Whining *everytime* I leave the room. Help!

[518dark-rose]

Scooby has developed a habit of whining every single time I leave the room!

I don't crate him for very often, I am lucky to be home with him all day every day at the minute - perhaps this is the problem, he's too used to being with me all the time? Although I do start university again soon (only about 3 and a half days a week and Ryan & I live close enough to the University I attend that I can walk back in my lunch hour and take Scooby out for a walk).

But say I need to do some housework and I don't want him to be by my feet, I put him in his crate (with his favourite teddy and a water bottle attatched to it). I also always leave the tv on for comfort. The second I leave the room he whines and barks, continuously, until I return!

- I have tried to wait outside the room door, wait for him to quiet down and then count to 20, then go back into the room, so he realises that I don't come back into the room just because he barks.

- I have also tried to put him in his crate and then go out and come back in within a few seconds (before the barking & whining starts) and then say "good boy" when I go back into the room.

- I also bought an anti bark collar, *NOT* the shock type, it just picks up the vibrations when he barks and makes a bleeping noise which is supposed to be annoying and so he learns to stop. This has no affect whatsoever, although I think it may just be because of the pug neck and so it doesn't pick up the vibrations. (The sound can't be heard by humans). I tried this out for about 2 weeks and gave up.

Please help!

Is he developing an anxiety problem? Or is this just a puppy thing? If so, will he grow out of it by himself or should I continue with different methods to "train" him out of it?

I am very aware of the neighbours and it being a nuisance, also it really gets at my heart strings! I can't stand thinking he's upset or scared.

Thankyou in advance for any input x

[Rosiepug]

Did you follow this?

Crate Training 101

Are you putting him his crate often enough, like every day for a period of time?

Does he sleep in his crate or with you?

[518dark-rose]

He always sleeps in his crate on a night time and we don't hear a peep out of him until morning (although we sleep in the same room as him).

I haven't seen that post before, although I *think* I've done everything pretty similar. If he is in his crate and I'm in the room he is perfectly fine, he will even put himself in his crate and take a nap. (My computer is in our bedroom, and is my favourite room in the house, so it's where Scooby & I spend most of our time.)

I usually try to crate him for about an hour in the morning (then go grab a shower, make some coffee, general tidying up etc)

and then another hour in the afternoon (make dinner preparations, do housework, nip into town to pick up groceries, or go to the post office/ bank)

Obviously when I go into town I'm not sure if he sleeps or carries on barking, I always assume that because he can't hear me doing things in the house he knows I'm out.

But if I am in the house, gosh, you would think he was in pain or something. It kills me to hear :( x

[Rosiepug]

You say you don't want him underfoot when you're doing your housework. Would it be a problem for him to be in the same room but crated??

Otherwise, I think he's just voicing his annoyance that he can't be with you and you'll just have to close him, crated in another room and ride the storm.

Pudding pretty much creates every time I put her in her crate. She gets so annoyed she tries to bite me through the wire while I close the latch. Once I leave the room though and she doesn't have an audience she stops.

[518dark-rose]

Not sure if this helps you to help me or not:

I have also tried leaving him in my bedroom, with his crate door open if he wanted to go in it, (very risky with a puppy I know, but my room is as puppy proofed as I can possibly make it, and I wanted to see if it was just his crate he didn't like).

It didn't make a difference, all he did was bark and whine right by the door and scratch it like crazy, I haven't tried it again, but this makes me think that it isn't his crate he doesn't liike, just the fact that mummy isn't there.

I would love to be with him all the time, but obviously there are going to be times when he needs to be left alone x

[518dark-rose]

You say you don't want him underfoot when you're doing your homework. Would it be a problem for him to be in the same room but crated??

Otherwise, I think he's just voicing his annoyance that he can't be with you and you'll just have to close him, crated in another room and ride the storm.

Pudding pretty much creates every time I put her in her crate. She gets so annoyed she tries to bite me through the wire while I close the latch. Once I leave the room though and she doesn't have an audience she stops.

Housework, not homework aha Which is why I'd be bobbing in and out of different rooms in the house.

I think riding the storm may have to be the only option at the minute, and hoping he learns that it doesn't make a difference so he stops and just sleeps instead.

I'm just worried about how long it will take, it really breaks my heart, but I do want him to learn x

[Rosiepug]

What you're describing is pretty normal because they always want to be beside us.

When Puddi was a young puppy she lived in the kitchen /family room because it has marble floors and accidents were easy to clean up. Then as now, every time I went away i.e. when I went for a shower, went to do the grocery shopping, I always put her in the crate and let her scream. I couldn't afford to let her loose because she'd destroy the house and pester Rosie who is too fragile the fight her off. She did get used to it. Like you are now, I'm home 24/7 but if I can't keep my eye on her, she goes in her crate in the kitchen.

I think your going to have to get some ear plugs and do what you have to do.

[Rosiepug]

Housework, not homework aha Which is why I'd be bobbing in and out of different rooms in the house.

Yes I caught my mistake and corrected it but really housework/homework amounts to the same thing

[518dark-rose]

Yes I caught my mistake and corrected it but really housework/homework amounts to the same thing

haha yeah very true.

Thankyou for your help, I think it's just reassuring to know that I'm not doing anything wrong and that it's pretty normal puppy behaviour. It makes me feel like the worst pug mum in the world to hear him like that!

My Mum has also offered to come over once a week on a day when I have to go to University so she can pug sit. She loves him almost as much as I do! If we lived closer to my parents house I think she would have offered to come round every day, but it's quite a drive.

We shall see, it would be really comforting knowing that he had some company for the day, and is very nice of my mum to offer. Although I have thought all of this through before we got Scooby, and if not, he will do just fine as I don't have long hours and live close enough to come back at lunchtime.

Thanks again :) x

[Rosiepug]

He'll be better when you do go to Uni and he has a routine. He'll just sleep while your away. I agree the problem is, he can here you but can't get to you.