Leaving our puppy alone -what's the best way to do it?

[Haus]

This is a silly question, but when my husband and I have to step out of the house for a few hours and leave Lola alone, is it best to make it known to her that we're leaving, or is it better to sneak out while she's busy playing or sleeping? We keep her baby-gated in the kitchen, and when we leave and say "Bye, Lola. We'll be back soon" she inevitably barks and cries. Sometimes when we're about to leave the house she happens to be happily engaged with a toy, or sound asleep. In short, is it more traumatic for her to experience our leaving, or for her to suddenly realize we're gone?

[gmacleod]

It's best to make no fuss at all. Just go about your business normally, including leaving the house. The less fuss you make, the less she will ;) And if you make it a total non-event, then chances are she'll be far less stressed by it all.

One thing you could do though, is to "practice" leaving on a regular basis. Just gather up your things as you normally would, making no fuss about it at all, and then leave the house to just go sit outside your door for five minutes. When you return, again make it a completely 'normal' happening - no big "hello" fuss or anything like that. Just put your things away, make a coffee or whatever you'd normally do. Then calmly say hi to your pup. Half an hour or an hour later, do it all over again. When she finds that you're normally back in a few minutes, and it's really just no big deal, then she'll make less fuss about it. She may simply not even notice (that's the ideal situation). And that will extend to the times you're gone "for real" and don't reappear for an hour or two.

[wendykei]

Advice from this forum and from some books, etc., that I've read suggest that it's best to NOT make a big deal about leaving. That way, they will just get used to you leaving and it won't seem like a big event.

[cookiesmug]

We also opt for the "quietly sneak out" route. ;)
Dobby goes back to his crate when we head out. We don't make any fuss either, and he's been very good about it. The only time he'd whine or cry in his crate is when he knows there're people in the house, smart little fellow he is. :)

[imogene]

We tried leaving Belzie in the kitchen- but every time we'd leave she would a "mess" the floor. Now she goes into her Kennel - she has her bed and toys and can either sleep or play, and seems happy. She is on a schedule, and I have her in her crate at certain times even if when I am home - it was the only way we could get her even close to house broken. She knows that when she comes out of her crate she goes out to do her "buisnes" and then gets to play, and eat and have all kindof fun.