hi all
I have a 18 week old puppy that I imported from overseas about 3.5 weeks ago. She is clean in her crate at night (and is good for 7 hours, and then lets me know she has to go out). She is now also good in the morning (though she barks a bit) when I leave for work, and when I come back at noon, she is clean <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> That is the good part. The bad part is when I leave to go back to work- she pees in her crate. I believe she is having separation anxiety about me leaving again. When I get home, l let her out, and wash she and her crate. She is not 100% perfect loose in the house (she is always under my supervision). So, she isn't allowed any real freedom. What can I do? I thought about just extending slowly the length of time I am away from my house, until it is for the full day, but I really want her to be able to handle me going back out. I really need some help here.
Julie

Built a kennel or dog run that she can stay in during the daytime hours.


I don't think it is seperation anxiety, I think the dog just has to pee. . .unless there are other issues that lead you to believe opposite. Peeing in the crate alone isn't a sign of seperation anxiety.


I personally don't like to see a dog in a crate more than necessary. Kennels and dog runs are great. Dog can eliminate as necessary and can move around in a safe area.

Crate training is great and should be done, but when I'm away from the house I leave my dogs in their runs/kennels.

If your goal is to be away from the dog the whole day, build a kennel.

I was thinking sep anxiety- because for instance when I leave the car for a minute she gets really worried (if we are out somewhere). It may be that she drinks a lot when I come home, but I think it does have an element of anxiety.
She is still young, but I do let her out when home for lunch and make sure she pees at least twice before I leave, and then I come home in another two hours- not long, and there is the pee. Right now she is in her crate, not fussing much, and certainly not the same noise she makes when I leave for work...
Julie

here are my thoughts: at 4 1/2 mo. old, your pup should be good crated for 6 hrs without an accident. the first thing i would do would be check for a UTI w/your vet.

if it's not a UTI, and it sounds like she's ok early, i would try limiting water intake, especially if she's inside w/AC during the day.

i agree w/robert: ideally build her an outside kennel (but i also know ALL about limited finances <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />.

most importantly, IMO, don't let her crying/whining/barking when you leave affect you leaving! tell her "watch the house" or something, then leave. i'm working with this with my 6 mo. old when we go to town (IF it's cool enough to leave him in the car a few minutes!!!)--he'll raise he!! for a few seconds, then settle. it's kind of embarrassing, according to my teenaged "babies", but only to them, not
me <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

i don't hold with assigning human psychological disorders to animals, though i will agree that humans can CAUSE pysch disorders in their animals. just don't go there with your pup--separation is a part of life. simple as that. what the pup needs to realize is that you WILL come back. start slow, increase the time.

make sure she's getting enough exercise!

hi there:
I am a bit sus of a uti, because she can hold it a long time (for instance last night, 8 hours). Perhaps she is tanking up on water when I come home for lunch? She fusses a lot less in the morning when I leave. She does have this habit though, of running to the front door- wanting to go with me when I am just home for a while. Since my other dogs are crated, and I really don't want the pup to bark a lot (she has a voice that can be quite loud), the outside kennel would have to house another dog too- and if they don't play with her she barks at them <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I am going to try and elongate the time before I get home since she is good, and I am also going to, once I get home start crating her while I drive away for a a short time, and elongate that. I have crate trained soooo many dogs, and each has their own take on what's "fair"... She is also very active, and could probably go all day with very little sleep. I will also watch her water intake- that may be suspect in all of this.
Thanks, and if anyone else has some wisdom- feel free to impart!
Julie
Julie