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I have a new 14wk old puppy that will have been in my house for just a week this Sat. Before that, he lived with his mother, 4 littermates, 5 other dogs, a cockatiel, three adults and one 4yo child. (Very noisy) He was crated in the whelping room and spent his days in the ex pen outside. Now at my house it is just me and him. He is ok when I crate him and I'm home (when he see's me.) But the minute I leave, he is yelling very loud and won't settle down. My neighbor said he did it for almost two hours straight when I left for work the other night. I have been trying to clicker train him, although I am a novice to it. (We start puppy clicker class next week) So I know to click when he has moments of quiet, although quick as it might be. But how do I get him to settle down more so I can click more. I tried when I left to put soothing music and cover his crate so he would think I was home. Please advise me how to fix this as my neighbors don't want to be woken up at 2am! Thanks for any ideas.

Bekki and Atreyu (Pharaoh Hound)

>>I have a new 14wk old puppy that will have been in my house for just a week this Sat. Before that, he lived with his mother, 4 littermates, 5 other dogs, a cockatiel, three adults and one 4yo child. (Very noisy) He was crated in the whelping room and spent his days in the ex pen outside. Now at my house it is just me and him. He is ok when I crate him and I'm home (when he see's me.) But the minute I leave, he is yelling very loud and won't settle down. My neighbor said he did it for almost two hours straight when I left for work the other night. I have been trying to clicker train him, although I am a novice to it. (We start puppy clicker class next week) So I know to click when he has moments of quiet, although quick as it might be. But how do I get him to settle down more so I can click more. I tried when I left to put soothing music and cover his crate so he would think I was home. Please advise me how to fix this as my neighbors don't want to be woken up at 2am! Thanks for any ideas.
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>>Bekki and Atreyu (Pharaoh Hound)

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This is not exactly separation anxiety, but is normal in puppies adjusting to crates and to being alone. If noise is intolerable to neighbors, you might need to look at options such as a pet sitter or day-boarding with your vet or something. Maybe you could pay the neighbor to do it!
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47

This would be a great idea, except I work nights. The breeder suggested that I move his crate out of my room in slow progressive steps towards the spare room. Then he might adjust a little better. So I will try that. But still open to any thoughts. I was reading through back posts and there was a member who wrote about the exact issues I was having. The member's name was "Squeakey" and ironically, her dog was a Pharaoh Hound as well. So if Squeakey still reads the posts, let me know how things turned out.

Hi Bekki -

I saw your introduction on the PH board and ended up finding your message here. Your boy looks like quite a cutie! You are in for a lot of fun. BTW - I love the name Atreyu, I'm a huge fan of The Never Ending Story.

Anyhow, Kahla is our first PH - she'll turn three in a month and a half. I can't give you the solution for your situation but I thought I could tell you what worked for us when we got Kahla.

Kahla came to live with us when she was 9 weeks old. We could not leave her alone when crated without her getting really upset. Thinking about this we figured it may be because she'd come from always being with her littermates. So, we tried the "buddy" system. We put our RR mixes crate in the bedroom and then Kahla "bunked": with her. Auntie Kayo to the rescue.

We then slowly worked on her "solo" time in the crate during the day. We were able to do this because first Alex took a week off work, and then I took a week off work. Within a week Kahla was able to be in her crate on her own. (BTW - We have a small "puppy" crate that she used until about 5 1/2 months when she graduated to her "adult" crate.) By the end of the two weeks she didn't have any problems being on her own.

We also built an 80 sq ft kennel in the garage that once we both were back at work she and Kayo would be loose in during the day. This way she wouldn't get lonely (and if she had to go between visits to let her out she had paper to eliminate on).

Maybe some of this can help you with your cutie pie!

BTW - Love his cute collar too!

.

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tabitha
Kayo, Kahla, and Dante'

I had to look up "The Never Ending Story" to remember what it was! (I'm 21). Atreyu is also the name of this Screamo/Metal band that is growing in popularity. I never would have even thought that it was related to the movie... haha. Funny how the generation gap works like that.

Emily - APBT