Need Advice, my new little friend crys (Screams) when I'm gone!

[Barista]

Everyone, this is my first post. I’m hoping to find a little comfort in my little guy’s pain. I just got a puppy mini Dachshund (7 weeks, yes I know he’s young. I wished I would have known better to leave him with his brothers longer, but I read that after I got him, so let’s make the best of it! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif ). His name is “Sir Frankfurter”, or “Frank” for short. This is his second week to be in his new home. The first week my wife and I spent a lot of time with him since we were off during the Thanksgiving holiday. He was not alone for the majority of it. I’m trying to crate train him now (along with potty training http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wink.gif. He likes his crate very much when I’m around (after all, it’s his little room http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif ). I spent last week playing around it, getting him to sleep in it, lay in it, play in it, and he seems to like it very much.

My problem is, whenever my wife and I go to work, or leave him in his crate alone, he yelps, cries, barks, etc. It’s very trying on me, and it breaks my heart to leave him alone like that. When I come home at lunch, I can hear him crying. I try to not get him excited, and wait patiently in front of his crate for him to calm down before I open it up. I give him time to play, eat and relieve himself during my lunch, and then back in he goes until I get home. I’ve read everything I can find on crate training, but still need a little assurance I’m doing things right. I put treats in his crate, leave the TV on, give him a Kong, Nylabone, stuffed toy, etc. This isn’t my first puppy, but it is my first Dachshund pup.

How long will they usually act this way to being alone?
Is there anything I can do to help ease his mind when I’m not there?
Do you see anything I am not doing or might be doing wrong?
Any advice for this little fellow would be great!

I know those are hard to answer questions, but any reassurance would help me out as well. Whether he knows it or not, it very hard for me to deal with too. It just kills me to see him so miserable.

Thanks in Advance,
Bill

[Krista]

Welcome to the board Bill and Frank!

It sounds like you are doing everything right, but yes, as you have read he really should still be with his mom and littermates so this may take some extra work.

How long is he left in the crate at once? In general, puppers that young can only be expected to hold it 2 hours or so, so crating for longer periods may make potty-training a little harder until he gets older.

The TV/radio trick is good. What about one of those stuffed puppies that is supposed to make heartbeat sounds for some company? I have also heard of people leaving hot water bottles in with them to keep them warm like their mother would.

Maybe someone else will have some better advice. I didn't get Roscoe until he was 16 weeks old, and Rudy was even a few weeks older when he joined our family so I don't have much experience with pups that young.

[Wienergal]

Welcome, Bill and Frank! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wavey.gif

I haven't had a pup in 12 1/2 years, and Peaches was almost 12 weeks old when I got her, so it isn't quite the same. But it DOES sound as if you're doing everything right, and it's also probably true that he just misses his mommy and litterpals. Also, different individual dogs have different personalities, and Frank may just be one of those dogs who is very vocal about his needs. Try not to take it too hard when you hear him crying...I know it's tough!

I've heard that the hot water bottle wrapped in a towel trick is a good one, UNLESS your pup is a monster chewer. In that case, be careful, because he might chew the contraption open and burn himself. But it is soothing to a dog who has been used to snuggling up with warm bodies for all of his young life.

As time goes on, Frank will probably just outgrow this behavior.

Good luck!

[Mark]

Hi Bill,

You've received some good advice already . . . I just want to welcome you & Frank. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wavey.gif

Mark, Top Spin, Duck Butter & Masse http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/spotting.gif

[~Jen~]

Hi Bill and Frank Welcome to the board!!

Sounds like little Frank is just having a hard time adjusting to being alone... I have 7 doxies i got them all as puppies 1 is 8wks old now. We put her in the kitchen in a xpen when we are gone ... we put her crate in there with the door open at one corner and some wee-wee pads in the other in case she has to potty. She has never been much of a whimperer shes pretty self reliant and usually chews on her little nylabone when i put it in there. We have seperate toys in the xpen that she ONLY gets to play with when shes in there... we make sure its extra cool stuff (but safe) we also leave the tv on while we are gone and a light if its gonna get dark before we get home. You could try a ticking alarm clock somewhere near his crate this worked well with Rosie our 1st doxie we got her at a little before 8wks. I wish i could tell your something that would surely work but usually time is the best method even though its very trying hearing them cry http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/frown.gif

Good Luck
Jen

[LisaH]

Bill:

I agree with the others; it sounds like you're doing great. When we brought our Annie home at 8 weeks she'd cry inconsolably when we left her even for a minute--and we took a week off just to be with her when she first arrived! They're so used to being with the rest of the litter every second of the day, it's a terrible shock to be removed from that community.

All I can suggest is that you try to act casual about leaving Frank alone--try not to let him sense how upset you are. This is something he'll outgrow as he gets older. We "practiced" leaving Annie alone for a minute, then 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, etc., so she'd get used to the idea that we always returned. Now when I leave her in the morning (she's 3) she barely looks up from the sofa!

Enjoy your baby!
Lisa H.

[Barista]

Hehehe, great. You guys are wonderful. I'm amazed at how much good advice everyone has given me. Yea, I know he'll grow out of it, I can't wait! hehehe I am going to try to include a picture of him for you guys. He's something else! I can't wait to see him grow up! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

Later,
Billy

http://www.usac.net/~barista/Frank.jpg

[LisaH]

He's DARLING--I want him bad!

