Hello!
I am a newbie to this site and this is my first post. As I type this on my iPad. My new Yorkie, Coco Chanel, is taking a nap on my neck. Yes, you read that right, Lol. I have had her for almost 2 weeks, and she has terrible separation anxiety and has a fit when she is put in her crate or play pen. I have raised two previous Yorkies. They both hated the tiny wire crate, but loved their play pen (the plastic Iris kind with the door). The previous Yorkies viewed the play pens as their safe place. I had their food and water and a bed, and placed a potty pad inside whenever I was not home for more than a few hours. But with this puppy, it's a whole new story.
I got her two weeks younger than my previous pups (no choice in the matter), so I am starting to think that maybe she was just too young to be separated from her mom and siblings? The first few days we're ok. She was timid, but did view her play pen as a safe place. She would nap, eat and had a potty pad. I tried to train her to use the artificial turf I got for the balcony, but she had no idea what to do with it at first. She would fall asleep in her bed and wake up in the middle of the night wailing. Since I live in an apartment complex and she is only allowed because she is listed as an ESA animal, the rules state that excessive noise is a no no. And this dog can WAIL!
Here is where things took a turn for the worst... On day 4, I had to go out of town on business for a day and a half, leaving my 19 year old daughter and her boyfriend to take care of Coco. When I returned, not only had she had several accident throughout the apartment, but she now has a fit every single time she is in her play pen or crate. I try to let her ”cry it out” but I can only do that for so long. In fact, a letter was sent to the entire community about dogs not being allowed unless they are approved by the legal department as an ESA or therapy dog, and the rules about picking up after your dog, ”no excessive noise, ” etc we're reiterated. This email came after about a week of getting Coco. Coincidence... I don't think so.
I tried a variety of the high pitch gadgets that worked for my other dogs, like the push button ones and the one's that look like a tiny box, but they don't phase her. I ordered a non harmful collar for tiny dogs which will arrive tomorrow, but if it doesn't work, this will be the third device returned to Amazon. I found a Pet Zoom on EBay which worked for my previous Yorkies that became yappers, but again, no dice with Coco. I know it works, because the moment I push it, my cat bolts... Even if she is several yards away. And don't even get me started on potty training. Case in point... Now that she sleeps with me, which is necessary to keep the neighbors from complaining, I take her out to her turf, which is quite large, the moment my alarm goes off at 7am. Even though she has used it here and there over the past week, she walks straight to the patio door entry way and squatted
about a foot away from the turf. She has NEVER pooped on the turf. Just a few times on a potty pad, but mostly on my carpet. I hate carpet. I tried just a potty pad on the patio, but she just won't use it. I tried the ”go here” spray, which smells awful, and she carries the scent on her and into the house, which really sucks! She has only had one round of shots and nasal bordetella once, so the only time she goes anywhere is when I take her with me in her carrier to drop off/pick up my youngest daughters. She whines a little in there, but usually stops. Not being able to take her outside to go is very limiting for this point of the training period. The vet said she can go to puppy class for socialization since she had nasal bordetella, but she doesn't need that as much as she needs obedience and potty training.
So like I said, I am a prisoner. She is only content when she is roaming the apartment unconfined or sleeping on or near me and occasionally my daughters, but mostly just me. She loves playing with her human sisters and my cat surprisingly, who is 4 times her size. She is only about 2 1/2 lbs, so luckily, I haven't crushed her at night since I am a light sleeper and can feel her cuddle up next to or on me. Her loving, playful nature has been great for my depression, which is why I jumped through so many hoops to get approval for her and why my psychiatrist and mental health advocate suggested a therapy dog of some sort since my first Yorkie was amazing in that regard from the moment I got him, but all the other issues are actually increasing my anxiety and putting my job at risk. My cat has PTSD from being lost for 16 months, otherwise she could have been a great ESA. But I need to get Coco on track so that I can train her to be a true ESA and eventually therapy dog. I have seen the magic that therapy dogs can have on people with physical or mental illnesses. To have a companion that could help me as well as others would be amazing and a dream come true.
BTW... The vet recommended puppy classes at this organization called Sirius, but the cost is out of range at this point. She was a gift, but just the money I have spent so far on her has me worried about November rent (I live in Silicon Valley, so let's just say that my rent is INSANE, and I am in a 3 bedroom apartment
) So any recommendations outside of obedience training right now would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully, once she has all of her shots, I will be in a better position financially to put her in puppy training camp Thanks!
B
PS Moving is not an option until June unfortunately. If I had been able to stay in my previous home following my divorce, training her would have been much less limiting since it has no carpet and no one would hear her or complain other than us. She will be 10 months old by the time I can move back to a single family home
