Bringing home a new pup is the beginning of exiting times for the family. Down the track it may not be so exciting for neighbours though, if the new pup is left at home alone and has trouble coping without the rest of the family pack.
The most important step to take in avoiding this problem is to view the parents of the pups. Personally, If both parents are not available for viewing, set all emotions aside and go else where. Ring first and ask the question up front to avoid emotions getting in the way.
Anxiety is genetic, if one of the parents is anxious then you have a really high chance that the pup will be anxious too. Unstable dogs should never be bred.
With parents around, study their behaviour before cuddling the pup. Are they stable happy go lucky pets? Expect a little growling from the mum at first only, after all you are getting close to her babies, that’s normal.
Approval of the parents however, is not all that is needed in order to avoid Separation Anxiety of the pup as it grows into an adult dog. Treat the pup as a dog and not a human! Anthropomorphism can drive a dog insane. This is the time to be an opportunist, by this I mean, refrain yourself from engulfing the pup in your arms for the sake of being smoochy. Cuddle/pat the pup only when it behaves appropriately, then you can give it all you have but keep it short. The best part about this is it becomes addictive, we all love a cuddle yeah? So you keep enticing the pup to give you a sit or a stay just so you can get a cuddle! Win, Win.
Before you know it you will have a confident little dog empowered by rewards whether it be affection or food or toys. How ever, if you continuously pick it up and talk to it like a baby (aside from learning to jump on you) it will become a confused disobedient dog that won’t know what to do without you, this is called “separation anxiety”
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