My puppy is so weird.. ~.~"

[bluefox]

Hi I recently got a Yorkie and she was 11 weeks old when she got here. The vet said she's doing fine but I got a few problems....She whines & barks when we're not around, we tried crate training her but she will stay there quitely without doing ANYTHING. Without even chewing her favorite toys. We tried to put her in a room so that she got more space to go around, but once she's left along she starts whining & trying to leave the room. The weirdest part of this is that if we go to her after a while, she would looks very happy at first, then just walk around or go to sleep. She'll even ignore us when we try to play with her. Can anyone give me some suggestions?

[Peanuts]

Not weird at all, just being a puppy. If she was not whining when in the crate, (as I understood it), I would continue to crate train her, as this may be her comfort zone, and she knows that you will be coming back when you leave. Yet when she is put into a larger room, perhaps the lonliness of it is almost overwhelming? I am not certain. But one thing to keep in mind is don't let her whining/barking win her any attention or else she will probably continue doing it as it results in the best thing happening. You returning.

Hopefully this helps somewhat

[bluefox]

I guess I'll keep her in the crate then. Thanks for the advice. She seems so bored in there and she wouldn't even sleep (I got a webcame monitoring her movement ;p) , just lying there with two of her favorite chewing toys untounch... I'm so worried.

[Peanuts]

It might be easier just to think what is better, her being bored or nervous about being left alone. With my year and a half old mini schnauzer, I know that hsi crate is his 'chill' area, and sometimes I will find him in there on his own choice staring into space lying down. Perhaps this is what your yorkie is doing.

P.S. I rarely hear him chewing on his toys when he is in his crate either, so perhaps it is just a dog thing.

[IceyBlueSibes]

I have to agree to keep crate training your pup. If she's not whining while in there, then she feels more content. I think her being in a larger room, makes her feel a little bit nervous. This is why they tell you when you purchase a crate to make it just big enough for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. Crates are seen as their "den". And like said before, don't let the puppy train you with her whining Even if she does pick up whining while she's in the crate, don't pay her any attention or else it will only get worse!

[bluefox]

That’s such a relief! I thought my puppy just want to show me how bored and lonely she is in the crate by doing nothing at all. I guess that's a dog thing then, thanks so much guys~