Hi all!
I adopted a dachshund puppy from a rescue a few days ago (he is actually 3 parts doxie and one part terrier mix, but he definitely has the doxie look). He's 14 weeks old now, and I have fortunately been able to work from home a bit until he adjusts. This is my first experience raising a pup on my own. I have a 5-year-old AmStaff already, and they've gotten along surprisingly well. The first day I let him be near me and on my lap to help him cope with the sudden separation from his foster home and brother. Now we are working on building his comfort level being alone. He is sleeping through the night in his crate. If he whines in the middle of the night, I take him outside to pee and put him back. (He's doing excellent on potty training, thanks to his foster home.) His crate stays near my bed for now, and he's been sleeping through most of the night without too much noise.
What am worried about is leaving the house for the first time. He whines when I leave the room, and it escalates to heart-wrenching crying. My other dog is usually visible in the same room, but that doesn't comfort him. If I can sneak out of the room while he's sleeping, that buys some time before he realizes I'm gone. I have a playpen for him, and I think that is where I will end up leaving him while I'm away. I'm prepared with a Kong toy, his bed and blanket from the foster home, and a pee pad. He plays well alone and with my other dog.
I'm hoping for some tips to help with the whining, since I live in an apartment, and I can't afford to disturb my neighbors too much. My other dog has always been extremely quiet with no separation issues, so this is the first time I've encountered this.
I adopted a dachshund puppy from a rescue a few days ago (he is actually 3 parts doxie and one part terrier mix, but he definitely has the doxie look). He's 14 weeks old now, and I have fortunately been able to work from home a bit until he adjusts. This is my first experience raising a pup on my own. I have a 5-year-old AmStaff already, and they've gotten along surprisingly well. The first day I let him be near me and on my lap to help him cope with the sudden separation from his foster home and brother. Now we are working on building his comfort level being alone. He is sleeping through the night in his crate. If he whines in the middle of the night, I take him outside to pee and put him back. (He's doing excellent on potty training, thanks to his foster home.) His crate stays near my bed for now, and he's been sleeping through most of the night without too much noise.
What am worried about is leaving the house for the first time. He whines when I leave the room, and it escalates to heart-wrenching crying. My other dog is usually visible in the same room, but that doesn't comfort him. If I can sneak out of the room while he's sleeping, that buys some time before he realizes I'm gone. I have a playpen for him, and I think that is where I will end up leaving him while I'm away. I'm prepared with a Kong toy, his bed and blanket from the foster home, and a pee pad. He plays well alone and with my other dog.
I'm hoping for some tips to help with the whining, since I live in an apartment, and I can't afford to disturb my neighbors too much. My other dog has always been extremely quiet with no separation issues, so this is the first time I've encountered this.