We just moved from Michigan to Alabama. In Michigan our 1 year old puggle, Kosmo, did all right when we left. He has to be in his crate otherwise he pees on the floor. He would whine a little and then get over it. Our 8 month old puggle also did (and still does) all right when we leave. Now that we are in AL Kosmo goes NUTS when we leave! He barks, he howls and whines. We now live in an apartment so this behavior is completely unacceptable. When we leave we say "go to your room" and for the most part they both go right in their crates. We then give them a treat and leave quietly. I also leave music on just so they have something to drown out the outside noises. We need help getting him to calm and quiet down when we leave! Any suggestions?

What about putting one of your t-shirts or sweatshirts (wear it for a few days so it smells like you) into his crate when you want to leave? It works for little kids that I used to babysit, if mommy or daddy left something special and meaningful with the crying kid to take care of or hold until the parent returns. (It's called a transitional object.)

I think one thing you're doing wrong here, is letting him know that you're leaving.
You leave on music, and give him treats before you leave.
By doing this you're giving him this big long production that you're leaving, and he's left wondering if you'll ever come home again.
That leaves him thinking " where are you going? please dont leave me, what if you dont come back!?"
By leaving the music on and giving him treats, that lets him know you're leaving every time, and he'll know you're leaving, leading him to whine,bark, and howl.
Rather than leaving the music on and giving them treats and toys to calm them down,
Play with him for a bit and then send him to his crate. Do this 5 or 10 minutes before you leave, that way you're still home while he's in the crate.
then leave. This should confuse him and he may quit the constant barking.
If this doesn't work, try putting him in the crate, and leaving the aprt. For a few minutes, if he's quiet to begin with, go in whi he's being quiet and give him a treat for being quiet.
he should eventual get the point that Quiet is better than being loud and obnoxious.
=)

Also try a kong... it takes longer to finish their treat... the above post really seem like good ideas.

Moving totally disrupts a dog's routine. Kosmo may not understand yet that the apartment is your new den and that you will be back. Bushg mentioned the Kong, but left out the detail of filling it with peanut butter. A highly food motivated dog left with a peanut butter filled Kong, may be too busy licking it out to worry about you being gone. Or it could ignore it.

If he is a chewer, I would be careful what I left in his crate. He could shred it, and choke on the pieces.

I have found lying down by the crate like I was going to sleep there highly effective for new puppies their first few nights by themselves. It has worked every time for over a dozen puppies, but I am not sure it would work in this case.

If you could get up early enough for a good walk, or a vigorous game of fetch, that could help.

If nothing else works, consider doggy day care. If you can't do that, don't hesitate to ask a vet about medication, not my first choice for any problem. You have to solve this problem quickly. I think this is just a temporary problem until he understands you now live in the apartment and will return to it every night just as you did to your place in Michigan. One vial of pills might be all it takes.

Thanks! He isn't really a chewer (thankfully) and he has a blanket in there. I am not even working yet (I'm a teacher enjoying the summer off) so when I leave its usually early afternoon and I'm only gone a couple hours. He usually has had a decent amount of exercise by this time, sometimes a walk, or just going out a few times (the heat really knocks them out down here). Wanda, the other dog just goes right in her cage and gets settled. She only cries if Kosmo gets her worked up. I just put them both in, and they are in the room with me but Kosmo will no longer "go to his room" without being coerced. And he is just laying their whining. I will try the kong with peanut butter first, then move on to other options. Thank you! If you have any more ideas let me know! = )

Wet them down before walking in the heat. I have had good luck with that even with black Labs on concrete. Many dogs will wet themselves down given access to water. Some of my Labs hate the water. I guess they haven't read their breed description.

Since you have some time, you might try the technique of only leaving him in the crate a short time and coming back, and working up to longer periods. I have frequently read that suggestion, but most people can't. I try to give answers people can follow.