Seperation Anxiety Problem.

[hero]

I'd like to hear how experienced dog-owners fixed the problem of separation anxiety common among puppies. We just got our 4-month old yorkie, 'Hero', just a few days ago and we're having problems coming up with ways to solve the problem. Although we certainly don't mind the dog's "aaww"-provoking affection, we run into a problem when we leave him in the apartment while we go about our daily matters. Once we arrive home, we see that he has done his business, leaving a stinky surprise near the door. An extreme example happened today: we left him in the car for a few minutes and came back and he pooped in the car seat! We've heard suggestions of putting him in a crate... any other suggestions?

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[orinskye]

i left toby alone with his 'comfort things' for longer periods each day..... we did it gradualy, and we also "pretended to leave" when we would lock him up like we left but we were really in the other room reading or taking a nap....

[bld2751]

I believe that the crate/kennel is the way to go if you are not able to be with your puppy all day long. My boyfriend and I work, so we put Hercules in the kennel during the day. We also put him in there at night.

Start slow by introducing him to the kennel and making him feel comfortable. Some suggestions are to give him a treat to go in there, feed him in their, put his favorite toy in there. Once he's in, close the door and keep him in there for 15-30 minutes, while you are still around. Slowly increase the time, and even leave for a little bit. Make sure he knows that the kennel is a good, fun place to be. They should like their kennel. Never put him in there as punishment.

Those are my pieces of advice and the things that we did with Hercules. He's a little over 4 months, and we've had him for 2 months. He still whines a little bit when he's first put in his kennel. But it quickly stops and he usually curls up and goes to sleep. Oh, and make sure the kennel is really comfortable - blanket, pillow, toy, etc should be in there for him.

Keep us posted as to how Hero is doing and be sure to show us some pics of your new baby!!

Brandi & Hercules

[lucynfred]

I am doing this same thing -- the kennel thing -- with Luca Dean and he can sit in there for however long without whining as long as we are around. He still whines and cries when we leave the apartment though. He knows he is not supposed to whine while in the kennel though -- he's learning. (Only been a week ... patience).

With my other dog, we would wear him out and then put him up, and now when he goes to his "place" (the bathroom when we leave b/c he CHEWS!) he goes in on his own and just falls asleep until we return. We never kenneled him; the bathroom is sorta his kennel.

Also, don't immediately let him out when you come home -- this helps prevent pups from being hyper when you come home. Once he's calmed down, then greet him.

I've heard changing your routine helps too. If the last thing you do before you leave is dry your hair, then try doing that first and makeup last -- they pick up on this little cues and start to get anxious about you leaving. Keys jingling is a big one ... you may take them out five minutes before you leave and jingle them, or just grab purse arbitrarily during the day ... things that will take the effect out of them.

GOOD LUCK! These

[Gale]

I would have to agree with putting him in a kennel and making it comfortable for him....from day one I introduced my little Nemo (he is 6 months) to a little plastic carrier, I took him everywhere with me and it mad traveling more comfortable for him, then I bought him a carrier made out of demin material looks sorta like a oversized handbag or duffle bag he can see out of both ends of it plus it is netted so air comes in, Nemo's carrier is very nice it came with an attached pillow, and I keep a little blanket in there at all times he loves it....now when I say lets go he runs into his carrier waits for me to zip it and we are off....at night I keep him in a moderate size kennel with a blanket, and his bear that seems to do the trick for him....he still whines from time to time when I leave him home in his kennel for a few hours by himself, overall he has gotten a lot better though. I am sure your little one will do fine over time....just keep at it.....

[fasteddie]

We use a heated blanket, some classical music on the radio, and Yoda just falls right asleep in his area when we're gone.

[Gale]

Originally Posted by fasteddie

We use a heated blanket, some classical music on the radio, and Yoda just falls right asleep in his area when we're gone.

Hi, there fasteddie, my bestfriend told me her yorkie was real rowdy the other night when she put him in his kennel, and she was flipping channels and came to a classical music channel and say he got very quiet, and calm and went to sleep....she said she was heading right out to find a cheap classical music cd for him....I think I might try that also for Nemo.......I think the radio station would be better though....

[fasteddie]

Yeah the radio with classical music works wonders for us. Cheaper too and less repetitive, though I'm not sure how much our little Yorkies remember with music, I'm sure they'd like more variety!

[hero]

update: thanks everyone for their helpful suggestions! we just got a new crate for hero and he loves it! it is definitely helping him with his separation anxiety. now we just got to deal with ours now that he has to be there...

posted below are his pictures, as requested!

[orinskye]

hes adorable, what a BIG name for the guy!!! Red is deffinatly his color...... all he needs now is a cape and he could be SUPER hero

[fasteddie]

Hero's a babe! He totally looks like he wants to play in those pictures!