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10-03-2008, 09:22 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Metro Detroit
Posts: 57
| Crying when we leave for work Hi again everyone! We have a 7 month old male yorkie named Samson. For the most part he's very good. He's getting old and slowly but surely learning the potty training thing and really settling in to being a wonderful dog. Since the first day we had him, my fiance and I have been putting Samson into a smallish bathroom while we are at work. He's kept in there with a babygate, one of his beds, his gazillion toys, water, and a pee pad. He always, always goes on the pad, holds his poop until we get home (good boy!) and doesn't destroy anything while he's in there. So what's the problem?? He's been crying and sometimes barking when we put him in there in the mornings. He used to never do this. Our morning routine hasn't changed at all. I get up in the morning to let him out, he eats breakfast in bed with us (bad habit, but we love to stay in bed a bit longer), we play a bit and then he goes into the bathroom with my fiance and hangs out in there while my fiance showers. I go into another bathroom to get ready. Then my fiance lets him out, he runs around and plays, and then my fiance takes him out one more time before putting Samson in "his room" and heading off to work. I leave about 10-15 minutes later. During the time that my fiance puts him in the bathroom and I'm home, Samson starts whining like crazy! I don't get it. He didn't do that at all before these last few weeks. He'd cry a TINY bit, but then he'd either start playing or he'd crawl into his bed and fall asleep some more. However, now, he just stands at the gate and cries loudly, and sometimes gives a small bark. I'm not sure I understand what's going on or why the sudden change. Someone on this board suggested we should ignore him for about 10 minutes or so in the morning before we leave for the day (while he's in his room) and then leave quietly, without making it a big deal (i.e. "Bye baby, be good. Momma will see you later" *Smoochie, smoochie*) Then, when we come home, go about our business and don't go to him right away for about 10 minutes or so, then let him out, again without making a big deal about it. Well, I've tried this, but he is still whining and it seems to be getting louder and more desparate. I plan on sleeping in a t-shirt over the next few nights and then put it in "his room" with him so he has my scent around him. I don't know if his crying means that he just wants to be with us or if it means that he thinks we're going to leave him in there and not come back. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to help with his crying in the mornings? He has to go into the room while we're gone, but I hate to hear him whine. It breaks my heart. I'd really like to do anything I can to make it better for him. Thanks in advance! |
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10-03-2008, 10:38 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, CA, USA
Posts: 2,883
| did you ever start letting him out and play with him when he whined? because i don't know why he started whining all of a sudden when he didn't use to. (if you let him out when he was whining, then maybe he learned that if he whines, then you will let him out) i know what you mean about breaking your heart to leave him like that. the only way i can leave milu and ignore her whines is if i just leave the house right away. if i stay home and hear her whine, then i give in and let her out to play. you will just have to be firm and not give in when he whines. ( i know it feels like it's impossible!!!) perhaps get some new toys, and rotate them. (dont put all his toys in the bathroom with him, he'll get tired of them, instead, put a few different toys in there with him each day) also, you can try to walk him or make him chase a ball to burn off some energy before you leave in the morning, so he will be tired and sleepy when you are leaving. give him his favorite treat right before you leave, so his energy will be focused on that when you are leaving. good luck |
10-03-2008, 10:59 AM | #3 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2008 Location: Metro Detroit
Posts: 57
| No, I never let him out of the bathroom in the morning, even when he's not whining. However, I have gone over there to say goodbye - picking him up, hugging and kissing him, and doing the usual "Bye buddy! Have a good day, behave, etc." I've stopped doing that in the last few weeks, though, as I read it might cause him to whine even more so. We try really hard not to let him out of the bathroom or his crate when he's whining. That was one of the first things I wanted to teach him. We have a hard time always ignoring him - sometimes we talk to him and say "Lay down buddy" or "Samson, be quiet!" but I don't think we've ever physically removed him from the bathroom when he's crying. I might try and do the toy thing. We usually put all his toys in there for him, but maybe I'll put some away and bring them out later, and just rotate them. He has a few favorites, so I hate for him to be without them, but maybe it'll be good. Walking him in the morning would be a wonderful idea, except I am so not a morning person and barely have time to get ready for work, let alone a 1/2 hour walk. But, maybe it's something I'll have to try. Thanks for the advice. |
10-05-2008, 12:54 AM | #4 | |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, CA, USA
Posts: 2,883
| Quote:
sounds like you are doing the right things so far. the only thing that i can think of is talking to him when he whines. i was told by a trainer that any attention for a dog is good attention. (which means even when you are yelling at them, they are happy to get your attention) so maybe if samson knows that you will talk to him if he starts whining, then he will do it so you will pay attention and talk to him. i know it's really hard to ignore them, i personally feel like it's physically impossible for to ignore my baby unless i remove myself from the situation. but it would be good i think to think of a good way to burn off their energy in the morning before leaving for work. (sometimes i let my milu play with the bunnies to burn off some energy) and i always give her a treat to eat while i sneak out of the house. (i was also thinking that another reason samson might be complaining about you leaving for work might be because he is older now and sleeps less than he used to, so he has more time being awake and bored by himself. if possible, you can also consider taking him to puppy day care sometimes) good luck! | |
10-05-2008, 01:09 AM | #5 |
Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member | It really does sound like you're doing all the right things, and yorkiepuppy had some good advice. My only suggestion would be to try to find a way to raise his exercise level in the mornings. He's sleeping with you all night, getting a few minutes of outside time, then being left alone again for another long stretch of time. That's 16-plus hours of relative inactivity for a dog entering its physical prime. I'd yelp too. Your situation is pretty common, though, so I'm not being critical. You gotta do what you gotta do. But if there was any way to get him a good 20 to 30 minute walk/run in the mornings, it might help. Edit: Oh, I just saw yorkiepuppy's advice about doggie daycare. I think that's a terrific idea. Even 2-3 times a week might help.
__________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube Last edited by alaskayorkie; 10-05-2008 at 01:11 AM. |
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