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Subject: Whining,Howling when left alone

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Ratterific

08/20/2007 1:45 PM
Hi All, We just got our rattie last week. This week he will be 10 weeks old. He seems to be adjusting to us really well. When we leave the house we tend to put up a little gate by our kitchen and we leave him in there, along with his crate. However he does not like it when we leave him alone. He starts whining and howling and now barking really bad when left alone. Yesterday he was alone for about 2 hours and when we got back he was still barking and howling. Does anyone have any tips on how we can get rid of his separation anxiety and maybe quiet him down a little when we leave for work so he won't be barking all day long? Thanks plenty

Nazy- Proud Momma to little rattie JB & Toby

rattytatty

Newbie

08/20/2007 1:55 PM
Of course he doesn't like it when you leave him alone! LOL (Can you blame him?) I would suggest leaving him in his crate.... unfortunately there is no "quick" cure for the whining and yelping. It's something we all have to go through during the crate-training process. It takes longer for some than for others, but I promise you it will be worth it. Because of him being so young, don't leave him in the crate for more than 2-3 hours at a time.. leave him with a kong filled with peanut butter to occupy him. When you are at home, leave the crate door open and put treats in the crate. Let him learn that the crate is his "friend" and it NOT something used as "punishment". I promise you... once you get past these early stages of training him to a crate you will be SOOO glad you did ! (He is precious by the way!)

Ratterific

08/20/2007 2:08 PM
Thank you Nora for your advice. Also since he will be alone weekdays from about 8-4:30, he gets one break in between when my sister goes and feeds him for me and walks him, since he is alone for long periods of time in middle of the week do you suggest i just keep him in the kitchen area with the door of the crate open? From what you wrote his whining and yelping should get better as he gets older? Thanks again!!!

Nazy- Proud Momma to little rattie JB & Toby

rattytatty

Newbie

08/20/2007 2:17 PM
As he becomes more accustomed to the crate.. the whining will decrease. Until he's about three months old I would not crate him for more than 3 hours at a time. The general rule is 1 hour for each month of age without letting them out for a potty break. Keep the crate in the room with him though and put treats in it for him. You might also leave him in it if you know you are going to be gone for short periods of time... 2-3 hours max at this point.

tauney4

Alpha Feist

08/20/2007 2:22 PM
TRY TURNING A READY ON FOR HIM SO HE DOESNT THINK HE IS BY HIMSELF. OR I HAVE HEARD OF PEOPLE TAPE RECORDING THEMSELVES AND LETTING PLAY! MY MOM LETS HER DOGS RUN IN THE KITCHEN WHEN SHE IS GONE SHE PUTS NEWSPAPER DOWN FOR THEM TO PAUTY AND POO ON. SHE BLOCKS THE REST OF THE HOUSE WITH A BABY GATE SO THEY CANT ROAM. I LET MY TAUNEY ROAM THE HOUSE BUT I HAVE A CHI AND 3 CATS SO SHE DONT GET LONELY. BUT DEFINATELY TRY THE RADIO

Ratterific

08/20/2007 2:27 PM
Thank you both for your advice and i will definatley try the radio and i agree with you Nora, next time i'm going to be out for about 2 hours i will leave him in the crate and see how he does. I appreciate all the help everyone provides here.

Nazy- Proud Momma to little rattie JB & Toby

anacodia

Ratterific

08/20/2007 6:19 PM
No advice over and above what everyone else said, but my rattie was a whiner and howler at that age. It was horrible! I remember we left her in her crate once to run a quick errand, and when we got back, we could hear her from a third floor apartment all the way down to the street. I was horrified! That was when she was 9 weeks. Now she's 2 and the absolute best dog ever. She IS crate trained, and will go to her crate if commanded. It's not her favorite place to spend time, but she doesn't seem to hate it. The first 6 months were tough with my head strong, dominant rattie, but with a lot (A LOT) of obedience training and lots of activity, I cannot imagine life without her! Congrats on your new puppy! That part WILL get better.

Ratterific

08/21/2007 10:51 AM
Thank you for your response. It gives me hope, i too live on the 3rd floor and sometimes when i get out of my car i can hear him from all the way upstairs. I'm still in the process of crate training him and from everything i see on this site, crate training is the best way to go. I just have one question, i have two crates, one in the kitchen which he seems to like a lot, and another one in the bedroom which is bigger that he sleeps in at night. Do you guys recommend i get rid of one of the crates or keep both? Will this confuse him or help him? Any tips will be much appreciated.

Nazy- Proud Momma to little rattie JB & Toby

rattytatty

Newbie

08/21/2007 11:04 AM
I see no harm in having two crates... goodness I have about 8 crates! (for four dogs), and I use different crates for different purposes. Just make sure they aren't too big... just big enough for him to be nice and comfortable. I promise you'll get through this stage, and you'll be SO glad you did!

Ratterific

08/21/2007 4:06 PM
WOW, 8 crates, then the 2 i have should be no biggie. Thanks for your advice Nora and everyone else,i appreciate it!!!

Nazy- Proud Momma to little rattie JB & Toby

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