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02-28-2014, 03:17 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: chappaqua, NY, USA
Posts: 35
| Separation Anxiety Good morning everyone, As I have stated in some of my posts, I rescued my Yorkie. I do not know her age [and the vet could not tell me]. She has been in more then one home. Her originally mom got ill and then she went to someone else temporarily before going to her second mom who needed surgery. She grew up with another yorkie which her second mom kept but her second mom could not keep her as well. So my Yorkie has been in more then one home and is now separated from her sister. I try to be home with her as much as possible. She has only been in my home for about 2 weeks. It's just me and her so I have no one to leave her with when I have to go out. If I try to take her out of the home for a ride, she shakes uncontrollably. She also shakes once in a while if she thinks I am leaving. She is only paper/wee wee pad trained and was never taught to walk on a leash. She is about 5lbs. Her previous owners use to put her in a dog crate/cage at night and when they left the home, however she was in there with her sister. I like to keep food and water down if I am not home so instead I confine her to an average size bathroom when I am not home with her bed, rugs, toys, water, food and wee wee pad. At night she sleeps with me and when I am home she is with me most of the time. Can anyone suggest what I can do to help relieve the separation anxiety when I leave the home? She really gets upset if she knows I am leaving and jumps and cries quite a bit. Thanks. |
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02-28-2014, 09:42 AM | #3 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: dearborn heights
Posts: 1,148
| My older dog grew up in a pack of yorkies. His owner gave him to me and thought he'd be better as an only dog. I went through separation anxiety with him and then finally decided to get him a pal. They are best buds now... Adopting a second yorkie really helped my first little guy feel more comfortable and confident when I am gone. |
02-28-2014, 10:24 AM | #4 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Kamloops, BC Canada
Posts: 25
| Its also really important that you not convey to her that you are worried when you leave her because she will pick up on it and then think she should be too. Make sure you aren't saying things to her like "I'm so sorry baby but mommy has to go out now so you be a good girl" in a sad, guilty voice... or even think it! Just pick up your keys, purse, put on your shoes and coat and go out like its just the usual thing to do. You can even just do those things and then go out the door and come back in in a couple minutes, gradually lengthening the time you are gone. That will get her used to you leaving and let her know you will be back. And don't greet her in an excited way when you come in either. Just take off your coat and shoes and put them away...get a drink and then sit down and give her some lovin'. If she goes nuts when you come in, don't talk to, look at or pay any attention until she settles down so she learns that quiet, calm behavior is what gets rewarded . Another thing you could do is to get her a treat dispenser that she really has to work at and only give it to her when you go out. Put something she's crazy about in it to keep her occupied. |
02-28-2014, 12:31 PM | #5 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| I have a training scenario I could post for you if you'd like. It's long but it kind of takes you through the steps of step-by-step desensitization to your leaving the house. Also, a good life enrichment program of obedience training, lots of walks and exercise, activity and puzzle games for her to play with and teaching her to seek treats or toys out throughout the house will work together to help her focus on working, learning, bonding with you and teach her how to obey you and in the process, reap lots of positive reinforcement and treat rewards(treats are like words of love to dogs!) and fill her with a sense of confidence and self-assurance. Dogs who change homes are often masses of nerves, fears, anxieties and worries and getting them to trust you and work with you is so important in the kind of life they live from here on out.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
02-28-2014, 04:27 PM | #6 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: chappaqua, NY, USA
Posts: 35
| thanks Thanks everyone. A friend who I haven't seen in a year wants me to go out to an event tomorrow night with a few other friends. It would keep me away from home from 5pm to 12 midnight... So I am not sure I can do this... I don't feel comfortable leaving my Yorkie alone but I do miss my friend and can use a night out. I wish I can get another Yorkie to keep her company, but I can not even afford to have one! I have to borrow to do her dental this coming month [and I need dental work but am taking care of her first]. I have no one who can watch her. |
02-28-2014, 04:47 PM | #7 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| Tibbe shakes from excitement when he rides in the car but he's obviously not scared a bit - just excited. If you think she's fearful, just slowly desensitize her to the car by putting her in the car with a big smile on your face, your demeanor calm and happy as you sit with her and taking her right back out a few times, with treats after she exits, if she'll take them or even as she sits in it. Likely she'll be too excited or nervous to want them right then. After a couple of days of this, sit with her longer in the car in the driveway for a couple days a few times a day. Eventually, start up the car and sit with it running for a while then turn it off and back inside and repeat a few times. When she's able to accept that without fear reaction, drive down the block and back a few times a day for a couple more days and eventually you can work up to longer sessions as she tolerates them. After each desensitization session, as a positive reward, praise her lavishly and happily, toss her a few treats, a ball to chase a few times or her and play with her after you've let her go outside to potty and run off her tensions. Thank you very much for taking this little girl and giving her a great home where she will eventually accept and relax, always know care, love and devotion. That's a wonderful thing to do for one of God's creatures!
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
02-28-2014, 05:41 PM | #8 |
YT 3000 Club Member | you could leave a radio or tv on, leave something like a t shirt or something that smells like you, dap dog appeasing pheoromone that you can spray in there crate or plug in to the wall, keep it simple she will get better, they are smart |
02-28-2014, 06:41 PM | #10 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: chappaqua, NY, USA
Posts: 35
| thanks to all for some great tips...I very much appreciate it. do not know if I am going to the event my friend invited me to tomorrow nite. I wish I could be at two places at one time |
02-28-2014, 08:45 PM | #11 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,220
| My baby loves her treat ball and kong I put treats in before I leave. She is now almost 10 months. Keeps her busy and doesn't even care when I walk out the door. I leave the tv on too, and that dog gone dog tv , tv station is amazing . She loves it. |
02-28-2014, 08:52 PM | #12 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,220
| Also Dog tv says classical music ( piano) is calming to dogs as well as babies. I am a 60s gal at heart but I really like this stuff. And it plays a lot on dog tv . Maybe you can download some from itunes . I left my hubby and Zoey home to run errands the other day and called to ask him a question....he fell asleep with warm little Zoey on his lap listening to dog tv! Lol |
03-01-2014, 12:30 PM | #13 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: chappaqua, NY, USA
Posts: 35
| thanks I had to leave today and left on 96.7FM on the radio. I am in NY. 96.7 plays Christian music. It is nice music. I love my Angel. I pray with her every morning and pray for her when I am not home. It kills me to leave her alone when I go out. I think I have a little separation anxiety. LOL |
03-01-2014, 01:19 PM | #14 |
♥ Love My Tibbe! ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: D/FW, Texas
Posts: 22,140
| LOL. I read you. I so hate to go off and leave my Tibbe! Your baby will probably chill out listening to the music and just sleep a good deal of the time.
__________________ Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |
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