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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> How to stop a puppy whining when you leave
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02/21/2008 10:45:42 PM · #1
Me and my husband just purchased a 10 week old boxer/pitbull puppy. She is a wonderful dog, but when we leave she whines and whines. We live in a four-plex and one of our neighbors complained. We have 1 week to figure out a way to fix the problem. We can't afford to put her in a kennel 2 times a week. Is there a way to train a puppy to stop whining when we are gone within a week? I'd really appreciate some suggestions, I love her and do NOT want to get rid of her.

Message edited by author 2008-02-21 22:46:07.
02/21/2008 10:50:49 PM · #2
Are you crate training her? if so a rawhide or a "pup cicle" can keep the pup distacted for twenty or thirty minutes. By then, the dog has forgotten you're gone. good luck. ( a pup cicle is canned food stuffed into a small hollow bone and then frozen)
02/21/2008 10:52:30 PM · #3
Try a radio tuned to a talk radio station. It might fake her into not thinking she is alone.
02/21/2008 10:55:51 PM · #4
Make sure she has plenty of toys to play with. what you need to do is leave her alone for short amount of times. For a week leave the house for about 10 minutes 2 times a day, pet her, kiss her and tell her bye. Then when you come back do the same. Pet her, kiss her and talk to her with a high pitch "baby" voice. When she is in trouble raise your voice and point at her. This will let her know that she has done something wrong or is in trouble. During week 2 leave the house for 30 minutes twice daily doing and saying the same thing over and over and over. Dogs learn by doing good and the tone of your voice. 3rd week 1 hour. After that she will understand that when you leave you will ALWAYS come back.

The first week she will cry when you guys leave. Be strong and do the same thing over and over. She will learn.

Message edited by author 2008-02-21 22:58:25.
02/21/2008 10:57:18 PM · #5
Originally posted by Tiggr33:

Try a radio tuned to a talk radio station. It might fake her into not thinking she is alone.


or even try a tv left on for her?
02/22/2008 12:41:44 AM · #6
I hate to say it, but it probably isn't going to happen in a week. A 10 week old puppy is still use to having constant companionship from other puppies and a mother dog (unless she was an only puppy). Right now, you and your husband are her sole companionship and she doesn't know what being alone means. So she cries or barks. She will learn that when you leave you will come back, but it's going to take time.

When you are home, is she with you all the time? Does she sleep in your bedroom with you? If so, you are contributing to her dependency on you. Even when you are home, you should put her in a crate in another room. She will still whine, but when she stops for short periods, you praise her for being quiet. And you ignore her when she whines. If you have to, put a heavy blanket over the crate except the front to help muffle the sound a bit.

I hope you didn't get a puppy and both your husband and you leave to go to work all day. Being left along all day as a young puppy can be very scary to many... and makes it hard to house train them because they will get use to using their crate or where ever you have her rather than waiting to go outside. And they can get into some destructive habits of chewing, digging, clawing, etc., because they are bored or stressed out. And if they learn this when they are young, they will probably continue doing at least some of these when they get older.

A lot of the ideas given so far are good... but it's going to take time. Several weeks if you are lucky to a few months or longer if she's normal.

Mike

Message edited by author 2008-02-22 00:43:20.
02/22/2008 01:40:00 AM · #7
Maybe find a pet sitter in your area until you can train her?
02/22/2008 01:49:17 AM · #8
Separation Anxiety

I echo the thought of don't make a big deal about leaving, and don't make a big deal when you return. Kong's filled with peanut butter, cheese, or kibble are great for distracting the dog when you leave.

There's some good suggestions here too

What is Separation Anxiety?

Separation Anxiety- More Ideas

Message edited by author 2008-02-22 02:00:54.
02/22/2008 02:37:41 AM · #9
get another puppy :)

the tv or radio is a good idea, thats what i used to do. also if you give her a big juicey bone to gnaw on - it will keep her entertained for ages!

if all else fails within the week - take her out with you til you have it figured out!
02/22/2008 03:01:08 AM · #10
Make sure she's had plenty of playtime and exercise before you leave her with some toys, chew toys or a big bone. A tired puppy is more able to settle down and have a sleep when you leave her. Book her into puppy school and get her training started, your local vet clinic will be able to tell you where the nearest classes are.
02/22/2008 05:25:52 AM · #11
If you are truly committed to keeping this puppy, then find a puppy school near you for now. Some of them will take her for the day and will play with her and train her too (that gets her out of the house and solves your whiny neighbor problem). After that, if you are gone for long periods, hire a dogsitter. This is what I did for my Albert and it worked well. The woman came 3 times a day and took him out for walks, played with him, and checked his food and water. She was only $40 a week and I am sure you will agree, our dogs are worth that ;)

If all else fails, please don't take her to a shelter... let the neighbor know that you are working on a solution and maybe even take the dog over to meet her (who knows, she might take the job to dogsit) while looking for a new owner. Please remember to screen new possible owners and make sure they aren't going to mistreat her if you do have to go that route.

I hope this helps :)
02/22/2008 09:57:39 AM · #12
Is this four-plex an apartment with a landlord? Who has given you the ultimatum of 1 week?

The thoughts I agree with most here are:

1. rawhide or pup-cicle when you leave -- the dog will be distracted and will start to "not mind" when you go because of the treat. However, the puppy may develop of dependency of sorts on the treat.

2. leave her alone/in the crate for periods of time while you're home, and discipline her if she whines/barks then.

