Puppy hates being alone, help!!
My 14 week old puppy is becoming a pretty intense demand barker, and I’m struggling.
The last few days I've been leaving her in the bathroom with a baby gate. She's fine while having her Kong. When finished, the pattern is usually:
- she falls asleep for a few minutes
- wakes up and barks
- settles back down for a few minutes
- then repeats this cycle over and over
She’s not nonstop panicking for hours, but she definitely barks to demand attention. Apartment living makes it hard because I can’t just let her bark endlessly without bothering neighbors.
At night I eventually gave in and let her sleep with me because people in my building were waking up, and honestly she settles immediately in bed. The issue is I eventually need her to be okay alone for a few hours while I work/run errands.
I’ve tried:
- fabric crate
- gating her in the bathroom
- rewarding calm moments
- waiting out brief barking
She will go into the crate herself for naps, but as soon as I zip it, she starts barking. She hates being confined. Even if I'm sitting right next to her. Same with the bathroom.
I've tried to leave her for short periods (like to take the trash out) but it's immediate barking. I can't seem to get her to chill about being alone.
Should I try a metal crate?