|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
08-14-2013, 09:34 AM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Uk
Posts: 1
| Separation anxiety :( Hi I've got a Yorkie puppy, Buddy. He is 14 weeks old and I have had him for 2 weeks, he is settling in great apart from 1 problem: every time he is left alone he cries constantly, barks and is really distressed making himself sick and even today wen he was left for 40 mins, he started chewing his feet! I've tried leaving him in other rooms and going in after few minutes I've tried ignoring him and I am not making a fuss when i leave and return. I don't no wot else to do I hate him being distressed but he will inevitably have to be left for short periods. Any advice pls? X |
Welcome Guest! | |
08-14-2013, 12:08 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 4000 Club Member | When mine were little, I would put them in the crate while I was cleaning and put on classical music. They could see me and I would talk to them while I was doing my work. Eventually, I started going in to another room and coming back after a few minutes. I started slowly increasing my time away (in 5 minute increments). Now, my dogs get in the crate and fall asleep as soon as they hear the classical music start. Your baby is young and misses being with his mom and litter mates. It might help if you give him a t-shirt or other clothing item you've worn so he can have your scent while you step away. Good luck.
__________________ Don't get your knickers in a knot. Nothing is solved and it just makes you walk funny. |
08-15-2013, 08:26 AM | #3 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Calgary ,Alberta,Canada
Posts: 38
| I have this same worry..We have a 15 week old and being that it is still summer ,someone has always been home with him..But starting in a few weeks the kids are back in school all day and both hubby and I work FT and PT and there will be times I have to leave him alone for 4-5 hours...I thought about going out for an hour and leaving him and seeing how he does...I'm nervous I'll come home to the legs all chewed on my table done out of spite...I expect him to pee and poop but he will be on tile so I don't care about that...How big of an area should I give him? Can anyone offer us some soothing advice... |
08-17-2013, 12:20 PM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chesterfield, VA, USA
Posts: 60
| What helped me I really was helped by the small book called "I'll Be Home Soon! How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety" by Patricia B. McConnell. It is available in Kindle format. When my dog, Hobo, was 2 she would really have a fit when we left, yelping, etc. She had always been an anxious dog and hated when we left. We honestly thought she would grow out of it. She knew when we touched the keys we were going and it really started up. The book tells you how to work with your dog BUT it is not a quick fix. Desensitizing a dog takes a while. It took us over 6 weeks to be able to leave without her crying/yelping/etc. There is a lot of good information when you search on Separation Anxiety here on this forum if you do not want to get this little book. Lots of people have posted wonderful advice over the past few years. Good luck!
__________________ Hobofan |
08-18-2013, 03:42 PM | #5 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: dearborn heights
Posts: 1,148
| My older male had separation anxiety. He rarely was left alone, but even if I went out to mow for 15 minutes or downstairs to do the laundry, there would be a present waiting for me when I got back. I started crating him and he stopped pottying while I was gone and he seemed to be a lot more comfortable in his crate, but I hated crating him. Eventually, I got another dog and problem solved. He hasn't had an accident on the floor due to separation anxiety since!! I've heard a couple of other things to do...like don't make a big deal out of leaving or coming in...meaning no exciting good-byes or hello. Just pretend like you were never gone!! Also...you can leave an enrichment toy as you walk out, such as a kong filled with peanut butter....something to distract them while you leave.... I've also heard of desensitizing the dog to you leaving...walk out for a minute and back in and out and then in...then 2 then 3 then 4...increasing in increments when the dog starts relaxing...no barking, wining, pacing or excitement. You can also leave the enrichment toy while doing this. Last edited by theporkieyorkie; 08-18-2013 at 03:46 PM. |
08-20-2013, 03:03 PM | #6 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Mar Vista, CA
Posts: 49
| I think the posts above have some wonderful advice. I'll just add that going for a walk before you have to leave will help drain some energy. When I first adopted Lily, her anxiety was terrible and she'd scream the whole time we were gone. I exercised her (very long walk!) before we would leave and we'd leave her alone, like someone stated above, for short amounts of time working up. I also think the "Calming" soft chews by Pet Naturals of Vermont are a tremendous help when I'm going to be gone several hours. I will generally give her one chew about an hour before I leave, take her for a walk and put her in her crate when I leave. I stay for about five minutes getting my things ready etc. I do NOT make a big deal out of leaving (bye bye, be a good girl, etc.), I just very calmly walk out the door (I think its harder on me than her!!) I repeat the same ritual when I come home not getting excited but rather calmly saying "good quiet" and letting her out in a calm manor. She'll be excited to see us of course, but I try to keep that energy outside of the crate. Keep your patience, never take it personally if she makes a mistake and keep up the routine! She'll get used to it and it will be "no big thing" in no time - and by no time I mean that it will gradually get better over the next few months! She's a puppy after all Best of luck, keep us posted! xo
__________________ Bridget Lily's Mom |
08-20-2013, 03:07 PM | #7 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Mar Vista, CA
Posts: 49
| One more thing to add, I found a great app for iPad or Ipod, whatever you might have at home while you're gone called "Pet Acoustics". I think it was a couple of bucks but it plays soothing music for animals. I like it and interchange it with "Relax M.P.", another app that lets you customize white noise and ambient sounds. It's such a great app, I've saved Lily's (and my) favorites for daytime around the house stuff as well as deep relaxation for when I'm gone. I use the apps when I'm home as well, so it's not just a sound that she hears when I'm gone but I'll have it on during meal time or play time or anytime. It helps block out outside noises and I think helps her create a restful state when she might be feeling anxious when I leave.
__________________ Bridget Lily's Mom |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart