Separation Anxiety Only Getting Worse - YorkieTalk.com Forums

mandygurl88 · 06-27-2013, 06:45 PM

I love my little guy so much. He's adjusting wonderfully around other people and has really come out of his shell in the past 2 weeks. I thought he was doing better Monday after he didn't bark when I put him in his crate. I am home 80% of the day and I take him with me whenever I can, but the neighbors are threatening to call a noise complaint and we live above businesses. He won't stop barking. Tried kong toys, crating him at night, crating him in the day to separate us but even when I leave and my boyfriend is here he barks and waits for me at the door. I can't not look at him when I enter out of fear he will run out in the hall when I enter and when we're both gone I have to open the crate door. :-(

MandiesMom · 06-27-2013, 07:35 PM

This is a tough one. How old is he again?

Separation anxiety is something to be gradually worked on but it doesn't sound like you have a lot of time with those neighbors' threats. While working on gradually leaving, coming back, leaving for longer, coming back, leaving longer..etc...is it possible to take him to a doggy daycare or something like that?

Magnus · 06-27-2013, 08:13 PM

Like MandiesMom said, those type of issues takes a while to deal with... Is it something you can talk to your neighbors about? Let them know you're working on it and ask for paitence? Maybe you can tire him out before leaving him?

If you search this forum, there are alot of posts with wonderful suggestions/advice on the same issues. I hope you find something that works for you soon. Good luck.

yavenay · 06-28-2013, 06:23 AM

Victoria Stidwell had an episode on this. What she had them do was leave for a few minutes at a time gradually increasing it It took a some time but the separation anxiety went away. Your little one needs to know you are coming back. My little one went through the same thing though not quite as severe. She knows I am coming back home. She now just sleeps when I am not there. Heck she doesn't even walk me to the door anymore

celstu1 · 06-28-2013, 08:23 AM

Try playing a radio when you are not home and keeping him penned or crated with all his fav toys, food, water & bed. My boys suffer severe anxiety, well my little guy Dexter mainly, it's awful. The radio helped when I lived in a condo with them, since they would bark when I went to work and I did get letters of noise complaints. Good Luck!

mandygurl88 · 06-28-2013, 05:18 PM

I am going to try again this weekend to do the gradual thing of leaving then coming back and more often. The vet at the animal shelter estimated he was 2. His old owners still have his AKC papers which I would love to have to find out his real age but they aren't receptive to the idea. I think because he's older that's why it's much harder for him. Thanks so much again. It's so hard because I know he's miserable and it's killing me. :-(

mandygurl88 · 06-28-2013, 05:28 PM

Also I forgot to mention, even the days I take him on the railtrail for practice for my upcoming 5k which he loves to do with me and is super tired he still has issues and will freak out when we leave.

sandy simpson · 06-28-2013, 05:36 PM

Did I read on a post that there is a horn you can blow when they bark and it will stop the barking? That is a problem when neighbors complain. Poor little Yorkie just wants to be with you but as to learn there are times that he can't. I hope you can solve this problem soon.

wemple2 · 06-28-2013, 05:38 PM

First of all I want to tell you good luck. Second, don't give up on him...be consistent. He will eventually come around, he'll realize that you will and do come back...every time. Does he maybe have a soft toy to cuddle with while you're away from home...something that he doesn't necessarily "play" with...more just in his bed or crate for comfort purposes. A lot of people turn on the radio or TV for some distraction. Start slow with you walking out, close the door and wait a minute then go back in...repeat. It may literally take you hundreds of times...make each time just a smidgen longer. When you come back in, don't make a huge deal out of it, just walk in, acknowledge him and go about your business. I do hope this works out for you, I'm sure you're getting attached to him and he to you. Keep us updated on his progress...and there will be progress, be determined.

