I just want to make sure I'm doing this right and not traumatizing him.
Pup came home Wednesday 3/18, and we immediately started crate training. He's taken to it really, really well, sleeping overnight in it since night 2 and taking naps in it every day. He even occupies himself with his toys if he wakes up before I'm awake but he doesnt need to go out yet.
The main problem is that my bedroom would need massive rearranging to fit his crate in it, and I'm hesitant to do so because I'm disabled and more than likely the three of us (myself, my retired and newly blind senior service dog, and pup) are moving soon. So his crate is in the other bedroom.
He's nooooot handling being alone well. We've been sleeping next to him in a temporary setup overnight to keep him calm. I've also been sitting next to him during naps, and if he's out of the crate he's on leash unless we're actively doing something like playing with his ball or the flirt pole. Constant supervision, basically. Until yesterday, I only left him alone long enough to use the restroom because he got really upset with barking and howling even for just those short periods.
Yesterday, during nap times, I've started doing other things I need to do coming in and out of the room. He cries and barks but has stopped howling, and sometimes distress pees. Other than immediately cleaning up the pee, I ignore him and keep doing my thing until he quiets, then I'll either talk to him, treat him, or keep ignoring him if it was something like a nighttime bathroom break for me. I did it again today, same deal. He seems a bit less distressed today, but still upset at being alone, and still distress peed.
Is there something I'm doing wrong, or is this a workable approach to getting him used to alone time? I know he's just a baby and never been alone before Wednesday, so I'm trying to remember that and instill that alone time is A-OK and always temporary. Is there something more I could be doing?
Thanks!
submitted by /u/jelli-donut
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