<font color="purple">Well, I've been doing a pretty good job puppysitting for the past few days (pics coming asap) but well...being a puppy, he has a few behavioral problems. Mostly, his agression towards strangers and other animals in general...BUT he has been getting ALOT better these past few days. There is only one thing that really bothers me about the puppy (other then being a stubborn little rascal when you take him out for walks as he insists that we take a quick break every five seconds so he can lay down on the grass, and how he likes to pick up random things to chew on and it's hard to get them back lol. )

And that is, that he has major seperation anxiety.
When his mama (my step-sister) leaves to go to work everyday he won't stop crying, barking, and howling until somebody else shows up. She said he's only like that for about 10 minutes but last time this happened he was non-stop crying for 3 whole hours! I tried ignoring him, as mean as that sounds, because then he'd get the message that in rder to get the attention you want then you have to carry on and make alot of noise, but that method just seems to make it worse.

I don't have any expirience with puppies really so some help would be nice </font>

[nowheretorun]

i guess play with him? sometimes my sisters dogs act up too.. there isnt much we can do if they want to cry... love them and wait for them to grow out of it is my advice..

[thelostone]

does he have a crate? he probably feels insecure, your choices are either to spend the time with him, or if he has a crate find him a favorite toy, and something that smells like mommy(an old t-shirt, towel, anything with her scent on it) and that should help him feel more secure. have her sleep in an old shirt or something and give that to him, but as young as he is he does need attention every couple hours at the very minimum. 8 weeks is really the youngest that they should be seperated from their litter mates, and even then they still get lonely. also, lots of chew toys, at his age he is probably teething. teach him now what is acceptable to chew on to avoid problems later. also remember positive reinforcement. when he does something good he gets happy voice praise with lots of love, and when he does something bad, you have to catch him in the act and show displeasure. stern voice, bad dog, or put a couple coins in a can with lid that makes an unpleasant noise when shaken. they learn quickly and want more than anything to please you and receive love. as far as the aggression, he is at the age where he should be play fighting with litter mates. a good rope toy you can play tug of war with helps and a little gentle "rough and tumble",just watch those sharp little teeth. hope this helps.

lost