How to comfort a 7-week puppy whining when left alone in new home?

Trooper is such a cutie! :) I would recommend leaving him in a crate or dog-proofed room where he can't get into anything dangerous. Give him something to keep him busy while you're gone, such as a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter, and be aware that you may need to clean up if he has an accident while you're away - an 8-week-old puppy often can't "hold it" for very long in between potty breaks.

Begin with crating her for very short periods of time. Gradually increase that time as she acclimates. This will take time and requires patience and consistency. Offer a special toy or treat as a distraction. Praise and reward her as she acclimates. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may help to decrease anxiety. This same method can be used to acclimate her to your absence. Additionally, you can prepare to leave several times daily then put everything away and stay or actually leave. Upon your return, ignore Lily Belle for 15 minutes or until she is calm. Do not make a big deal about coming or going. Consider a pet day care program or having a dog walker visit during the day. At her age, she should not be crated for more than 5 hours before being let out to relieve herself. This time can increase as she matures. The general rule is 1 hour of crate time per month of age plus an additional hour.

A lot of this will take time for her to understand you will keep coming back. You can also make sure to leave a shirt or something with your scent to help provide comfort. You can try a white noise machine or music to leave on to help. In extreme cases you can talk to your vet about anxiety medicines

Hello, and thank you for your question. I'm sorry to hear that Honey is having some trouble adjusting to her new home. Hopefully you brought with you a few familiar items with you from Honey's previous home, like a blanket or bed. Make sure she has access to that. Offer her plenty of cuddles and attention. Offer her usual food and treats from your hand, to help gain her trust. If Honey is used to a crate, make sure you use a similar one in your home. Place her bed in there and she should quickly be drawn to it as a place of comfort and safety. I'd also look into a product called Adaptil, which is a canine pheromone that can help reduce stress and anxiety in new environments. Give it time. It is a difficult phase for Honey right now, but she should gradually get used to her new home and learn to love her new family, if you are patient, consistent, and offer her a nurturing loving home! Best of luck!

I am sure it is very pathetic! Unfortunately, this is part of the learning process for your new pup. It is important to allow Bruno to self-soothe so he can learn to calm himself down when you aren't around. Give him enough time and he will eventually settle down on his own. It can quite a long time for the first week or so (you will likely lose some sleep), but it is best that you don't give in to his screams and howls. Hope this helps.

Young puppies will whine or vocalize when cold, hungry, sick, injured or if left alone for long periods of time. You can make sure he is fed, warm and has company. To diagnose illness or injury, he would need to be physically examined by your veterinarian.

Yes. It can be traumatic for young puppies to leave their mom, litter mates, and previous home that they knew. He needs to develop a new bond with you and learn a new home/environment/routine to gain confidence. Keep working with him and with time and becoming older he will learn. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!