Why does my 2-month-old puppy cry when left alone in his playpen?

Young puppies like this are often anxious about being left alone, even if they're just in a crate across the room. You can help him learn to enjoy being in his crate by giving him a special long-lasting treat each time you put him in - something like a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter works very well for many puppies. This will help to keep him busy and encourage him to settle, and will also teach him to associate good things with being in his crate.

If you have previously given into him over your husband that may be why he only cries when you are in the room. If he is crying in the cage it is ok to leave him and then once he is quiet you can get him out. He is still young and is still learning. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Jasper is very young and likely lonely. Barking in the crate at 7 weeks is very normal. You can try putting a blanket over the crate to create a "den-like" environment. If he doesn't chew up toys you can place a large stuffed animal for his to snuggle up with. Still try to hold your ground and ignore him. You can also consider putting the crate in another room and everyone closes their bedroom doors until he is fully crate trained. I hope this helps and I wish you and Jasper the very best!

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.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not atypical but rather typical behavior for a puppy. I recommend that you ignore her while she does it and she will eventually learn that her crying will not lead you to go get her which is better as she will become more independent. Best of luck!

Poor Koko! The most common reason that puppies tend to cry at night, is when they are separated from their families - this often happens if they are crated in a different part of the house at night. Dogs are very social animals, and young puppies in particular would normally never be alone when they are sleeping - so they will often bark and cry if they are separated from you. I would recommend having Koko sleep in a comfy dog crate, right beside your bed. If needed, you can even place the crate on a low table or chair so that she is at eye-level with you - this way, she is in her own separate space but she can hear you and smell you beside her. This is also a good arrangement because it allows you to hear her if she cries to go out during the night - many puppies this age can't "hold it" for more than a few hours at a time, so nighttime potty trips are often needed for a while. Once she is older and sleeping through the night with no problem, you can gradually start to move the crate further away from the bed, or even eventually into another room if you prefer.