[bjp298]

Hi,

I just got a Lab/English Springer Spaniel cross female, and she's three days over six weeks. I realize it might be a touch young to bring her home, but mom abandoned the puppies at three weeks, and since they were eating solid food, the owner decided to start sending them home at five weeks (I was able to leave the puppy a week longer due to a trip).

I realize she is going to need a couple of days to settle into her new environment, but I just want to get other opinions on how to help her do so quickly, and without picking up any bad habits. I don't have a yard to leave her in, as I'm in an apartment complex, and I discovered this morning that she whines and then howls when I'm out of sight. I work eight hour days, and can get home over lunch for about an hour, but I'm worried that a) her howling is going to be an issue with the other tenants if she keeps it up and b) this is going to make house training her very difficult. I try to keep my coming and going very lowkey, she has plenty of safe toys to play with, is confined to a wire pen but has a kennel to sleep in if she wants, and I've left music on for her while I'm away, hoping the sound will help. Any other suggestions from more experienced owners (she's the first dog I've ever exclusively owned)?

It wasn't exactly ideal to get her and have to leave two days later for an 8-hour work day, I realize that as well, but life is like that sometimes, and I'm trying to make the best with what I have. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

[shazamataz]

As you know she was too young to be taken away.
Even if the mother rejected them it was up to the breeder to socialise the puppies properly before they were rehomed.

I will post my tip for separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety.

Does your dog cry when you leave the room? Urinate only when you leave the house?
Some dogs do not like being left alone and some will think you are leaving them permanently and not coming back. Here are a few tips to help fix this problem.

When you leave, no matter how long for always have fresh water available. Toys are also a wonderful training tool as it will keep the dog distracted, I use kong toys stuffed with yummy food as a cure for boredom, having special toys or treats that the dog gets only when you go out are also a wonderful idea.

When training my own dogs for separation anxiety I first distract my dogs with their favourite toy and then exit my house through the front door.
I only leave for a minute or two, just long enough so that the dog does not bark or cry.
I then re-enter the house and give them praise for not crying.

Next time I go out I leave for a few more minutes, again only entering the house if the dog is not crying and giving praise.

Increase the amount of time you leave for and always come back before the dog starts crying (you will learn how long that threshold is pretty quickly)

This teaches the dog that you are going to come back and they are not being left alone forever.

Most important thing is not to start bad behaviours now by picking her up or giving her attention while she is crying. Only give her praise when she is being good.

What did the breeder give you to feed her?

[bjp298]

Many good tips, and I'll definitely keep them in mind as we continue along. Thanks.

The breeder had the puppies on Pedigree, but I'm going to slowly transition her over to Acana.

[shazamataz]

No problem, I hope it helps.

I haven't heard of Acana, I did a quick Google search and could not find much information. I found a site that gave star ratings to their food and all the reviews were pretty good, just can't seem to find an ingredients list.

Mine get pedigree, strangely enough they do not like the high end dog foods and that is the only dry food I can get them to eat! Not the best but they get their wet food as well which is good quality.

[danielnoahsmommy]

Are there any dogie day care centers by you. This might be a good option... although she may be too young (not all shots done)

[danielnoahsmommy]

Many pet stores sell these flat stuffed dogs that help with missing litter mates and mommy. I used this 2 when I got my lab at 6 weeks. I brought her to work with me so she was not left alone till about 5 months.

[bjp298]

No, she doesn't have any shots done yet - we go in on Friday for a check-up and her first round. So I don't think doggie daycare is an option for a few weeks, and I'm moving in August, to a place where I doubt they've even heard of doggie daycare, but she'll have a yard, so that will solve that problem.

Acana is made by the same company that makes Orijen. It's 60% meat, 20% Fruits and Vegetables, and 20% Cut oats and brown rice. For anyone interested, I posted the ingredients below.

[Chicken meal, steamed oats, fresh free-run chicken, peas, chicken fat (preserved with
Mixed tocopherols and rosemary), brown rice, fresh deboned salmon, chicken liver, fresh
Whole eggs, sun-cured alfalfa, salmon oil, pumpkin, chicken cartilage (natural source of
Glucosamine and chondroitin), red delicious apples, carrots, turnip greens, cranberries,
Saskatoon berries, organic sea vegetables (kelp, bladderwrack, dulse), burdock root,
Marshmallow root, juniper berries, fenugreek, sweet fennel, angelica root, sea buckthorn,
Chicory root, stinging nettle, red raspberry leaf, milk thistle, peppermint leaf, marigold
Flowers, chamomile flowers, lactobacillus acidophilus, enterococcus faecium.

Vitamins (vit. A, vit. D3, vit. E, niacin, riboflavin, lysine, thiamine mononitrate, vit. B12, pyridoxine, folic acid, biotin).

Minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate).]

And I ended up wrapping an old wind-up clock in a blanket of mine last night and giving it to her, which worked really well... until 4:40 this morning when she decided - again - that it was time to get up. Hopefully this isn't going to become a habit, as I like my sleep, but we'll see.

Just another quick question - is it normal for puppies to whine as they're eating? She's not hurting, her mouth is fine, and she's eating well, but she likes to whine while she eats (with the occasional howl thrown in if no one is around to keep her company). None of our family dogs have ever done this before, but a friend mentioned that one of her dogs did that as well. I'm just not quite sure what to think.

[shazamataz]

She should settle down eventually, the clock is a great idea.

That food sounds pretty good to me, very natural, a few thing I haven't heard of haha not a bad thing though!

Dogs have all sorts of quirky eating habits, I wouldn't worry about it unless she is not eating well.

Ours refuse to eat if my partner puts the bowls down for them, they sniff it and walk away but if I then go over, pick the bowls up and put them back down they will guts it down like they are starving.

My mother in laws Silky Terrier takes one piece of food, walks all the way back to her bed, eats it and then walks back for another piece. :D