How can i stop my new puppy howling and crying when left in a room alone?
Puppies are just like new babies – he has just been taken away from his mother, the only source of security he’s had his entire life, and now you are his security blanket. It’s like when a baby wakes up and realizes they’re alone… they freak out. Of course, puppies aren’t babies though, and he will have to learn that he can’t howl and cry and make you come running. If you start that habit now, you’ll be fighting it for the rest of the dog’s life. The only thing you can really do is to ignore the behavior… puppies are raised so much more easily with positive reinforcement than with punishment, so don’t punish the howling behavior, but reward the good, quiet behavior. When you put him away, don’t come get him again until he has stopped, even if you are done cleaning up the mess or whatever you are doing. If you come back for him while he’s still whining, he will think you are returning as a result of his behavior. Even if you have to leave him for an extra 15 or 20 minutes, endure it
