Hello, I am a first-time dog owner. My Maltipoo puppy is 6 months old (I've had him since he was 3 months old) and I suspect he is showing early signs of separation anxiety and want your take on this situation.
Ever since my puppy has come home, he has been very clingy. At first (month 1), I figured it was because he is in a new home with new people that he was a bit anxious and nervous, but it has now been enough time that I think he is comfortable with his surroundings, but he still hates being alone.
He will follow me into every room. Even if he is sleeping and I get up, he will wake up and get up to follow me. Interestingly, if I am in a room for a while and he wants to go to a different room of my house, he will go on his own and explore, then come eventually back to me (he will immediately come if I'm making noise like moving around in the room or shuffling things). However, if it is the same situation but the door is shut to the room I am in and he cannot get in, he will panic. If I pick up my coat (he thinks I'm leaving), it's immediate panic and peeing and jumping on me.
He has never liked being confined in his playpen and will scream and stress eliminate (even if he just went potty outside) immediately if left in there alone, but if the door is open, he will voluntarily enter and play in the playpen. He has never really had trouble with sleeping in his crate. If he is placed in his crate, he will silently go to sleep. HOWEVER, if I exit the room, he will panic/stress eliminate/claw at the crate.
He used to be very attached to me specifically (and I am still his person for sure), but is now comfortable if anyone in my family is in the room with him. He just does not like to be ALONE.
I've been looking into getting a CSAT trainer to work with through his separation anxiety but wanting some opinions from you on my situation, since it is expensive. Especially since I've never had a pet, I don't know what is normal puppy behavior and what I need to actually be concerned about.
Half of me wonders if he is just young and has some FOMO, but the other half of me thinks it would be better to catch separation anxiety in the early stages, when his brain is more malleable. If you truly think this will be beneficial, I'm completely fine about the expenses, as I'm certain it will all be worth it, if it will help.
submitted by /u/jellyfish378
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