LisaH

[Penny's Aunt]

The problem you are describing is referred to by one behaviorist/trainer as 'The Void of Aloneness'.

It is caused by everyone playing with the pup, carrying the pup, feeding the pup, catering to the pup, & he thinks this kind of life is just GREAT!

Then everyone goes back to work & school. No wonder he cries & screams... HE'S BEEN ABANDONED!

So, what you have to do is get him used to being alone. Put him in the kitchen, in his crate, or wherever you usually leave him. (I started my pup in the kitchen, because I am usually in & out of there a lot.)

Now, leave the room for about 10 seconds, then return. Do this several times. As soon as he's good with 10 seconds, extend it to 15-20 seconds, then return. Then 40 seconds, a minute, 2 minutes. For the most part, ignore him just like you would if you were busy. ALWAYS ignore him if he cries, & hold off on your return until he's quiet. If he's being good, you can talk normally to him as you pass through. Just a "Aren't you being a good puppy today" is enough. NO GUSHING!

Gradually extend your absences. What you want to do is get him to realize that no matter how many times you leave, no matter how long, you will always return.

Be sure to leave him with his blankie, some toys, & a chewy.

Also, cut your hellos & goodbys to the bare minimum. No gushing, no begging to be good when you leave; no overwhelming hellos when you arrive. These just emphasize how wonderful it is when you're here, & how lonely he is when you're gone.

Two more tips: give him enough exercise, & leave something special for him to work on ONLY when you leave him for a longer period of time. A Kong or a narrow sterilized shin bone with cheese, peanut butter or dog food smeared or stuffed inside is a nice time-consuming treat. But he only gets these when he is left alone.

As the vet told the woman whose dog swallowed her diamond ring: "This, too, shall pass!"

[Shelbie]

Hi Bill and Frank and welcome. I agree with everything everyone's said so far. Shelbie is coming up to two years old now and just like Lisa's Annie (hi Lisa by the way!!) barely looks up from the TV when I go to work now (and if I come home early the stereo is warm and there's a vague smell of cigarette smoke.....<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm13.gif" border=0> kidding!!!!

[Susan's Freddie]

Hi Bill,

Just be re-assured that most of us here has gone through what you're going through now.http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
Something else too; when you do leave, say to Frank very casually "I'll be back". Everyone's advice is good, and it sure seems that you've been doing some reading!
BTW, in Franks pic here, I see the door stopper; if you suddenly notice the white rubber end GONE, you'll know why! My Freddie plucked ours off and ate them!http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif So don't be surprised if they've dissapeared.<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm24.gif" border=0> Enjoy your new dachsie, he should give you hours of comical entertainment!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm26.gif" border=0>

Susan

[Frzframe]

My Mitzi who is now 18 weeks had the same trouble. I got her when she was almost 8 weeks old. She was the same way your Frank is now. I put in toys for her but they didn't help one bit. The I decided to find a teddy bear for her to cuddle with. It had to be just the right size so she could easily simulate sleeping with her brothers and sisters. You know how puppies sleep with their necks tucked around another puppy. Well that is what I tried to find a teddy with a neck she could do that with. It did the trick. Now when she gets in her wild manic mode and wont calm down in the crate she goes with "red bear" where she is able to settle down. She doesn't put up a fuss at all - the only problem I have is catching the little wild one she never comes when called!!<IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm13.gif" border=0>
~Shonda and Mitzi Moo too

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Frzframe on December 04, 2000 at 12:03 PM</font>

[LisaH]

That's such a great trick, Shonda--I wish I'd known about it when Annie was little. She needed a sleeping buddy, and in those days we were firm about her sleeping in the crate! (Now, of course, she's in the big bed...)

[Barista]

Just a little update. He has been doing very good this week. He only wines for the fist 20 minutes or so, and then stops. (WOOOHOOO!) Opposed to all day, as before.

Thanks everyone for all your help. Now if he can just get the pooping outside thing down!

Time and patience!

[Mark]

Hi Bill,

That's great news . . . you go Frank! http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/biggrin.gif

Mark

[Brian]

Bill,

You are a stronger man than I. We bought Elmo, he cried for a week. The neighbours thought he was being murdered... they certainly do have a fine singing voice. The following week Elmo's breeder offered us his brother Cookie for free. Not a cry of blue murder has been heard since.
We picked up Elmo at 9 weeks and Cookie at 10 weeks. Both are now nearing 6 months and are mostly house trained. It takes a little time but they will get the idea.
Keep going! Your new boy will grow to have a very interesting personalityhttp://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif
Brian

[Nicole and Baby Oscar]

I also had this problem with Oscar when I first brought him home. I did two things to fix the problem. First, I had him in a small 24 inch crate, you know, for housetraining purposes. He never seemed to like it, so just for a try, I bought him a 42 inch long wire kennel. I know some dogs can't handle the big ones, housetraining wise, but Oscar never had an accident in it. The second thing I did was put an old towel in bed with me at night and slept on top of it. The next morning when Oscar had to go in his crate, I put the towel in with him. He sniffed it, curled up on it, and fell asleep. And he hasn't cried since. I don't know if it was the towel, the crate, or the combination, but maybe one of those ideas would work for you or someone else. Good luck!

Nicole and Baby Oscar