Warts and all

So if I am going to put everything in here I should also mention that a 9 week old puppy managed to reduce me to tears today :-(

I have decided that I am going to leave him for short periods every day this week to try and get him used to being left. He had napped, he had played and he had piddled so I thought I was safe to nip up to the cashpoint and grab something at the shop. I talked to him and explained that I was going to the shop and I would only be gone a short time as I put him in his crate.

My beautiful, gorgeous puppy changed in an instant as I closed the crate door and was whining and creating before I had even got to the door. I could hear him as I walked to the car, still crying. I was gone for less than 15 minutes and I could hear him crying as I got back and was walking towards the house.

The instant that my key went in the door the crying stopped. I talked to him as I put the shopping down and he sat in his bed so nicely but you should should see the rest of the crate. He has obviously been pulling at the puppy pad which has upended the water all over the place, he has wet his bed pad (this is a first) and I just don't know how to stop his stress at being left.

I just picked him up out of his crate, snuggled him in to me, and it was my turn to cry.

Since  I came back we have played, piddled and pooped in the garden and have played chase. He has played with the toys in the conservatory and he is still a bundle of adorable mischief but where do I go from here?