Doberluv said:
A lot of puppies are weaned at around 4 weeks so I don't think your pup needs constant contact with you.
I agree.
The thing about leaving a pup with mom until 8 weeks old that creates a well balanced pup is that they learn SO much about socialization and coping mechanisms.
Like Doberluv stated, they are weaned at around 4 weeks old, and they get left behind more and more frequently, for longer and longer periods of time. BUT, they have their litter mates to help sooth, comfort and protect them. A puppy who never had a litter or mother is off to start with a lot of disadvantages. You have to create both.. which can be hard, if not impossible at times.
By 8 weeks old a "normal" puppy has already developed the skills necessary to grow into an adult. I'm a firm believer that orphaned animals develop slower in this regard, which means that your dog is in an earlier stage of development, with entirely different needs then a pup the same age that was raised "normally".
In fact, in university it is this exact study that we participate in during the developmental portions of animal behavior studies. This is one thing that is monitored closely when we discuss the differences between learned behaviors and inherited behaviors. In the case of orphaned pups versus litter raised pups, certain things are simply not learned, and can't be taught by humans.. BUT, we can certainly influence the impact that this start in life has on their development into an adult animal.
Having said that, there is a vast difference between a 4 week old puppy and a 6 week old puppy. I suggest you have your vet age this pup, because how you handle the dog at these ages will differ.
I have to ask though, if the whole litter was abandoned at the shelter, then how is it that you have a 4-6 week old pup? Either the whole the litter is fostered out together, or they remain at the shelter together until they are "of age". These puppies should remain together for quite some time yet. At least 8-10 weeks old. They may not have a mother, but they will still learn a lot from having their litter mates around.
If at all possible, can you return the puppy to the litter for the rest of this developmental stage?
Does this puppy have a den/whelping box/crate/room/etc that is "theirs". A litter of puppies is only moved from their den in the event of danger, otherwise that is a "home base" for the puppy for quite a few months. Part of this puppy's reluctance to gain any sort of confidence while being left alone could be the constant change in environment. I would set up a safe place for the pup that it can get to know and trust well. It will learn to recognize its own scent, and your scent, and equate that spot with a feeling of familiarity, and it is this spot that you can begin to allow the dog to have some time to self sooth. Putting a homeless puppy on the ground in a strange room, in a strange environment is a lot for them to take. I'm not at all surprised your pup whines when you do this.
Creating a den is the first thing I would do.. and when you leave the pup alone, leave it in there.
It is very important that your dog LEARN to be alone. This is a part of life. I would not over "coddle" your puppy.. in fact, I would start introducing your pup to the idea of being a lone now, rather then later. Holding your puppy constantly, while soothing to the dog now, can be difficult to deal with later.
If you can, I would try to arrange "play dates" with this puppy's litter, or if possible, simply return the puppy to a litter environment for another few weeks. Like Doberluv said, they learn many things - confidence, bite inhibition, and basic "life lessons" during this time. It would be beneficial to this pup to socialize with pups of its own age, and if you can do that with his own litter mates, that would be ideal!
Good luck.