Does he miss me or? Or does he need something?

[XinnKoda]

We have a 10 week old puppy. He always seems to be great when I'm with him. I make sure he always has a large supply of food and water and that I take him out anytime he does his "my bladder is full" whine. He seems to listen to me more often than my wife and whenever I'm home he pretty much sticks with me. During the day, I have to leave him locked in a bathroom for several hours while I'm doing training for work and he never seems to whine, (I know this because my sister stays at my house sometimes). Now, at night it seems to be a different story. When I leave him alone (even for a couple hours) at night, he whines and barks and will slam against my bathroom door. Also, when my wife is alone all night with him he seems to whine a LOT. Sometimes to the point where no matter what you do, he won't stop. My wife will take him out plenty for a potty break, she'll fill up his food bowl and water dish and he just seems to want to whine. Is this because he has separation anxiety with me? Or could it be something else? If it is separation anxiety, what can be done about it? Is it good for me to take some time "away" from him so he gets used to not seeing me all the time? Please help!

-Thanks in advance,
George

[blehmannwa]

He's a baby and probably wants to be with someone. If he's crying at night, it may be that he's not getting enough mental or physical exercise during the day.

[RocketDog]

Make sure you don't go get him when he's whining. It could be a case of inadvertently reinforcing it. Only check/let him out when he's quiet. Could you put a wire crate in your room so he feels like he's with you? He could just feel all alone in there. I agree, he's just a baby. Tire him out good, but consider a crate.

My pup slept in his crate in our room for the first week/ten days, (got him at almost ten weeks) then I put his crate out in the living room, but it's wire, and he could still hear us, and not feel like he was locked in a little room. He's never really whined at all. I think once or twice the first night, then no more.

[jocoyn]

Sounds like he has food all the time as well. It would be best to feed him three times a day for housebreaking and to control his weight gain/growth to slow and steady for orthopedic health.

I agree with the crate. My pup has his crate next to my desk in my home office where I telecommute. Doesnt sleep in the bedroom but I am with him all day that way. When he first came and whined I ignored that behavior, and then as soon as he was quiet for a few minutes went to take him out.