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01-31-2013, 12:06 PM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: warsaw, indiana
Posts: 7
| BAD Puppy Separation Anxiety My little guy is 6 months old, I have had him since he was 3 months old back at the end of October. I am usually gone from 8-12, come home for lunch to walk him, and 1-5. Before the holidays, he did great by himself. I wouldn't crate him, I would leave him in the hallway with a gate, toys, water, pee pad, and bed. He was always excited when I came home (I wouldn't feed the excitement), but nothing unsually crazy. After the holidays he has gotten really bad. First, he grew to learn how to hop the gate. So I tried leaving him in the bedroom with the door closed. He clawed at the corner and destroyed the drywall. As well as clawing at the carpet by the door and clawed through the carpet. So then I attempted to leave him in the living room, he clawed the leg of the bookcase. I bought a larger gate that he cant jump and left him in his usual hallway area (where he used to be GREAT), and he claws at the wall by the gate until he starts bleeding! The wall is now covered in blood. I am worried about why he all of a sudden is getting so anxious! I admit, we aren't outside as much anymore because it is SO COLD (more because of my lack of tolerance, not his). So I will definitely start taking steps to give him more exercise and spend even more time outside, I will bundle up. Are there any other recommendations of what I can do? I don't make goodbyes or hellos exciting/long (I am quiet and calm when I leave). Anyone have experience with their dogs having such extreme fear of being alone? I know it isn't ME, it's that he is ALONE. He is always fine as long as there is a human being around him (although of course I am the preference haha). |
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01-31-2013, 02:53 PM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play
Posts: 7,069
| Oh I so feel your pain. My Mylee is exactly like this. I don't have any good answers for you because we have Moka who is a babysitter dog. Without Moka, without a doubt our Mylee would be destructive. We've tried it. Have you tried a crate? I know it's small but for the amount of time you are gone, he should be ok in a crate and shouldn't be able to hurt himself or be destructive. Maybe it will help him feel safe and secure with a smaller more confined space and with time he'll be ok to be out while you are gone.
__________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee |
01-31-2013, 04:38 PM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: ada mn usa
Posts: 1,362
| What about having a treat filled kong for him to keep him busy for awhile or leaving tv/radio on for him?
__________________ Bobbi and her two favorite girls...Ruby-Sioux and Rosie Too . We you Lola Marlene Bubbles |
01-31-2013, 05:02 PM | #4 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| Poor boy, and poor you worrying about him. I know the conventional training wisdom is to not make a big deal when you leave and return, but I'm wondering if some sort of greeting would help. Try using keywords and phrases indicating that you will return. When you come home, greet him warmly, tell him he was a good boy, and give him a yummy treat. Put a tshirt you have worn into his bed for snuggling while you are gone. Maybe put an open crate in his hallway area (not too close to the gate so he won't use it to try to get over the gate). If it is a wire crate, cover the top with another one of your tshirts. Definitely work on exercise and tiring him out. My boys are suffering too from having their activity curtailed by weather, so I know how rough this is. Having a companion dog sometimes helps, but not always. Some people have to resort to daycare. I hope you can find the solution for your little guy.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
01-31-2013, 06:38 PM | #5 |
Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md
Posts: 23,247
| Has he experienced anything at all bad while he was home by himself? You could try more exercise and some natural remedy's like a thundershirt and rescue remedy but it sounds like he is really hurting him self so I would go straight to the vet and ask for something to help with it. Callie had a trauma in her crate and broke her tooth and would pant all night no matter what we did it was very bad and nothing worked so we went to our vet and they put Callie on reconcile which can be used for separation anxiety. I would really talk to your vet about it.
__________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart! |
02-01-2013, 06:52 AM | #6 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: warsaw, indiana
Posts: 7
| Thanks for the tips, guys! He only hurts himself when I try to gate him in an area, otherwise he has been doing minor damage to furniture. I spend a lot more time outside yesterday (put my ski gear on!) and it seemed to help tire him out. I left a t-s**t by his bed today that I wore overnight, hopefully that helps. I really want to avoid giving him any drugs. |
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