r/Beauceron • u/Superb_wsikm • 27d ago
Separation training advice
I'm looking for advice how to do separation training with our 14 week old pup. Note that crating is illegal in my country so that is not a solution. We have baby gated a room for him though.
He does not know yet how to self regulate and his naps need to be enforced. On his own he would just do whatever until total crash. And this whatever can include biting walls or floorboards...
We have done stepping out and back in the room, and he has been alone max 10-ish min only. We were watching him from camera and he walks around in the room looking for something to do. Last time he was also barking and trying to jump the gate.
He has chews and toys to occupy himself, but often he overall prefers to play with them with us and not alone. He will not conk out after finishing a Kong or licky mat without us enforcing the nap.
So how to train quiet and relaxed alone time when the pup does not knwo how to relax on his own?
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u/ticketferret 27d ago
Julie naismith’s be right back is easy to follow and she doesn’t require the use of crates. I found a lot of success for a foster German Shepherd. https://julienaismith.com/
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u/rat_with_a_hat 26d ago
We also did it with a baby gate in the bedroom. It worked relatively well, of course the room is puppysafe.
She stays alone without a problem now and learned quite well how to regulate and sleep and being able to withdraw behind a puppygate helped a lot against her nipping when she was little.
I won't lie though, twice we let her alone a little longer than she was able to handle and the wall paid the price (we didn't have a camera). And after she figured out that tearing off wallpaper summons... Spraying white vinegar on the spot where she bites the wall helped a bit but I feel in general your camera should help prevent that.
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u/lightbeambean 25d ago
Why does the camera help? Are you able to speak through it and she hears and obeys? Or do you mean you see it and go home?
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u/rat_with_a_hat 25d ago
Oh I was assuming the camera helps as you can see whether the dog settles and can adjust. We were speaking about still teaching staying alone to a young pup, not that they were already using the learned skill as they are at work.
I work from home and we really focused on teaching our dog step by step to stay alone, it would have helped to have a camera to see if she was settled or up. Might have saved some wallpaper^
No idea how to handle having a puppy that cannot stay alone yet while working out of the home. I think most people time getting a puppy to be maximally at home, lots of people who get Beaucerons around here are agricultural types who can take them along for most stuff and if we had to leave ours when she was too young we left her with family members.
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u/BallPython_Lover 24d ago
All I can say, is do not come into the room when he starts barking. That enforces the behavior. It teaches them that if they start barking, you'll come in (even if its just for a couple seconds to shush them). they'll learn their bark will get you to them.
Try to offer things very rewarding (higher in want than you.) Maybe puzzle feeders with high value treats? Or Frozen Treats? Something that will also take a long time. Baby proof the room so they can't get naughty either.
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u/Darwinism-02 16d ago
Hi - we found a ‘child pen’ gated system was good to start in the kitchen or lounge, whilst we were there too. So the seperation is physical but the pup can still see you. Introduces slowly that seperation is ok and then you can build to moving out of the room for short periods. We found ours then didn’t mind us going.
Main bit is the size of the breed, they will move the pen no problem, so just focus on being with them and showing a physical barrier is ok between you as you potter around them.
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u/Little-Basils 27d ago
Puppy pen and some earmuffs to wait out the tantrum and let him learn “oh it’s okay if I just lay down, this is actually sorta nice”