Hi everyone, I have a question about separation anxiety and bratty behaviour.
Orion is one very vocal puppy, he "talks" to me all the time, woo's at his toys and tells the cat what he thinks constantly and I love it I think it is totally adorable but there are a few instances where he is incredibly vocal in a bad way and I'm not sure if I should be concerned or if he is just being a demanding brat.
Orion does not like there being a barrier between him and I and if there is he screams his little head off, and I really mean scream! For example our backyard is completely fenced and the gate is about halfway down the driveway, so if I am out pottering round in the front garden and he is behind the gate in the back he stands at the gate screaming, barking and howling at me. The weird thing is that my partner can be standing beside Orion as he does this talking to him and he pays no attention he completely focuses on me. He does this inside as well - we have the bedrooms baby gated off. Now screaming his head off has never got him what he wants, so he hasn't been reinforced for doing it, I just have to wait until he settles briefly so I can go back into his vicinity and when I do I never make a big fuss of him just carry on doing what I need to like he has done nothing. If there is a solid barrier between us and he cannot see me he's not worried he just plays with his toys or sleeps.
Now Orion is by himself during the day while my partner and I are at work and I know he does not cry because we had an issue when he was first home with one set of neighbours and now my neighbours on the other side of us keep me up to date with his daytime activities - they just adore him and by all accounts when I leave he just takes up a sentry position in the driveway with his daily bone and stays there until I come home never making a peep.
So what do you guys think? Is it a case of separation anxiety or is he just being a brat wanting to be where I am so he doesn't miss out? Either way any suggestions on what to do would be greatly appreciated  

haha this is so odd, and i gotta say, i'm a little jealous! I have the exact opposite problem. Gus goes berserk when we leave the house. At one point, he also did not like having a barrier between us, whether we were visible or not. But he seems to be ok now. Maybe try giving him treats and reenforcing the quiet behaviour when he does eventually settle down? I always ignore Gus when he gets all anxious, but once he settles down, i give him a small treat and say, "good quiet". He seems to understand the word "quiet" now!

It seems to me that he just doesn't want to be left out. One of the downsides of their intelligence and their appreciation of novelty, is if you are doing something, they want to understand why. If they are not involved they think they are missing something. At least that is what i have seen from my guy. Maybe trying giving him a really rewarding puzzle treat right before you walk away, so that way he has something to focus his energy and attention on rather than you. If he is like my dog, and any distraction makes him completly unmotivated by food, maybe try putting up the barricade and going on opposite sides, but pay attention to him (before he starts screaming and howling), so he gets used to you being on the other side of the barricade. reward him for not freaking out, and then slowly start to get further away and eventually spend less time paying attention to him.

Thank you for the advice, I am glad that it does not seem to be an anxiety thing
Orion already knows the quiet command, its just that he does not stay quiet for long but we'll work on that. I will definitely try giving him a puzzle treat and see if that does the trick. Lately I have been borrowing my mums dog for a few hours in the weekend just so I can spend time in the front yard because if he has a friend to play with he doesn't give two hoots about what I am up to, unfortunately that's not fixing the issue though. I'm kind of hoping he will grow out of it somewhat as he gets older and settles down but I may just be wishful thinking!