Now that we have addressed how we will incrementally desensitize our puppies to being separated during the night, we can move on to daytime separation. Young puppies require significant “downtime” during the day for rest and management. Rest is extremely important for puppies and young dogs, without enough rest young dogs become hyperactive, loose their inhibitions, and become quite quarrelsome! Fatigued dogs are much more likely to loose patience with each other, play inappropriately, and escalate instead of diffusing tensions. Since immature dogs won’t rest until they are fatigued we are responsible for for ensuring they are rested. If you have young puppies you likely already have a schedule for house training, exercise, training, and confinement (crate or playpen) training. For older dogs this schedule may revolved around you work schedules. For the purpose of this course we will be using regular daily confinement to both create independence between the puppies but also to manage over arousal, excessively rough play, or to allow separation decompression if there are squabbles. Because tired puppies are prone to squabbles and hard feelings can grow from these fights, ensuring puppies have enough quality rest is a priority!As with nighttime set ups, you will create two different confinement areas. For younger dogs this will most likely be two playpen areas (x pen) with a crate or bed inside. For adolescents this can be two large crates or two dog proofed rooms with baby gates to keep the dogs apart. Just like our nighttime set up, we will start our puppies with side by side set ups. We will gradually move them further apart until the puppies are comfortable being apart and being unable to see each other. Of course this won’t be possible if you are using rooms with baby gates most of the time, unless you are lucky enough to have adjacent rooms. We will use a similar progression, based mainly on how your area is set up and how much room you have. Goal 1: Set up one confinement area for each puppy.Step 1. Set up two puppy playpens side by side, each with a resting area, a toilet area (if using litter boxes), and a play area. Step 2. Collect a wide variety of chews, pacifiers, and activities. Step 3. Design your schedule. This schedule should include a minimum of two scheduled naps (one after each meal) of at least an hour in length, longer is fine if you have to go to work, school, etc.Step 4. Fully meet each puppy’s needs before scheduled confinement time.Step 5. Place both puppies in one confinement area (unless they are already used to being in different areas) and provide a pacifier and non food activity to do. Dim the lights, play soothing music, and do things you need to do. Once puppies are comfortable with this routine we are ready to begin separation training. Just as at night we will do this incrementally, so the separation seems effortless and unnoticed by the puppies.

Goal 2: Gradually physically separate the puppies until they are comfortable with their playpens being at least 1 foot apart, and being unable to see each other.Step 1. Place playpens side by side such that the puppies can see and lay next to each other Step 2. Shift the pens gradually further apart as much as the space allows. Moving between 6 and 12 inches per day (provided the puppies are comfortable until the pens are in their long term use location.Step 3. Using a sheet or other type of visual block gradually block the puppy’s view of each other until they cannot see each other (it’s ok if they hear each other). If either puppy shows signs of distress halt separation or visual blocking, and reevaluate the next day, continuing once the puppy is no longer distressed. Remember, do not move the puppy pens closer together, just pause where they are, and continue again once the puppy is no longer distressed.Tips:Pacifiers, chews, and other special activities are ONLY available when puppies are confined in their playpen. We want the puppies to really look forward to their rest times.Once both puppies are comfortable, content, and confident in their puppy playpen area, separated and out of sight of their sibling, we are ready to move on to the next set of goals.

Separation Training: Daytime

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