Crying Puppy!

Question:
 Hello, I am at my wits end here. I have done rescue for several years, but I have never had this big of a issue with a puppy crying constantly! Cloe is 8 wks old and was seized from a puppy mill along with several others. She now resides with me and my dog family. Cloe cries and cries. She has been checked by a vet, ruled out all physical issues, so this is somthing psychological. We try talking to her to comfort her, feed her, take out side, even put her in a crate with a pup that is 8 wks older than her; nothing works! The only thing that we have found that will work is to hold her. We can't start this, because then we will have a new behavior problem shortly. Any ideas what may be causing this, and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Answer:
 It is extremely easy to teach a pup to train us to give it what it wants. You have several issues going on here: 1) A pup whose behavioral background yu have no clue about. Temperament is part heredity and part what you do with it. Many behavioral issues I see are from pet shop dogs and could be hereditary in nature. Mills do not breed for temperament as good breeders do. 2) You have no idea what had happened to the pup prior to being rescued. 3) You have an animal with traumatic experiences in its very short past. 4) You did not state how long you have had the pup but pups really need to be with parents and siblings until it is eight weeks old for socializing issues and comfort. Now, I do want you to seek out a good trainer or behavioral consultant and get working with this pup with first hand aid ASAP. I will work with 8 week old pups in the house - they are fully capable of learning at this age. http://wwwAPDT.comos a great resource to find a trainer or people who can guide you to someone if there is no one listed near you as a member. Second, puppies do have to learn to self-comfort and be alone. But it is tricky, even in a day or less you can teach a pup to whine and cry all day to get attention. So, if you know the pup is not hungry, has to potty, etc., one way to deal with attention getting behaviors is to ignore them. Hard to do with a pup because it rips out our heart, but try reading this: http://www.k9deb.com/nilif It covers dealing with attention getting behaviors. Even as young 'uns, pups need structure, clear, concise rules and management from humans and a lessensing of confusion. Going into a new home is very confusing even for a pup from the best breeder out there who takes the time to prep and well socialize pups before they go home. But then often humans do things that confuse the pups even more in the new home: - changing routines frequently - changing sleeping areas frequently - too much stimuli to fast - oversocialzing and saturating the pup with experiences which with some pups can be just as devastaing as not socializing enough can be with other pups. A good trainer can help you create a socializing program based on the individual needs of your pup. - not teaching the pup how to self- comfort and manage being alone. So, a few things you can try... Get a Kong toy. Put a smear of peanut butter, spread cheese or one of the commercially sold Kong Stuffers in it. (Most pet supply stores carry Kongs in the toy aisle). Put it in the crate at the same time pup goes in there. Tire the puppy out before starting this will also help. Develop a routine and a cue phrase that you use every time pup is crated. Keep calm, cool and keep the leaving of the pup very low stress on your part. Confidence from you will help build confidence in the pup. Now, walk away. Let the pup fuss. He may carry on for a bit. Deal with it. If you walk back when he is whining, you will increase the duration he will be willing to whine next time. As long as he has pottied and is not hungry, leave him. The moment he quites down, return. What have you taught puppy? Quiet brings back human. Talk softly to the pup, leave him in the crate and leave again. Repeat this a couple times then take pup out. A bit of tough love but it is simialr to a child learning to tantrum all day to get what is wanted. Also children need to learn to slef comfort, put themselves to sleep, etc. Sometimes it may require letting a child fuss for a bit. As long as there is nothing wrong with the child (medically or physically - hunger, wet diaper, too cold/hot, etc) allowing a few minutes of fussing to give the child a chance to settle when they are out of the infant stage is often recommended. My sister did not do this with her young child and had a baby who cannot nap at all. She gets too wound up and stressed. My daughter (four months younger) will protest a tad but if she is tired, will fall asleep within five minutes. She will lay in her crib, give a couple hiccups, find a stuffed toy, cuddle up and crash. We do not allow fussing for more than five minutes with her as if she is ready to sleep and not overtired and stressed, she will go right to sleep. the longest she has fussed ever has been five minutes. But she learned fast as an infant to hold a toy, find her thumb (she quit pacifiers months ago) and relax herself. My son on the other hand had a diagnosed sleep disorder and was physically unable to sleep until being treated with medication (has been off of it for four years now) and he has been able to put himself to sleep for about four years now. Yes, pups are not kids, but you can make analogies. So, start teaching the pup to self calm, that quiet brings human back and that you will return. Pups have no idea that you will come back. Out of sight means gone for ever... (similar to little kids). Stay calm, relaxed, develop a consistant schedule, be predictable and that will seriously help puppers... And try to find a good trainer... :) Also - Ian Dunbar has a great book about after you get a pup you can hunt down on www.dogwise.com - get it!