She is about 8 weeks old and has a personality of her own. I love her and I'm glad I decided on getting this breed... It's my first puppy so I am still learning and asking for any advice.
Answers:
I agree totally...I just got a chihuahua for christmas this past year and she has such a great personality. She literally lights up a room when you walk in.
As for the getting used to you not being around...
1) use a crate (mine stays in an 18"x24") and cover it with a blanket. This will become her home...and after awhile, she will see it as such and actually like it for the security it provides while you are gone.
2) introduce her to it a few minutes at a time, while you are still home, to start. She may cry and possibly howl to start. But be vigilant, she will very quickly realize within a few days that she is supposed to be there and she will not see it as separation because she will know you will come back to retrieve her soon.
3) after a while, you will be able to leave her in there when you go out for longer periods of time. And as she ages, you can slowly give her freedom to stay out of the crate when you are gone, However, I dont suggest that for the first year or so. Puppies tend to get into trouble too easily at first.
As for the crying...the crate training will help tremendously with that. Just be prepared. She will be just as persistent as you. Don't give into her crying and she will soon learn that, just like a baby...it won't always work. My puppy still whines a lot, but she has certainly matured over the last 8 months. Enjoy her and train her well, she will be your little shadow who only wants to please you for years to come!
leave her alone for a couple minutes everyday.
slowly increase the time you are gone.
The absolute best thing that you can do is to get her crate trained.
Leave her in the crate while you are gone, even if it's just to run and get the mail.
You should also have her sleep in it at night, until she gets older.
Eventually she will view the crate as her den. As all dogs are den animals, this will be her environment where she feels safe and secure, and she will go to it on her own, when she needs a break and wants to be alone.
There are a ton of books on crate training. I used a book called "Mother Knows Best:The Natural Way to Train Your Dog"
Small dogs take a little extra time. Be patient, and good luck
I have a bloodhound. He would cry when we left him and when we came home he had torn everything to pieces! He was mad at us for leaving. I started dumping his entire basket of toys on the floor and turning on the tv (kinda loud) before I left. While I'm gone he is to occupied to get upset that I have left him. The tv gives him the noises that he hears when your home, instead of empty silence when your away.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment