I'm lost..and so depressed..don't know what to do HELP!!

[viviansnickers]

It did not work...he pee'd & poop'd this morning. I just don't know what to do so for this afternoon he is back in his crate. My husband did not leave the radio on, I asked him to for the afternoon. My heart is in my stomach...I just don't know what to do. I know he does not have a UTI, he is 100% when we are at home. I'm sad....this is heartbreaking. Could the radip/TV on be the solution?? I pray it is....

[QuickSilver]

Separation anxiety can be extremely difficult to extinguish. Have you tried extending the intervals you're leaving? Five minutes, ten minutes, thirty?

Is there anything different on the days when he's calm vs. the days he's nervous? What about LL's suggestion to get him more exercise?

I'm wondering if you could find a cheap doggy daycare? I don't know if this would help with separation anxiety, but at least you wouldn't come home to a mess.

[deloria_mccarty]

This is to FashionLady

I want to train Jackson to go outside as well as the pee pads can you give me some direction on how to begin this process? Currently we only do the pads and he starting to get it, he will be 4 months on the march 14

[phfgkl]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Thanks everyone....we always leave things that smell like us as well as a kong with PB in it. He could careless about the kong and will wait for us to come home and then fetch it and lick it.

Also, I am not sure how keeping Snick in the hallway with a babygate is different from keeping him in an X-pen?? If there is a sig difference, please let me know. Our hallway is about 4ftx5ft, we only keep Snick in that section of it. We keep toys and his bed with him. Snick does not understand potty pads as he outside trained.

We have been dealing with Sep Anxiety for a while. Like I said, some days awesome, some days sad. I might look into getting that plug in thing which releases phermones to calm him. The vet mentioned it.

Where can I find agility classes?? I don't think Petsmart does those.

Snick is from a petstore (yes-we were idiots) and we think he might just have pottying in his crate instilled in him from his mill/petstore days. IS this possible....

Let's all hope he had a good day....my lil babyboy!!!

The thing I like about the xpen, is he will go through that chewing stage, and if he's in the hall, I'm sure your molding will most likely be chewed on. I know my 9 mo old is going through another chewing stage.

[Ellie May]

I'm not great with training but with sep. anxiety, the desensitizing thing is the best way to start. Since it didn't work, I have no advice.

However, if this was my pup, I would go back to the vet immediately to recheck the urine. It shouldn't cost $300 for a UTI though. It sounds like the vet sent the urine for culture which is fine but maybe just start with a urinalysis this time? Unfortunately, urinary problems/frequent UTIs/stones are common in Yorkies and can be related to liver problems. Your vet may want to check for stones.

[viviansnickers]

I am gonna try the DAP Comfort Zone plug in. Seems like it has good reviews and is safe for dogs. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD ANYTHING HORRIBLE ABOUT THIS PRODUCT OR ANYTHING GOOD ABOUT IT TOO!!!!!

You all are the best...will keep you posted...

Thankfully Snick only chews on this toys and of course socks.
I love him...and am so worried.

[viviansnickers]

The plug in didn't work....big surprise. We are going back to basics. Crate training while we are home not just when we leave. This is breaking me. I feel so guilty, like I am hurting my puppybaby. I can't help feel this way, that I am harming another life. I know it's not that deep (maybe it is) but this is beyond difficult and it's breaking my heart. He is so attached to us. He is too young to be out of his crate I guess (thats what some other people have told me) but the fact that he messes his crate and then has to sit in it makes me feel like crap.....

[Gigi485]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

The plug in didn't work....big surprise. We are going back to basics. Crate training while we are home not just when we leave. This is breaking me. I feel so guilty, like I am hurting my puppybaby. I can't help feel this way, that I am harming another life. I know it's not that deep (maybe it is) but this is beyond difficult and it's breaking my heart. He is so attached to us. He is too young to be out of his crate I guess (thats what some other people have told me) but the fact that he messes his crate and then has to sit in it makes me feel like crap.....

I'm not an expert either, but I have to tell you that watching Cesar Milan's program, tapes and reading his book has helped me tremendously. In a nutshell, he says that separation anxiety is mostly due to the dog being confused about who the pack leader is. The dog most likely senses both yours and your husbands anxiety and has assumed the un-wanted role of pack leader. If you say he can hold it for 8 hours at night - he should be able to hold it when you go to work. Cesar also says the good thing about dogs is they live in the here and now. If he passes the vet inspection of not having a UTI, I would look into re-establishing your pack leader role. I too got my puppy from a pet store.... but as soon as I practiced Cesar's methods of being the pack leader - it was like a miracle. There are some simple basic things you can do (check out his show, books, or website) - but if a dog senses your energy as anxiety they see it as a weakness and assume the pack leader role and a pack leader must always protect the pack - therefore when you and your husband leave the home (pack) he can not protect you and therefore has separation anxiety. It's dog psychology.

[viviansnickers]

Thank you so much Gigi485, would you be so kind to let me in on some of those simple things you do?? This afternoon was good for Snick...no accidents in crate. We were so happy, hopefully the rest of the week will improve. I just want my lil guy back. Also, can you recommend which book/DVD is the best and that you liked most. I was going to order McConnell's "I'll be home soon' book as well.

[viviansnickers]

Things were not good this morning. Snickers is acting so weird. He seems to be scared to go outside now and won't poop in the morning anymore. I stand there and make him stay outside, he just wants to run back in and can only get him to squirt out a tiny poop, I know he has more in there. It all seems to come out after we leave and he stresses. We free feed him in the evening, maybe I need to pick it up earlier than 7:30pm so he can digest and want to go in the morning. I also think he is scared of the dark, I went to take him on a short walk last night to see if he would poop and I had to pratically drag him. It was wet though, I don't know. I leave him with his dad when I go to work and my husband just told me he would not pee for him before him going to work. This is so stressful, I am not even functioning at my job correctly b/c all I do is worry. I know my worrying is not helping but how can I not worry!!!??? I think Snick is also not pottying so we will stay home...This is too hard...too too hard.

[Fashionlady]

Originally Posted by deloria_mccarty

This is to FashionLady

I want to train Jackson to go outside as well as the pee pads can you give me some direction on how to begin this process? Currently we only do the pads and he starting to get it, he will be 4 months on the march 14

With Sophie when i was training her i start by putting the pads down were she went pee-pee before and i move them a little closer to the door each day. and I also took her outside and told she to go potty. she would always pee a little cause she wanted the treat. And I would take the pee pad out with you if you need to. You have a male so you might not need to, but Sophie did'nt like to get wet in the morning. And also my steoson had a yorkie puppy that she was around alot and she only pees outside. With Sophie now she only uses the pee pad when she can't get us to go outside. hope it helps.

[Fashionlady]

Maybe you could look into a trainer. There are trainer that you leave the puppy with for 10 days and than you go back and work with the trainer. I have a friend who had to do that with her dog. It work not only did he not potty in the or his crate, but he was better on a leash as well. i know it would be hard to leave your baby but if it worked it might be less stress on you and your baby.

[celstu1]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Thanks everyone....we always leave things that smell like us as well as a kong with PB in it. He could careless about the kong and will wait for us to come home and then fetch it and lick it.

Also, I am not sure how keeping Snick in the hallway with a babygate is different from keeping him in an X-pen?? If there is a sig difference, please let me know. Our hallway is about 4ftx5ft, we only keep Snick in that section of it. We keep toys and his bed with him. Snick does not understand potty pads as he outside trained.

We have been dealing with Sep Anxiety for a while. Like I said, some days awesome, some days sad. I might look into getting that plug in thing which releases phermones to calm him. The vet mentioned it.

Where can I find agility classes?? I don't think Petsmart does those.

