Hello everyone,
I am a new Doberman puppy owner and I have noticed that my puppy whines and cries when no one is near him. He is a very affectionate puppy and always wants to be around people. However, he becomes very restless and anxious when he is left alone or when someone is not near him.
I have tried distracting him with toys and treats but it seems like he just wants someone to be with him. I am not sure what to do about this behavior as I don't want him to become too dependent on human attention.
Has anyone experienced a similar kind of behavior in their Doberman puppies? If so, what did you do to address it? Any tips or suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hi there,
I can relate to your experience as a Doberman puppy owner. I have had similar situations with my Doberman in the past. One helpful thing that I have found is to desensitize my puppy to my departures. Instead of making a big deal out of leaving, I try to make it more routine, so my dog learns that it is nothing out of the ordinary when I leave.
I also try to avoid punishing my dog when they cry or whine, as that can create even more anxiety. Instead, I reward them for being calm and relaxed while alone to teach them to associate good behavior when left alone.
Another thing I found helpful is gradually building up the time spent away from the puppy. At first, I would only leave for a few minutes and gradually work up longer periods. This helps to build up their confidence and trust that you will return.
Finally, I trained my Doberman puppy to have a specific command that would indicate that I am about to leave. This command could be something like "be good," and it would help reassure the dog that you will be back soon.
In conclusion, it takes patience and consistency to train your Doberman puppy to be more independent when you're away. But following these tips can help make the experience less stressful for both you and your dog.