[ashloig]

I have a 9 week old Bedlington Terrier x Whippet, who is lovely by nature but cries and cries when I'm in another room. I have a relatively close together floor layout with her crate and playspace in the hall and my living room nearby. Whenever I go out for even a short period of time she cries quite hysterically, unless I have timed her to be totally tired out before I go- not always possible!
I have 'doggy' friends who have said when you are at home with them she shouldn't be away from you unless she wants to be, but others who say 'tough' she is a dog and has to get used to it!
She plays happily on her own when I am in the same room as her, and will even put herself to her cage to play quietly or nap. And if sleepy, she accepts being put into the cage at any time. It's just me wanting her to do something when there are more fun options that is a problem! I have recently moved out of my parents home where I grew up with Scottish Terriers, so I am used to a dog that thinks they know better than me, but I still don't think I'm being dominant enough! Any advice on improving this would be great. She sleeps ok during the night, wakes up once to go out then back to sleep.

 

[Thisisme19]

It's important that your puppy be comfortable being alone, not just keeping to herself and playing, but actually being alone with no one in the house.

That being said, she is only 9 weeks old and has just been taken away from the only family she knows so it's a bit of a process.

This crate training sticky help quite a bit. It will also help with housetraining.

You should work up to longer periods of time with her being alone. The biggest thing is that you don't give in while she's whining. Set her up in her crate or playpen or puppy area, then step away (this might be just back a few steps or to another room, depends on the pup) When she starts to cry ignore her until she's silent for a few seconds, once she's quiet you can give her praise and a treat and then go again. As she gets better at recognizing that a calm quiet dog gets her what she wants you can up distance and duration of quiet time needed to get a treat.