| Re: Puppy class
One really important thing I remember teaching my puppy at this age was how to handle being alone. You don't want to end up with a dog with separation anxiety every time you leave! Dogs will end up destroying your house and just plain aren't happy campers when they are plagued with this anxiety.
What I did was several times a day I would leave him alone (at first in his crate or safety pen when I couldn't trust him out) and go out of sight. He would cry and whine and go nuts. I just ignored it and came back as soon as he quieted down (at first you can come back when the dog is even quiet for just a split second, and gradually build up on this). I came back casually and not excited.
As he got older, I trusted him alone in the bedroom. So I would close the door and leave him in there with a toy or two, and yes a little bit of whining but not as bad as it had been weeks before. I did not return to the room until there was quiet. Eventually I was able to start leaving him in the room alone while I took a shower or ran to do something that took 5 - 15 mins. Otherwise he was crated if I had to be gone longer.
I now have a 7 month old dog who I can leave home alone (only in my bedroom though) who doesn't cry or whine or tear things up due to separation anxiety when I leave. I also want to add that he doesn't get up on the bed, have any accidents, chew on cords, or anything! I have never come home to find that he has gotten into trouble. Then again my room is also puppy proofed :p  |