Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got Baxter a few weeks ago and have been so in love that I never leave him alone and he has been in his crate only three times. He is now 10 and a half weeks old.

I have been blessed that my job allows me to take him to work since he is so small. Also, when I go out to dinner/errands or go out of town for work he is always left with someone. BUT, I am starting to realize that I am not always going to have someone keep him when I go to dinner or run some errands.

SO, after reading a lot of the posted messages on this site I have realized that I may be doing this the wrong way.

I know that I need to leave him alone but I need some advice on how to go about this. He has become so attached to me that he even has a hard time letting others take him. He will whine until I hold him or when I leave he will whine at first, but then he is fine.

SO if I leave him confined to the kitchen alone, do you think that he will be fine?

Thank you for listening...

MJ

Hi MJ,
I think you're very wise in getting him use to being left alone. There are going to be times when you have to leave him and starting off when he's a pup, is a good idea. You can start off by leaving him for very short periods of time...even if it's just for a half hour or less. This will let him know that you will be coming home again. He should be fine in the kitchen but just make sure that there isn't anything available that he can get into. You can get a gate for the door area and that will confine him safely and yet he'll be able to see what's going on. Leave him some safe toys to play with, water and perhaps a bed if he use to sleeping in a bed. I wish you well with your new pup. Baxter sounds like a real cutie. Don't forget to share some pictures. We love pictures.
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Mary Lou & Katie

I was the same as you were when I got my little Chi I first left Buddy for like an hour, went to the store, then came back. I was told that they learn that you're going to come back eventually. And through the next few days I gradually left a little longer each day until the day I had to return to work. I had gotten Buddy when I was on vacation for a few weeks, and NEVER left him. He's now 8 months old, and stays in our master bathroom while I'm at work during the day. I also held Buddy NON STOP until about two months ago. I just couldn't help it b/c I loved him so I even take him into stores w/ me. He's totally fine, but he does have to be in my lap now all the time. But if anyone is in the room with me and they attempt to hold him, he will shake and stare at me, but if I leave the room he will whine for a little bit, then he's alright.

Anyhow - good luck Oh - Buddy is 8 months now......

I know how you're feeling...it's really hard to leave them alone. My pup whines when I walk out of the room for a second. I left him alone for the first time just a few days ago in his playpen...I was nervous about it but my husband reassured me everything would be fine. Well when we got home, we couldn't find him. I started to freak out, and then noticed him standing behind us. He somehow jumped out...I have no idea how, but thankfully he was okay and didn't break anything. That's the last time I'll leave him alone in there...that's a pretty big jump for a 12 week old puppy! I'm hoping he made it into the laundry basket full of clothes. Anyway, I hesitantly left him alone tonight again in his carrying case, which he loves, and he was perfectly fine. He started to bark when I was leaving but when I came home he was fast asleep. It'll be okay...I like the idea of leaving them alone for small periods of time until they get used to you coming back. Good luck!

Thank you all for your help. I was able to leave him alone twice this weekend for a half an hour and then an hour. He does whine but I think that he and I will be ok.

The only thing now is that he will poop on the pee pad and walk through it. He has never done this before so it may just be he way of showing me he does not like to be alone. We'll see.

Thanks again for your time,
MJ

>>Thank you all for your help. I was able to leave him alone twice this weekend for a half an hour and then an hour. He does whine but I think that he and I will be ok.
>>
>>The only thing now is that he will poop on the pee pad and walk through it. He has never done this before so it may just be he way of showing me he does not like to be alone. We'll see.
>>
>>Thanks again for your time,
>>MJ

Glad things are going well for you and the little one. As much as we sometimes hate to admit it, they can do without us just fine for a time.

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Mary Lou & Katie