3. leave a radio or tv on, but even this kind of depends on the success of #2 because even if she thinks it's you she'll keep whining.
02/22/2008 10:12:48 AM · #13
I disagree with the guilt trips that some are trying to put you on. Try my method. I've crate trained four dogs (3 German Shorthaired Pointers and a Sheperd) this way. I've lived in apartments while I've done it and have achieved almost immediate results. I work extensive hours but can take the dog with me most times when I work on the weekends. The only point I would add is to exercise the dog as extensively as you can. This will keep the dog more content. Dog sitter or doggy day care?? Millions of dogs are trained and assimilate to there new homes without this. Beware of the people who want to humanize the dog. They are the most dangerous for the dog's well being.

The person who suggested to kick and punch the dog needs a bit of this treatment for themselves.

Message edited by author 2008-02-22 10:14:02.
02/22/2008 10:19:02 AM · #14
[quote=Creature] 2. leave her alone/in the crate for periods of time while you're home, and discipline her if she whines/barks then.

The idea behind crate training is to have the dog in the crate whenever you can't pay attention to her. Putting a clock wrapped in cloth or a hot water bottle in there when you leave helps too.
02/22/2008 10:38:14 AM · #15
Originally posted by neophyte:

I disagree with the guilt trips that some are trying to put you on. Try my method. I've crate trained four dogs (3 German Shorthaired Pointers and a Sheperd) this way. I've lived in apartments while I've done it and have achieved almost immediate results. I work extensive hours but can take the dog with me most times when I work on the weekends. The only point I would add is to exercise the dog as extensively as you can. This will keep the dog more content. Dog sitter or doggy day care?? Millions of dogs are trained and assimilate to there new homes without this. Beware of the people who want to humanize the dog. They are the most dangerous for the dog's well being.

The person who suggested to kick and punch the dog needs a bit of this treatment for themselves.


I would absolutely do the crate training. Besides assisting with the SA, it is the easiest method for house breaking a puppy. It provides the puppy his own place in the house, providing safety for both him and your belongings. Someone mentioned scolding the puppy when he whined. Keep in mind when you scold you give him attention which is what he seeks. You will likely be surprised how quickly a puppy can put those two together.

You might ask the breeder how the rest of the litter is doing and if any suffer from SA. And if you decide not to keep the puppy, hopefully your contract with the breeder allows you to return the puppy where they can find him a good home. Responsible breeders will offer from 66% - 100% money back.

Keep working with your puppy though. Millions of people work through this all the time. Hopefully it's the begining of a long relationship between you and your puppy.
02/22/2008 10:48:21 AM · #16
They have puppy size Kongs that you can put peanut butter in to keep them busy. Try putting it in the freezer overnight and it will take all the longer for them to get the peanut butter out!


02/22/2008 10:56:57 AM · #17
Trade in the dog for an aquarium.

Seriously, the time to figure how to handle this stuff was before you brought the dog home.

Why ask here anyway? Does the dog have f1.4? ISO 1600? IS?
02/22/2008 11:09:39 AM · #18
[quote=Spazmo99] Seriously, the time to figure how to handle this stuff was before you brought the dog home.

I think if they wanted this type of response they would've called their mother.....

The Kong idea is great! I've put a small dog cookie inside and it occupies the dog very well.
02/22/2008 11:23:16 AM · #19
The only way we could get our puppy to quit whining in the laundry room at night was put her outside with the other dog. So I say get another dog:)
02/22/2008 11:24:38 AM · #20
Originally posted by neophyte:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Seriously, the time to figure how to handle this stuff was before you brought the dog home.


I think if they wanted this type of response they would've called their mother.....



Too many people go out and buy a puppy without any idea of what they're getting into. I've lived next to people who have done just what the OP seems to have done; bought a puppy, then leave it cooped up in their house, bored, whining and crying all day to annoy the neighbors. The ONLY ones I have sympathy for are the puppy and the neighbors.

02/22/2008 11:53:48 AM · #21
Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Too many people go out and buy a puppy without any idea of what they're getting into. I've lived next to people who have done just what the OP seems to have done; bought a puppy, then leave it cooped up in their house, bored, whining and crying all day to annoy the neighbors. The ONLY ones I have sympathy for are the puppy and the neighbors.


The people in the OP seem like good people to me who are looking for a solution to their problem, not the useless hindsight you're offering. Save your lectures for your own kids. The ONLY ones I feel sorry for are those who have to deal with your self-righteousness.
02/22/2008 11:58:16 AM · #22
Originally posted by neophyte:

Originally posted by Spazmo99:

Too many people go out and buy a puppy without any idea of what they're getting into. I've lived next to people who have done just what the OP seems to have done; bought a puppy, then leave it cooped up in their house, bored, whining and crying all day to annoy the neighbors. The ONLY ones I have sympathy for are the puppy and the neighbors.


The people in the OP seem like good people to me who are looking for a solution to their problem, not the useless hindsight you're offering. Save your lectures for your own kids. The ONLY ones I feel sorry for are those who have to deal with your self-righteousness.


Spazmo IS right. If you don't know how to control a pupppy, why do you have a puppy??

What kind of response would this get if it were 'I just bought a camera, how do i use it?'
02/22/2008 12:00:59 PM · #23
Hopefully helpful ones.
02/22/2008 12:02:58 PM · #24
Originally posted by neophyte:

Hopefully helpful ones.


Touché!
02/22/2008 12:22:36 PM · #25
I appreciate the many helpful comments I have received. Just so everyone knows and doesn't think I am a horribly irresponsible person, the dog is only home alone 1 day a week. It's not a matter of not being able to control her when I am with her. She is perfectly fine when I am home. I don't see how a person can fix a whining puppy problem BEFORE purchasing them....unless there is some magical trick that I don't know about. I will be trying all of these useful solutions you have mentioned. Thanks!
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