We brought home our 9 week old collie puppy 3 weeks ago. He is now 12 weeks old. Doing crate training. He sleeps pretty well at night with one night time visit outside and then back to sleep. The crate is not in the room with us. I am a stay at home mom but won't be forever. How do I prevent separation anxiety when I'm home with him so much? I have left him several times for 1-2.5 hours in the crate during the day and he seems to do OK with that. He is usually asleep when I get back. Today left him in the crate during the day when I was home doing stuff and he whined a lot once his treat was done. He settled down after a bit and went to sleep when he did not see me. Am I on the right page here doing this. Otherwise he follows me everywhere (except up the street on the leash, still working on that). I plan to go back to work full time in about 3 years so don't want him to freak out then. I do work now but so far have been able to work my schedule so I am home or my husband is home but that won't last forever.
Leave him in one room why your in another & ignore any whining, he soon get message that he can't be with you every minute of the day.
I agree with Tina, also use the garden to create distance. This will get him used to hearing the external door close behind you. If he cries, try not to come back until he stops, or he will teach you the, 'handler recall'. It sounds to me as if you have thought your situation out well, and are progressing just fine!
Thanks, for the replies. He seems to do Ok if I leave the room usually. Sometimes he'll come looking for me, sometimes he'll just lay down and relax, sometimes he'll pick up a shoe and try to steal it I feel like I have to walk a fine line between wanting to pick him up and cuddle him because he's only going to be this cute, little and soft for a short period of time and having to refrain from doing that too much.
