Hi there... this is my first post! My wife and I rescued a 6-yr-old yorkie from Rescue Me Yorkie about 3 weeks ago. She spent most of her life as a puppy mill breeding dog, and somehow Rescue Me was able to get her away from that! We are thankful they did! She's adjusting, but she's a great little pup!
Back to the original post... Sprinkle (our pup) would bark and bark when we left. We tried a crate, and she went CRAZY! She had MAJOR separation anxiety, and it was becoming difficult just to leave to get something from the car. Did I mention, she NEVER barks when we are home? She is quiet as a mouse, so it was strange to hear her in a big panic when we would walk up to the door!
We called Rescue Me, and one of the people there recommended to keep trying with the crate training, but practice leaving. Do everything that would trigger her anxiety (get the keys, grab your bag) and actually walk out the door. The second we heard her bark, she said to come back in, give her a quick squirt of water, and confidently say "No!" Then rinse and repeat, increasing the amount of time your leave each time.
Well, we did this, and it took literally 3 or 4 "practice" exits before she was understood and is now quiet in her crate. She now enjoys her "house", as we feed her in there and give her a small treat when it's time to go in. she lays in her crate while we are gone, and does not make a peep.
This solution really helped with us! It also has helped her anxiety to have a consistent spot for her to be to recognize we WILL be back, and we're not leaving her forever. |