Preventing Seperation...anxiety?

[cloudcandy]

Hey everyone,
So today I left Coco alone for roughly 1hour and a half.I decided to leave her in the kitchen,blocked off from the sitting room by her crate\cage.Prior to leaving her she had a 20 minute walk around the block and the second we got home she was happy to settle in her crate and sleep.So I left her with some peanut butter in a kong and I left my camera filming her(so I knew how long she was going to cry for)
SHE CRIED FOR OVER 40 MINS....and when I got home she greeted me at the door....SOMEHOW had climbed OVER her cage(very dangerous)
I watched the footage,she goes like this: eat PB,realise Molly has gone,stand at blockade and cry,go into cage and cry,lye down.....10 seconds....cry in cage staring at camera(very spooky)and then REPEAT...when she broke out she just continued to cry,the house was in fine condition and now she is knackered.
So what do I do?
She settled down very quickly when it came to learning not to cry all night,and she sits in her crate(sleeps) from 11/12pm-7-8 am in the mornings.So I reckon if I just repeat this everyday for the next week,maybe even twice a day she will get used to this?
I did initially plan for her to stay in the kitchen,since it means she has more space,can go in and out of the crate etc...but now she can climb out I guess this is'nt an option...
have I done the right thing?

 

[Maxy24]

I would continue leaving her for short times. But maybe do even shorter than you did to start. Like drive to the store and pick up a few things then come back. Continue filming to be sure things get better and not worse. I'd just say this is normal puppy not wanting to be alone and isn't full blown separation anxiety yet.

Also, since the kong did keep her interest, I'd suggest freezing it (and mixing it up between peanut butter, wet food, yogurt, etc.) so that it lasts longer.

 

[cloudcandy]

Thank you!Left her again today,for what was meant to be 1 hour(but unfortuantly was longer) However she went to sleep after 15 mins,which was good.I'm going to try and repeat this everyday now and keep filming as much as I can to keep an eye on her

 

[milos_mommy]

I think you're approaching it well. Taking smaller trips away from her is a great idea.

Also, when you come home, don't make a big deal about it. Don't go "HIIIII COCO, MOMMY MISSED YOU!" and scoop her into her arms. Just walk in, let her calm down a bit, and then greet her calmly. Do the same when leaving, don't hug her goodbye or anything, just come up with a phrase like "be back soon" or "hold down the fort!" and leave.