I work from home š
Which sounds like the perfect setup for raising puppiesā¦ and in a lot of ways, it is.
But it also creates a problem if Iām not careful.
Because if my puppies are with me all the time, they never learn how to be without me.
And thatās exactly how separation anxiety starts.
So instead, I build independence into our daily life on purpose.
What My Day Actually Looks Like
My puppies are not following me around all day.
While Iām working upstairs, they are:
- Downstairs
- In their crates
- Quiet, settled, and relaxed
I let them out every hour or two so their needs are met.
But in between, they learn something that matters just as much as socialization:
āIām okay, even when Iām by myself.ā
That doesnāt come from a single training session.
It comes from repetition, every single day.
The Crate Is Part of Life, Not an Event
Everything I do points back to one goal:
The crate feels normal. And better than thatā¦ it feels good.
They Eat in Their Crate
Meals happen in the crate.
That builds:
- Positive association
- Routine
- A sense that this space belongs to them
Itās not where they get putā¦ itās where good things happen.
āKennel Upā Is Automatic
I teach a simple cue:
āKennel upā ? go in ? get a cookie ?
And very quickly, Iām not sending puppies into crates.
Theyāre choosing to go.
I Use Crate Games to Build Enthusiasm
I want puppies who are excited to go into their crate, not hesitant.
Thatās why I use Crate Games from Susan Garrett:
šš¼ https://get.crategames.com/celebrate/
It turns the crate into:
- A place where they win š
- A place where calm behavior is rewarded šŖ
- A place they understand
What Happens When I Leave (or Just Go Upstairs)
This is where the system shows up in real life.
When I:
- Go upstairs to work š»
- Leave the house š
- Head out to a dog show
I donāt have noise. š¶
I donāt have stress.
I give the cue.
They go in.
They get their cookie. šŖ
And then:
- They lay down
- They settle
- They relax āŗļø
Thatās the goal. š„
Not just containmentā¦
but true relaxation.
What Iām Actually Teaching
Iām not just teaching crate training.
Iām teaching an emotional skill:
How to feel safe when nothing is happening.
This is something Patricia McConnell talks about often in her work.
Dogs arenāt just reacting to where they areā¦
theyāre reacting to how they feel about it.
šš¼https://www.patriciamcconnell.com
If a dog feels uncertain, alone can feel overwhelming.
If a dog feels secure, alone is justā¦ quiet ?
Thatās the difference Iām building toward.
The Balance I Pay Attention To ??
Thereās always a line Iām watching.
A little whining? Normal.
A puppy learning to settle? Good.
But Iām not ignoring real distress.
If a puppy escalates instead of settling, thatās information ā¹ļø
Thatās where I adjust.
Because the goal isnāt to push through anxietyā¦
itās to prevent it from forming in the first place.
Resources I Use and Recommend ??
These all support the same goal Iām building into my daily routine:
- Fenzi Dog Sports Academy puppy resource (includes separation guidance):
https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/images/FreeResources/GROWING-UP-FDSA-EBOOK.pdf - Crate Games by Susan Garrett:
https://get.crategames.com/celebrate/ - Separation anxiety protocols from Malena DeMartini:
https://malenademartini.com - Step-by-step training from Julie Naismith:
https://julienaismith.com/be-right-back/ - Behavioral insight and emotional understanding from Patricia McConnell:
https://www.patriciamcconnell.com
Final Thought
I donāt raise puppies who need constant interaction to feel okay.
I raise puppies who can:
- Settle
- Relax
- Be alone without stress
Because in real life, thatās what theyāre going to need.
And that doesnāt happen by accident.
Itās something I build, quietly, every single day.