06-27-2013, 06:45 PM	#1
mandygurl88 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 24	Separation Anxiety Only Getting Worse I love my little guy so much. He's adjusting wonderfully around other people and has really come out of his shell in the past 2 weeks. I thought he was doing better Monday after he didn't bark when I put him in his crate. I am home 80% of the day and I take him with me whenever I can, but the neighbors are threatening to call a noise complaint and we live above businesses. He won't stop barking. Tried kong toys, crating him at night, crating him in the day to separate us but even when I leave and my boyfriend is here he barks and waits for me at the door. I can't not look at him when I enter out of fear he will run out in the hall when I enter and when we're both gone I have to open the crate door. :-(

06-27-2013, 07:35 PM	#2
MandiesMom and Shelby's too Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Millbrook, AL Posts: 7,842	This is a tough one. How old is he again? Separation anxiety is something to be gradually worked on but it doesn't sound like you have a lot of time with those neighbors' threats. While working on gradually leaving, coming back, leaving for longer, coming back, leaving longer..etc...is it possible to take him to a doggy daycare or something like that? __________________ Terri, proud mom to Mandie & Shelby-Dale

06-28-2013, 08:23 AM	#5
celstu1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 10,534	Try playing a radio when you are not home and keeping him penned or crated with all his fav toys, food, water & bed. My boys suffer severe anxiety, well my little guy Dexter mainly, it's awful. The radio helped when I lived in a condo with them, since they would bark when I went to work and I did get letters of noise complaints. Good Luck! __________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz

06-28-2013, 05:36 PM	#8
sandy simpson YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: santee, california Posts: 2,123 Blog Entries: 1	dog Did I read on a post that there is a horn you can blow when they bark and it will stop the barking? That is a problem when neighbors complain. Poor little Yorkie just wants to be with you but as to learn there are times that he can't. I hope you can solve this problem soon.

06-28-2013, 05:38 PM	#9
wemple2 Wee Winston Wiggles Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kewanee, Illinois Posts: 9,666	First of all I want to tell you good luck. Second, don't give up on him...be consistent. He will eventually come around, he'll realize that you will and do come back...every time. Does he maybe have a soft toy to cuddle with while you're away from home...something that he doesn't necessarily "play" with...more just in his bed or crate for comfort purposes. A lot of people turn on the radio or TV for some distraction. Start slow with you walking out, close the door and wait a minute then go back in...repeat. It may literally take you hundreds of times...make each time just a smidgen longer. When you come back in, don't make a huge deal out of it, just walk in, acknowledge him and go about your business. I do hope this works out for you, I'm sure you're getting attached to him and he to you. Keep us updated on his progress...and there will be progress, be determined. __________________ As Ever, Kathy Intruducing Bentley Winston and Spencer: RIP My Sweet Angels

06-27-2013, 08:13 PM	#3
Magnus Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 3,192	Like MandiesMom said, those type of issues takes a while to deal with... Is it something you can talk to your neighbors about? Let them know you're working on it and ask for paitence? Maybe you can tire him out before leaving him? If you search this forum, there are alot of posts with wonderful suggestions/advice on the same issues. I hope you find something that works for you soon. Good luck.

06-28-2013, 06:23 AM	#4
yavenay Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,663	Victoria Stidwell had an episode on this. What she had them do was leave for a few minutes at a time gradually increasing it It took a some time but the separation anxiety went away. Your little one needs to know you are coming back. My little one went through the same thing though not quite as severe. She knows I am coming back home. She now just sleeps when I am not there. Heck she doesn't even walk me to the door anymore

06-28-2013, 05:18 PM	#6
mandygurl88 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 24	I am going to try again this weekend to do the gradual thing of leaving then coming back and more often. The vet at the animal shelter estimated he was 2. His old owners still have his AKC papers which I would love to have to find out his real age but they aren't receptive to the idea. I think because he's older that's why it's much harder for him. Thanks so much again. It's so hard because I know he's miserable and it's killing me. :-(

06-28-2013, 05:28 PM	#7
mandygurl88 Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Morgantown, WV Posts: 24	Also I forgot to mention, even the days I take him on the railtrail for practice for my upcoming 5k which he loves to do with me and is super tired he still has issues and will freak out when we leave.