puppy separation anxiety

[vadersmom]

I have had my two bullmastiff puppies now for 2 weeks and I feel we are making the adjustment OK. I have had a male bullmastiff before but I believe he spoiled me and actually raised the bullmastiff bar so high it could be hard to even come close with another so that is why I had to get 2. Our problem is the little boy is very dependant on the little girl(siblings). They are crated separately at night. The boy hollers all night long(at least an hour or more). No problems with the girl. Last night I pushed her crate closer to his so he could see her and what a great night!! No problems at all. My question is am I feeding into the separation problem or is it OK since they are only 12 weeks old to let them see each other? And we also joined up for puppy class in August which we are taking them together since we just cant go separate right now. Will I have a nightmare in the future or can I worry about forcing them apart a little later on?

[Novel]

My dogs sleep crated in a long line of crates, they can see the one next to them through the wire.

Littermates are always more difficult to raise. They've always known each other, you're new. That makes the beginning a little more difficult.

No I don't think you're feeding into any possible separation anxiety. If you had just one puppy, you would do things to simulate another dog, so they're not so lonely at first, and they had time to bond with you instead of their missed littermates. Because you have littermates, you will have to work extra hard to make that bond with them. They've got a bond between each other, and you will have to work hard to form a closer bond than the one they already have.
If you are worried about their bond, move them close together for now, but slowly separate them, or after a few days put a piece of cardboard in between but keep them next to each other.

[calgal]

Zada and Delsi are 13 years apart, and they love being close to one another. I see nothing in the world wrong with them wanting this closeness. I face their beds together at night.

[vadersmom]

Thanks for the info. I put the two crates close together the first night and all went well! I was so pleased and hopefull this would end the crying.
But noooooo! Last night it was back to crying, take out to pee, cry some more,more attempts to potty unsuccessfully and then a full 15 minutes of crying inspite of his very quiet sister next door. Do I just pack my ears with cotton or put him in the big crate in the garage alone(thats sounds so cruel)?
Thanks,
DT

[Novel]

Others may have a different opinion here, but if you take your 12 week pup out, and he goes potty, he can hold it for at least three hours. Mine can usually make it 6 hours overnight. He may be crying because he knows you'll come get him. You need to take him out right before bed and then put him in his kennel and ignore all crying for at least 3 hours. If he cries after that you can get up and let him out, but then right back to the kennel for the rest of the night. Also, limit his water before bedtime, this will keep him from having to go overnight. For a ten o'clock bedtime I take the water away at 6PM.
Puppies cry and when they get something, they cry even more.... He's lonely and wants your attention, and by letting him out, he's getting just what you want. What makes me think that he's training you is that he doesn't have to go later on. Its because he just wants out of his kennel, not because he has to go potty.

[Kymcole25]

When we had our second litter, Levi died at 2 days old due to clef pallet so Lacee and Liam were left with just each other. When they were old enough to sleep through the night with out Kassia, their mommy, we put them each in thier own crate and sat them right next to each other and then put beach towels over each crate, going down half way, so that they could see each other but then still had their own space. They are now 5 months old and both love to be off by themselves playing in their cages!

I agree with Novel in many statements...

Most of the crying you hear after the two pups being split is a cry for attention and wanting to be put back with eachother. If you give them a 10 -15 minute play time right before bed they will probably get tierd of eachother and your little boy will probably go right to sleep not even worrying about his sister.

Hope it helps,
Kim