puppy screams

[wildmoor]

I cant see an issue with that as long as the pup as firm leadership
when Zandi was a pup my o/h was terminally ill so I was sleeping on the settee alf my other dog slept on one of the chairs and every time I work Zandi was on the settee curled up behind my legs, even now when i first go to bed he gets on whilst i read once i turn the light off he gets off and either lies on his own bed or on the floor - Zandi is the most well balanced mentally stable dogs you could meet
He does as he is told, is sociable to people and other dogs, uses correct body language in communication with other dogs, he doesnt react if people display abnormal behaviour - he has worked with people with severe LD, behavioural difficulties and visited many acute psychiatric settings, he doesnt display any neurotic behaviour and is happy to be left when I go to work. The only time he was crated was when he had an operation at the age of 5 1/2 and that was for 8 weeks.
just make sure areas are safe from chewing teeth and dont scold if you forget to remove something that then gets destroyed, it would be your fault not the pups.

[Sassysmum]

I personally would move her crate in to my bedroom next to the bed, reasons for this are:

1 - when she stirs cos she needs the loo you're likely to hear her so you can nip her out for a wee and help speed up house training and reduce stress while in the crate

2 - She is a baby, she has left a huge part of her life behind, has cuddles and company all day and then is left in a big scary room at night by herself just the fact that she is screaming is a good indication of her distress as puppies know naturally to lie quietly if Mum etc is not around. There is a big difference between her being distressed and having a strop

There is nothing wrong with starting her off in your bedroom, especially while house training is taking place and she is settling in, then as she settles and can hold her toilet all night gradually move the crate out of the room. So from your bed to the door, then the landing/hallway etc until her crate is finally positioned where you want it.

All concerned will be far happier and it doesn't automatically mean she will think your bedroom is her bedroom because if crate training is approached correctly her association will be with the crate not the room that it is in. I have done this successfully with 3 puppies and it is definately the advice I give out whilst doing my job and discussing people having a new puppy.

I also always pop something smelly and tasty in a kong for bedtimes in a crate it really helps them settle

[LindaM]

Hi

Did she settle any better for you last night.

I think sometimes with a lot of things you have to go with your instincts. Lukey is my first shep and he does need to know who is in charge but he is 4 and your puppy is only weeks? old.

I think there is some good advice available on here and you will be able to tap into that for the different stages.

Hope you are not so tired today and that it isn't taking away any of the joy of having a GSD puppy.

Linda and Lukey

[Fi1805]

She was great last night, I left the crate open, the light on and a clock in a sock next to her. She wandered in and out of her crate all night and we had to go out 3 times for toilet. Overall, about a million times better than night 1!

We are still in the living room, as my bedroom is way too small for her crate! I'm hoping to move her into the dining room at some point which is next door with patio doors separating from the living room and I'll stay on the sofa and eventually (hopefully) I'll make it back upstairs to bed!

Thank you to everyone for your advice and support! We are just off to the vet now for her first jab.

[Broxi Bear]

That's great , hopefully you can relax and start to enjoy your puppy even more now

[super D]

Glad things are better xxx

[LindaM]

That's good news - you must be feeling much better, hope you start to feel more confident too

[Fi1805]

Thank you to everybody for their support and advice - greatly appreciated.

Isla is now settling in her crate quite happily, door closed, etc. If she drops off to sleep during the day, we encourage her into her crate and if she settles down with a chew toy we also encourage her into her crate so that she starts associating the crate with good times.

This is all going really well, but as soon as she is left, sometimes only for a second if we step out of the room for example, the squealing starts again.

I've been leaving the living room door open and walking out and out of sight and if she is quiet for a couple of seconds, I come back and give her a treat, if she squeals I wait until she is quiet and then go in and give her a treat. Sometimes she can go a few seconds, sometimes she doesn't even last until I am out of the room!

Maybe I'm not doing the right thing. Maybe I'm expecting too much. I'm so worried about having an adult dog with separation anxiety and I don't really know how else to tackle this?

[Caryll]

I think you're doing fine, and she'll get there in the end. It'll just take a little while for her to settle.