My German Shepherd puppy cries when separated from littermate. What to do?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If Luna is eating, drinking and using the bathroom normally then she is likely whining because of her breed. German Shepherds are a “chatty” breed. Meaning they make a lot of noise when they are healthy. I would recommend making sure Luna has a lot of exercise and lots of brain toys (toys she has to think or solve to get treats out). Shepherds have an active mind and need a lot of stimulation. Obedience classes can be helpful for you to teach Luna new tricks to keep her entertained. Good luck and kisses to Luna!

She may have a little sadness at the loss of her sister, but it should be very temporary (a week would be usual). She may not be her active self; she may even refuse to eat for a day or two. But all puppies need to go off on their own eventually (except in those cases where a breeder keeps two or sells two together). Eva should be just fine.

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!

This behavior is normal. she does not like being separated from her 'pack'. Luna is too young to have separation anxiety but if you indulge this type of behavior, you could cause her to develop separation anxiety as an adult. It is important to have dogs that are comfortable and adjusted to being away from you. Your best option is to work with a trainer and to read many books about dog training and behavior. There is a trainer named Victoria Stilwell who has written several books that will be beneficial. German Shepherds are a breed that can be prone to behavioral issues so you want to be certain that Luna is well exercised and trained. I recommend to stick with positive training techniques and to read a lot about the breed. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hello, congratulations on your puppies. Most puppies will adjust quickly to the change and this is most easily achieved by directing your attention towards them more. You can provide plenty of toys and play time to make Appa feel loved and comfortable. Spend as much time with her as possible as the ultimate reward for any dog is attention from their human companions. Appa may feel sad and look for her litter mates for the initial hours to day, but as long as she can receive the care and companionship from you, she will adjust well. Hope this helps and best of luck.

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.

Put Bentley in his crate with a special treat, rawhide or something to chew on when you take Cleo out. Only give him this special treat when Cleo is gone. Soon he'll realize that he gets something extra special when she is out for her walk. Also I would walk him first or play with him so he is tired when you take Cleo. Bentley is young so this behavior should improve with time and obedience training. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your dogs.