Separation anxiety... when I'm home!

[MKEPugMom]

I am mom to an adorable 5 month old Pug... He's taken to puppy obedience classes quite well, is house broken to a litter box and outside potties, sleeps through the night but has some serious issues to being confined. We haven't crated him unless he's riding in the car or needing a little rest time after being too wired (he often chooses to sleep in the crate with door open though). What we do with him while not home or at night is to place in him a gated off area - a hallway and our guest bathroom where his litter box is. He has his crate, fresh water, a potty spot, toys and a blanket in there. He's typically ok when put to bed or when we are leaving for a bit. But if I need to actually get something done around the house (he makes laundry nearly impossible because he's still in that "it fits in my mouth? I think I'll chew on it or steal it" stage) he screams like he's being tortured. Sure, he'll calm down... but as soon as I walk past his gated area again, the whole process starts over. Is it possible I'm just not confining him enough (I've stopped doing this recently to avoid the screaming fits and teach him freedom)?

He does seem to be overly attached to me. When my husband puts him to bed or gates him the crying isn't nearly as bad. And when I confine him while my husband is in our office (office feeds into the gated area too via another gate) he even cries then knowing someone is there with him. I am home with him almost all day every day... so am the main source for food and walks. I do all his training too. Any words of wisdom?

[Tinker's mom]

Hello & to the village! He's bonded to you because you are his primary caretaker.I think that's probably normal.I"m not one to confine so I may be giving you wrong info but I think he's still a puppy and needs to learn what is his and what is yours in your house.If you confine him he'll not learn that lesson. I confined when Tinker was small to discipline when she was not getting the message. I only confined for 10-15 min at a time.I really think he'll outgrow this behavior as he gets older.Good luck and I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in.Glad to have you aboard.

[Hanky_Pankys_Mom]

My 6 month old pug does the same thing. I will put him in his pen when I cannot supervise him or have to leave and he screams like he is being murdered. When I am home I can tell him quite and after a few minutes he will lay down and chew on his nilabone. Hank has a training session tomorrow I plan on asking the trainer what I can do. I will let you know what she says.

[MrsGreene]

I was recently reading a book by Colin Tennant about leadership training. Not sure most of us could follow his suggestions, but basically dogs that are so distraught don't know their place in the pack order, and think they are more on a level with us. He has some great suggestions for making dogs feel more secure. As I said, not sure a lot of us could follow his suggestions--it involves not allowing the dogs into the "prime" parts of the house, and petting initially when interacting/training and not whenever they want. Makes sense, but I know most of us have a hard time not wanting to baby thie little guys.

[tall grass pugs]

Training books that wander off into pack theory need to go trash can bye-bye. Wolf biologists are even recognizing that the sainted alpha male and female theories are horse hockey. So start from scratch and remember that pugs are bred for one thing only---companion dogs. That is what they do. Seperation when you are in the house, they can hear you and smell you comes hard. Gentle repetition of irregular periods of x pen when you are home might be best. All he wants is to be with you. Remember the praise and treats for good behavior and gentle repetition when the behavior isn't that great. Remember to end the lesson whenever you get positive response.

[MrsGreene]

Leadership training and pack theory are two different things altogether. Have you read Colin Tennant? I've modified many of his suggestions, and they have worked very well with our Izabella. They are working well with her separation anxiety, which was intense enough that she was peeing in the house out of anxiety.