[yorkietalkjilly]

I guess I misunderstood on the potty thing. I thought you'd said the dog peed all over the carpet but if he's now clean in the house with no mistakes, that's wonderful. However, as this is a public thread and many read the posts, the things I posted may help someone else. If this were my dog, I'd do just like you are going to do and I'd forget all that your trainer ever did or thought and I certainly have no interest in seeing any report from said so-called trainer.

For a dog like this, as owner/guardian, I would show my dog lots of real affection, positive reinforcement and rewards for things done right, keep him busy playing with puzzle games I invent, puzzle toys for kibble treats and feeding him his meals out of kong toys so he has to work for his meal(dogs love this and my Tibbe will choose a kibble-filled kong over his dog bowl for his meal any day), daily fun obedience training 5 min. x2 or 3 daily(this training can totally calm and reshape a dog's behavior), using the Nothing In Life Is Free program for a month(dogs love this program) and keeping him always nearby so he's got a sense of his pack being intact and operating normally.

No need to worry about separation anxiety if his life is enriched with exercise, activities, play, cuddles and love and you are busy training him in a fun way how to obey your upbeat commands and his life is full. But if he does behave anxiously, there is a usually a problem with the owner/guardian's dog-handling skills as most of us aren't experts at handling an over-anxious dog, though the above programs will go far in leeching much of that anxiety and insecurity totally out of him.

Still, if one's dog is going crazy when one leaves him alone, anyone can teach his dog how to handle separation anxiety by slow desensitization to leaving them using one of several specific training techniques to teach them how to remain calm and come to accept the fact of his needing to be alone. I've one technique I've used on fosters and troubled dogs for years that works every time I've housed a dog who grew panicked or nervous when his human left him alone.

My dogs are never let off leash outside when out in the public off their property as that trainer advised. That could get any dog attacked, stolen, lost or killed by a car or larger dog. I certainly hope that trainer will retire soon and quit spreading his terrible advice!

Best of luck to you and your adorable baby boy!