Snick is from a petstore (yes-we were idiots) and we think he might just have pottying in his crate instilled in him from his mill/petstore days. IS this possible....

Let's all hope he had a good day....my lil babyboy!!!

I can answer the ex-pen vs baby gate question... My boys have seperation anxiety really bad.. well they did. I used to baby gate them into my kitchen (well I still do) and they used to eat the baseboards, bottom of the cabinets, chew and dig holes in the walls. Not a pretty sight to come home to. With an ex-pen you can keep them away from those things to avoid that kind of damage to your home. He is 8 months old now and is probably coming into the teething stage... it was horrible!
I got written up in my condos for my dogs howling and barking all day when I was at work. I started leaving a radio on for them and it's been about 2 years since anyone has complained about them, so the radio really does help. In the morning I put them in the kitchen gated, then give them a treat on my way out. They don't even see me leave because they are busy eating. The kong would not work for my boys either, they would only eat it when I was there.... so try Snicks favorite treat when you are leaving. Something irresistible to him (but not a bully stick or rawhide). I do not give bully sticks or rawhide to them when I am not around (I do not feed rawhide anymore at all) because they will chew them down into nubs in a couple hours and possibly swallow the last inch or two whole. I am afraid they will choke on it and die when I am at work.

[Gigi485]

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Thank you so much Gigi485, would you be so kind to let me in on some of those simple things you do?? This afternoon was good for Snick...no accidents in crate. We were so happy, hopefully the rest of the week will improve. I just want my lil guy back. Also, can you recommend which book/DVD is the best and that you liked most. I was going to order McConnell's "I'll be home soon' book as well.

Originally Posted by viviansnickers

Thank you so much Gigi485, would you be so kind to let me in on some of those simple things you do?? This afternoon was good for Snick...no accidents in crate. We were so happy, hopefully the rest of the week will improve. I just want my lil guy back. Also, can you recommend which book/DVD is the best and that you liked most. I was going to order McConnell's "I'll be home soon' book as well.

visit his website at cesarmilaninc.com. Two books I would recommend are "Be The Pack Leader" and "Cesars Way". Here are a few simple things pack leaders MUST do to establish pack leader role:
1. The pack leader must always eat first - while the dog watches you prepare his food - grab a cracker or something and let him see you eat first. Also, before you give him his food make him do something to earn it. for example make him "sit". He must be in a calm state before you give him his food - not all excited and jumping up all over the place.
2. When entering or leaving the house - the human ALWAYS goes first. Dog second.
3. When entering the house, ignore the dog for a few minutes. No talking, no eye contact, no touching. Might be hard to do at first - but this one really works. Same with leaving - do not get him all worked up with playing, kisses etc. about 10-15 minutes before you leave - get into a quiet state and then start going about your business to get ready and then just leave. The pack leader gets to come and go as she pleases and too much attention right before you go out the door sets the tone that you are looking for permission to leave - therefore creating the false sense that the dog is the pack leader.
4. Always ignore bad behavior. If the dog jumps up, nips while playing, poops where he's not supposed to. If he jumps up, gently push him down and ignore him for a couple of minutes until YOU invite him to jump up. Same with playing - if he nips while playing -stop immediately, say no in a stern (but not screaming) voice and ignore him for a couple of minutes until YOU invite him to play. Make him "sit" and then you can resume play. With pooping - clean it up quietly - no words. Ignore the bad behavior - that way when he does something good - the reward is that much sweeter to him.

You see, the whole thing is that the dog must EARN your affection. Our affection to them is food, touch, exercise. The order of re-establishing your pack leader role is Exercise, Discipline THEN Affection.

[viviansnickers]

Gigi---You go girl!!!!! Thank you!!
We are starting retraining today and also getting some herbal all natural supplements. It's going to be hard work but so worth it for my lil Snickybutt. Thanks everyone will let you know how it goes...if anyone has any suggestions...I am always reading.

xoxox