Soothing an Anxious Puppy

Your puppy was probably used to being with her warm mother and several litter mates. In the beginning she can have real separation anxiety from being away from the familiar surroundings. This can be acted out in the form of whining, crying and endless barking. If it is not resolved quickly, this way of reacting to stress will become part of the dog's way for dealing with stress and anxiety and you'll wind up with a dog that barks whenever she is upset or anxious.

If you have your puppy gated or crated and she is whining and crying, she might be trying to tell you she needs to eliminate. Take her outside to her usual spot to see if that is the issue. If she was merely feeling anxious about being alone, spend some time stroking her and talking to her in a calm voice.

Another way you can acclimate your puppy to being alone is to let her spend a little time by herself when you are home. Make these times brief in the beginning and very gradually extend them. Praise and reward your pup for not crying or barking in your "absence". This teaches your dog that you will always come back for her and this will greatly lesson her separation anxiety.

You can undo all your good training if you give in even once. Much like human children, puppies will repeat behaviors often in the beginning to see if they get exactly the same reaction from you. Don't let one incident pass without addressing it.

Never let your puppy feel abandoned. Through positive reinforcement, you can start your puppy on the right track to being a secure and anxiety free companion.
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