I know it's Christmas/holiday time so probably not the best time to ask this but, from the day we brought Cooper home (gosh not even 2 weeks ago yet!) if he cannot see me, he cries the house down.

It does not matter if Brad or stepson is in the same room with him and I leave (bathroom or washing whatever) he cries. And this is whether he is loose, in his crate or pen.

I really don't know what I should be doing.

Today I took him to Mum and Dad's for Xmas, took his pen and we were all outside with him. When I went inside, he's at the door crying. When we had lunch I put him in his pen while we were inside. He screamed blue murder. I had given him a bone to chew on, nope only interested in it, if I was with him.

Any suggestions/advice greatly appreciated please as I don't know how to deal with this and would like to knock it on the head before it becomes a huge issue. Thank you in advance

well, the best thing you can do is the absolute hardest ... let him whine and cry and DO NOT EVER go to him or let him inside or out of his crate while he is doing it. the second he is quite reward him!! it is hard becasue they sound so forlorn...they really can handle it though....and if you are at someone's house it is hard to do. but, i dont know anyo ther way... ignore the screaming-everytime... party when he is quiet-everytime. he will get it

ps. the ore you go to him when he is whineing the more he will do it since in his eyes your are "rewarding" him by coming

I agree. If you go to him you're rewarding him for his behavior. It's extremely hard to ignore a beautiful, adorable, cuddly puppy no matter what they're doing - they're so ____ cute!. Pretty close to impossible for me, LOL! So much easier (dang those maternal instincts!) to go to them, pick them up and tell them "There there, Fido, it's ok." and cuddle them up nice and cozy to ease their "suffering" but all that will do is to promote the behavior that gets them their reward = YOU!

Nissa had a huge problem w/separation anxiety for awhile when I'd come home from work. She was off the scale nutsy when I'd walk in the door. After I learned about the ignore technique and began using it - about 3 days later the "Mom's home" drama was down to an acceptable level.

Don't worry-- this is totally natural. In the wild, a canid pup wouldn't be separated from his pack at this age. He's gonna raise a ruckus!

You can: Crate train so he's got a supersnug, warm safe den, just like his instincts call for. When you leave his sight, make no big deal of it-- not even comforting him at all. Go do your thing. Return when he is quiet-- with no fanfare. No reassurances. No praise. Ho-hum. Mom's return = boring, nothing to anticipate nor get worked up about! Make your comings and goings a non-issue.

When I returned home in the early days of Baby Grimm, enter without a word to him. I'd put my packages down, put away the frozen food and cold items, hang up my coat, pour myself a drink of water--- THEN go c-a-l-m-l-y greet my *quiet* puppy.

Then, very calmly let him out to pee-- the excitement of me returning, which got less and less, still might cause him to need to potty. Plus, he likely snoozed while I was out, and a pup needs to potty as soon as they wake, anyway.

Grimm learned to be VERY calm and quiet and secure within himself whenever I went away!

I never give any eye contact to them while putting into the crate, or while in it, or leaving (house or area).

Thank you all for the advice, I appreciate it and will implement it as of now It's just strange to me, how much he has bonded with me already, Brad and SS are basically invisable.

Not so strange ... GSD's many times have one special person in their pack no matter how many other pack members there are. Some bond very quickly, others take a little longer.

Thank you, he is only the second PB I have had, and although there is no question Molly is MY dog, she didn't follow me around this early!

So is Brad jealous that you have stolen his puppy?