How do you keep a puppy from crying when you're not home?

Question

We just bought a puppy and when we leave or stick her in her crate she yelps and cries. I've crate trained puppies before but I've never had to deal with one that cries. Please help...

Answer 1

When my wife and I first got our Miniature Schnauzer he was only eight weeks old. At first we just tried training him with newspaper and let him sleep in a doggie bed next to us. After leaving him at home alone for a couple times we would come back and find our apartment or the room he was left in torn to shreds! We then decided to get a pet taxi to train him in and just like your puppy he started to whine and cry horribly when we were gone. It got to be such a problem that our neighbors started to complain. We talk to a veterinarian to see what we could do and he told us that our puppy was just lonely. We decided to get a kitten to see if having another pet around would make a difference. It made a world of difference! We immediately noticed that if we left our puppy alone with the kitten that he didn't tear up stuff as much and our neighbors stopped complaining. Later on we ended up getting another puppy. As long as he wasn't left alone he was very happy. That was almost nine years ago and all though my Schnauzer died a couple years ago, we have noticed that all our puppies that we have had over the last nine years have always been happier when they were with other animals. Dogs naturally run in packs so it makes sense that they are happier when they are not alone.

Answer 2

Everything you have described is a result of poor (or a complete lack) of training and socialization. All of these behaviors can be fixed with a little work from you and your husband. The nipping is a concern, but since you are catching it early, you should be able to stop it before it becomes a really big problem. Akitas are too big for pee pads. Period. They are clean dogs and potty train easily, so I have no idea why you are confusing her by making her pee in the house. At four months she should be able to hold it for 5 hours so unless you are leaving her alone for longer than that, you shouldn't be having problems. If you are consistently leaving her for longer than that, then you need to get someone to come let her out or take her to a boarding kennel/doggy daycare. It also sounds like she might have some separation anxiety. You should start crate training her so she has a safe place to go when you need to leave her alone. The crate will be her den and she should enjoy it; feed her in it, put toys in it, make her sleep in it. I cannot stress enough how much this dog, and you and your husband, needs PROFESSIONAL training. She is on the road to becoming a very ill behaved adult with some potentially dangerous behaviors. If you chose to rehome the dog, please talk to an akita rescue. You will be unlikely to find a family that can give her the training she needs by yourselves and I'm sure you and your husband would hate for her to be euthenized just because no one took the time to train her.

Answer 3

I've had the same probably with my poodle. Everytime we leave she cries and yelps. Leave a radio on for her or a tv. Also leave some toys for her to play with. Also, what helped us is that we got her a play pen rather than keeping her in a crate for such a long period of time. This helped her because she didnt feel so confined and had a little bit of freedom in her playpen. However, puppies are like babies and need constant attention. They are used to having their mothers and also brothers and sisters around so they are a little confused why they don't have anyone with them during the day. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I know how you feel, but you have to remember that this little girl, was taken away from her mom and her siblings, and put into totally different surroundings. She's just missing her mom and siblings and does not want to be left alone. She's very confused, and extremely scared. What I did with mine, that really helped, was take a clock you can hear the ticking on, and put it in the area she's kept or sleeps in. The sound of the ticking reminds it of it's mother's heartbeat. Get a nice, very soft teddy bear or stuffed animal and put it in with the clock. The stuffed animal helps them ,with feeling the security of being it's mother. You can also buy him some stuffed toys and chew toys, cause she's teething, to keep her occupied. Get her a special little soft blanket, for more security. Leave the TV on, because that makes her feel like someone is home and she's not alone, and last but not least, when you go to bed at night, just until she adjusts to everything, bring her in there with you and put her somewhere where she can see you, and it will help her relax and calm down more, seeing that your right there and she's not alone. With some time and patience, she should be ok. Also, let her come to you, so that she can learn to trust you, and give her lot's of love and attention. Good Luck! Hope this helps a little! Congratulations, on your new family member.

Answer 5

Seperation anxiety can be differcult to deal with sometimes. Do not make a big deal when you place the pup in the crate or when you return. Place the crate in an area where the pup can see what's going on,i.e near a window during the day ,near the bed at night time.I cover one end of the crate with a blanket.Have one special crate toy. I use a Kong filled with treats and frozen. Do NOT "comfort" the pup when its crying as this is giving it the attention its crying for and re-enforcing it's ok to cry.Wait for the pup to quiet down before giving it attention(which is VERY hard to do sometimes,I know). Good luck!

Answer 6

Try covering the crate with a blanket to make it more den-like. Leaving a radio on or the tv so he won't feel so alone. Distract her with toys.

As badly as I want to chastise you for getting a puppy and then not wanting to take the time to socialize her or train her, I'll refrain. It mostly likely won't do any good here. Next time you think about getting a dog, budget in the required time it will take for her to get used to her new people and surroundings.

Answer 7

The puppy, like a child is crying for attention. Do not go and tell the puppy to stop or say anything. This is giving the puppy more reason to cry. It is best to ignore it and eventually the puppy will learn that crying does not give it the attention that it is seeking. He or she will soon find his or her crate a "safe place" and will go in there on their own for naps or when they are scared.

Answer 8

well you can't really but maybe if you play with your puppy more often and leave something for it to do when your gone like leave the TV on or set out toys or any other fun thing that would amuse you if you were a dog. Becuz i know when i first got my dog he couldnt be left alone becuz he was used to having a human around all the time and he would go crazy and destroy the house. But then we tried the Tv and it worked! so try the TV as a first prority

Tori age 10

Answer 9

The same way you would stop an infant from crying. You can't.

The puppy has the same emotional needs as an infant, and you can't expect it to accommodate your lifestyle, until it is older.

You can try all the tricks, such as leaving an old (worn and not washed) sweater with it, or the TV on, or plenty of chew toys, and the filled toys, such as Kong toys, but if the tricks don't soothe and distract him from needing companionship, then you are stuck with the crying until he is older and can amuse himself.

Scolding will only cause more trauma and insecurities.

Answer 10

Put something you have worn in the crate with her. Get a wind-up clock and put it in with her - represents her mothers heartbeat. Put a quart bottle full of hot water in with her, make sure its wrapped in a towel - for warmth. Record your voice, something soothing, put it on a loop and play it when you leave the house.
Keep up the crate training, its worth the time and trouble.