Separation Anxiety

[misterjohnny]

I have a 17 week old yorkie boy who's been with us two weeks. I have not been able to leave him alone for more than 20 minutes. He immediately cries and chews his playpen when I'm still here. His pen is filled with lots of chews, toys, treats, etc. If I leave the house he howls. I can't even go to the bathroom without him following me. Today, he was up chewing and playing until 10:30, then I took him on an 1 1/2 hour walk. I gave him a pig ear, a chew, a bone with cream cheese, and a kong with treats, put him in his pen and sat down to my coffee. He lost interest quickly and started crying. I'm at my wits end. The breeder said he was well socialized, but I think that just means he was around his siblings and adult dogs a lot. He was never alone. Any suggestions? BTW, the breeder says she won't take him back, even though its in the contract. Is think he just needs a home with playmates, and I can't provide that. My previous yorkie didn't mind being alone at all. He doesn't even like to be alone in the house with my husband. Help!

[Steph311]

I'm sort of in the same boat with Charlie, except he's 2, and I've had for about 3 and half months. He always had his parents and sister. If I leave him alone he sounds like someone is killing him ! Good thing I can bring him to work
Draining their energy is big part of it for sure. I've been using the advice from this book, "I'll be Home Soon - How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety" (by Patricia McConnell)
We're up to 10 minutes now after about a month. Not much, but every victory is a good victory !

[Lucy11]

My little girl Lucy really had a hard time with separation anxiety, especially if I left her in her pen. I use a very small crate, and she is much better with my leaving her now (she is 6 months old).

[kimp5]

he is really young. I wouldn't give him so many things to eat, he will get bored with them if they aren't kind of special. I did all the things your doing so I know where you are. Really stinks doesn't it?
I would try putting a small crate in the playpen with the door open that's covered over with a blanket and really snuggly inside, like a cave. Try putting a tshirt with your scent on it inside the crate and a snuggly stuffed dog. youmay have to keep him in that in your room at night. That's the only thing that calmed Jess. She is almost two and she still sleeps ina medium crate in mydaughters room at night

[kimp5]

oh and get used to being followed. Jess knows no boundaries when it comes to me. She stills follows me everywhere and shes almost two.

[misterjohnny]

Originally Posted by kimp5

he is really young. I wouldn't give him so many things to eat, he will get bored with them if they aren't kind of special. I did all the things your doing so I know where you are. Really stinks doesn't it?
I would try putting a small crate in the playpen with the door open that's covered over with a blanket and really snuggly inside, like a cave. Try putting a tshirt with your scent on it inside the crate and a snuggly stuffed dog. youmay have to keep him in that in your room at night. That's the only thing that calmed Jess. She is almost two and she still sleeps ina medium crate in mydaughters room at night

Unfortunately, I'm afraid he would get out of the pen if there's a crate there. He can jump high already. I put him in the pen while I showered today and he howled and in the end started pulling at the pen with his jaws. He sleeps in bed with us already. He wouldn't eat when we first got him, so I thought crating would make it worse. Really don't know what I'll do.

[kimp5]

you might want to try a pen with a top. We got a richell, it goes up to 5 feet long. Has a pee side too! It expands over time so you can give them more room as they earn it. I loved it!!!

[msyvonnesmom]

Originally Posted by kimp5

you might want to try a pen with a top. We got a richell, it goes up to 5 feet long. Has a pee side too! It expands over time so you can give them more room as they earn it. I loved it!!!

He has the Richell pen. He hates it.

[CaraT]

We have 3 Yorkies and all are rescues. Two have some separation anxiety. One will bark and perhaps try to grab your pant leg or shoe as you leave the house. One, a puppy miller breeder rescue, will jump up and bite our legs as we try to leave. I go out my front door derriere first and have a shopping bag as a blocker.
We're thinking of giving them all their favorite treat s we leave the house, or calling a dog trainer. we can't take the idea of locking them in cages. They are all mature and they do not hurt anything in house when left out to roam free. I am home in the daytime so they are around me most of the time. I try not to leave them for more than a couple of hours. Please share anything that you learn!

[buffy512]

I leave my Mickey in his play area until he calms down. So far he is getting better and better. Slowly. I just think it would give them the impression that whining will get him his way. Start off slowly. Let him stay in there until he is done wwhinig. Then let him out. Next few times wait until he is done for about 5minutes. Let out. Challenge him to keep quiet longer each time. Slow gradual steps. They do tend to get spoiled and loved on when 1st coming home. Hope all gets better for all of us. Giving up should never be an option. Patience and consistency. !!

[kimp5]

Jess didn't like it either at first. The pups a baby. It takes a long time to get them used to things. It took months for Jess to feel comfortable in our home. Try the teeshirt with your scent and a small cave like area inside the richell. Your in what I remember as "buyers remorse stage" for me. It was so hard. I did back flips trying to figure this dog out. I was ready to throw in the towel so many times. Now I couldn't imagine her not being here (it will be a year in January) She still drives me crazy at times (totally indoor potty trained except 2 times every couple months has to have a pee accident just to keep me on my toes.) but it does change...I wish you the best. just keep at the richell.