The first few weeks of having a new dog in the house are generally a little surreal, everyone is on their best behavior and you tend to accomodate your new pet.

This is the wrong way to go about things, you need to stay in your usual daily routine so as to not confuse the new member of your household. If you do change your routine to stay with the dog full time this can cause major issues down the line when you are not present all the time. He may have become dependent upon your company even in such a short period of time and this could lead to dog separation anxiety.

Here are some ideas for that initial adjustments:

Try to give attention and affection to your dog at regular intervals but on your terms do not give it on his terms when he demands it.

Practice leaving him alone, get him occupied with something he enjoys a toy or something chewy in or near the vicinity of his bed and then leave the room. This is a case of rinse and repeat throughout the day in orde r to get him used to your absence.

Do not let him follow you from room to room, if necessary close doors behind you for short periods of time.

When you leave the house make sure that you leave him with enough to occupy him, interesting toys, something that he loves to chew on, access to where he likes to sleep, fresh water and some food (preferable in something that he has to work to get it out of).

This type of routine worked a treat with the all the spaniels that I have had, I cannot comment on this routine with Fig as there is nearly always someone in the house with him.