem when you'll get back to work. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Yorkie3]

I'm a bus driver, but when I've gotten my babies it was summer time and I was with them everyday. When school started again, even though I was only gone about 90 minutes in the morning and afternoon, they didn't show signs of separation anxiety at all. It helped crated training and pee pad training because they were use to the crates and the same at nighttime.

[Sukoshis Gma]

I'm grinning as I type this, but I'm trying to decide WHO will have the bigger separation issues, the puppies or the moms and dads??????

[FirstYorkie]

Originally Posted by Cupcake

Should I start putting her out of site(in her crate) for a couple housrs? My dad recommended it, so she would not have problems when I got back to work.

I think your dad has the right idea. She needs to stay in the habit of being separated from you. It would also be a good idea to occasionally leave her at home while you're out.

[autumn star]

I dont think that is such a bad idea. A couple of hours in her crate here and there should be just fine. What do you do w/her when you are at the gym?

[Suzy]

Yes, definitely!

And you should begin to leave her for periods of time-an hour here, 3 hours there, then 2 hours, then 5 hours, then half an hour, etc.

My husband was home studying for the bar exam when we got Emma (now 15 months old), and she was NEVER left home alone for the first 3-4 months we had her. That caused HUGE separation anxiety issues-which have improved greatly over time (with the help of a behaviorist). With our second puppy, Milli (7 months old), we started crating her right away, and leaving her home alone right away, just for short periods of time. She's much more well-adjusted to being alone than Emma is, but they both do MUCH better when they've got each other.

[ellie81]

good question!!!!

Well, I would say, try to go out for at least 2 hours about twice a day. The important thing is that she needs to understand that if you leave, you'll always be back. So I think that exercise will work. I don't think the crate will help because you're still at home. When you go back to work, it will still be a little hard on her, but she will have to get used to. She will adjust pretty fast, everybody does. We are the one who don't adjust!!!!

[njoydaride]

This is great information! Puts my mind at ease.