It’s day two with our new puppy. While he seems to be gradually getting used to his new home, we’ve already run into a major hurdle: separation anxiety. Here’s a recap of our day and our struggles.
Day 2 Log
- Weight: 1.15kg
- Meals: 18g for breakfast and dinner
- Potty: Success! He peed and pooped inside his crate!
The Morning Ordeal: A Battle Against Whining
We woke up at 6 AM to the sound of our puppy crying. My husband and I agreed that if we go to him while he’s crying, he’ll learn that crying gets him attention. So, we had to harden our hearts and wait it out.
Watching him on the camera, we noticed he didn’t react at all to the construction noise or crows outside. It seems he was crying purely out of loneliness. After a while, he pooped, which gave us a reason to go down. The moment he saw us, he wagged his tail so hard it looked like it might fly off. It was heart-wrenching to see how lonely he’d been.
After breakfast, we played with him for about 30 minutes. He cried again when we put him back in his crate, but it felt like he gave up and went to sleep a little faster than yesterday.
Daytime Struggles and Our Dilemma
The crying continued throughout the day whenever he sensed we weren’t around. We found ourselves tiptoeing to the bathroom, anxious not to wake the sleeping puppy.
The afternoon was particularly tough. When my husband went to the bathroom, it triggered a crying session that lasted for about 40 minutes, starting around 3:30 PM. He would stop for about 15 minutes, only to start up again. Ignoring him is more mentally draining than we ever imagined.
He cried so much that we lost our appetites. We want to introduce ourselves to the neighbors soon, but we’re not yet in a position where we can freely leave the house.
Day 2 Summary and Discoveries
Although day two was filled with challenges, there were also happy changes and discoveries.
Potty Training is Perfect!
Amazingly, he hasn’t had a single potty accident so far. He even peed on a mat we hadn’t trained him on. Could he be a genius…?
Nipping Requires Patience
His play-biting (nipping) has gotten a bit stronger, so today we tried saying “Ouch!” in a firm voice. He forgets immediately and nips again, but we know we have to be patient and consistent with our training. He loves to go for our bare toes, and when I spin around to avoid him, he spins around with me, which accidentally turns it into a game. It’s quite endearing, really.
He’s Learning, Little by Little
He still cries whenever we’re out of sight, but he gives up faster than he did yesterday. It’s heartening to see him learning and understanding the situation, making progress from one day to the next, and even from morning to afternoon.
At night, covering his crate with a blanket seemed to help him settle down relatively quickly. Maybe we need to experiment with different ways of leaving him alone, like letting him see our face for a moment before we go. Our life with the puppy has just begun. We’re looking forward to growing together through this journey of trial and error.