Separation Anxiety
 

I think my 7 month old is suffering from separation anxiety. He gets really antsy when we begin leaving in the morning for work and school. Last week I noticed that he had scratched away at my door frame until his paw pads were red. This weekend we left him for a few hours and when I returned he was soaking wet on his face, front, and front paws even though there was no water anywhere for him to get into. Again on yesterday we left him alone and came back to a wet dog...no water anywhere. Same thing today. Don't laugh but, can a Yorkie sweat? Anyone had any similar experiences with anxiety in their pups. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)

Thanks!

Well, when Uni gets very excited, be it overly happy, anxious, nervous, I've noticed she get's foamy drooly mouth. I've asked on here if anyone knew about that, and overwhelmingly the response was she was over excited. She gets like that whenever we go to a meetup, and Uni does not play with other dogs that often. If it's just a couple of dogs she's fine, but a group, not too happy. So, I think that's what's happening, he's very nervouse and anxious and he's drooling on himself.

I think what to do, is randomly get up and leave. don't really make a big fuss. just get up, put on your shoes, grab your keys and walk outside. then come back within a few minutes. Do things out of routine so he will not associate you getting your keys/shoes or whatever with you leaving him. I'm sure it's just he doesn't want to be without you.

Just a question. Why are you leaving him without any water available? He should always have water accessible to him at all times.

Poor guy. He needs a ritual for when you leave. Like for Layla- i put a blanket on the stairs- tell her to come sit and i say to her- I will be RIGHT back and I leave- no big to do. Then you need to return the same way. Don't say hi to him unless he is calm. then tell him good boy and move on to what you are doing. Clearly he is getting VERY upset- he is wet from either chewing or licking- a nervous behavior. Start him slow- leave for 20 min (dogs can't tell time) and come back. He needs to understand that you are going to go but you are going to come home. but it is all about routine- so he knows it is coming- and don't make it a big to do. You might consider gating him somewhere smaller so he can't get into so much trouble.

get another yorkie so he won't be alone ;) *just kidding!*

when i leave mine alone (it is what it is, we work) i leave her in an ex-pen with her soft crate, blanket, toys & water in there. if yours were in a pen, at least he wouldn't be rubbing his paws raw on the doorframe? maybe he needs a smaller space to feel secure in?

Ever since I brought my baby home I made a routine something similiar to what Layla's mom said.....I made a habit of leaving for little bits at a time...and Lucky is ok when it comes time for me to leave for awhile. I just put him and his blanket on my bed(he has a ramp) I give him kisses and tell him I will be back soon....when I get home he is still where I put him!!If he do get up and down I don't know....If anyone has the seperation problem....it's me!! lol :(

This one sounds serious, and needs some work. This guy is good, there was a reference to 'blueprints for separation anxiety' at his website dogstardaily.com but I haven't been able to find it yet. Here is a short clip of his advice, first half is not relevant, second half is. Yes, your puppy is having a very bad time.

Yeah, it's just saliva...my little Joey does the same thing when he's happy excited. When he's anxious (he has severe separation anxiety, can't figure out something to fix it thus far), he starts whining/barking and running all over. he also tries to follow us to wherever we are going. For him, it doesn't matter if someone is staying with him, if either my husband or I are leaving and the other is staying, he freaks out. It's very sad...I hope your little one doesn't develop severe separation anxiety - it's the pits for owner and pet! We're getting him fixed in a few months, so hopefully that'll help.

Leave for an hour and video tape him...and yes...no water ? maybe that is why he is nervous

Here I found the 'blueprint' thingy
http://www.dogstardaily.com/files/HomeAlone_1.pdf

my girl Dolly had problems with separation anxiety before, we are still working with her on that now, but she has gotten a lot better. one thing that helped out a lot at the beginning for us is Comfort Zone, its like a oil burner you plug into the wall, it calms your pup without harmful perscription.

Why no water down? Haave you tried leaving the radio on?

Hugs Shirl x x

My Bailey has the TV on all day for her, she loves to watch it. Also I agree with SRD, we sell those at petsmart and people seem to love them. IT is a plug in like a glade plug in but the liquid in it just calms to down the dog/cat?? Not to sure how that works but sounds cool :) good luck

Thanks for the advice. When I said no water I didn't mean his water bowl (which by the way was still full) I was referring more to him not having access to any other source of water. By the way, we've been practicing the picking up my keys (which gets his attention regardless of what he's doing) and walking out for a short time then coming back in. He just seems confused right now but gonna keep it consistent and we'll see....
Thanks!

Love the video, and wish I'd seen it when Joey was a puppy. Thanks for posting, I'd like to hear more from this guy.

I found Buddy just like this about 5months ago and he was 5.
There were bloody footprints all over the house and at every window
he could reach. He cut his pads on the brass door plate that I put there
to keep from digging the door apart and getting splinter's in his feet.
That was the first time he ever did this, this bad. He was totally wet
as well. I was frantic thinking he was going to give himself a heart attack.
Someone suggested trying Rescue Remedy. I did and it seems to work in
calming him down. You may want to check it out. It also comes in pet
form now, no alcohol. He's been ok just whines at times when I leave.
It's an all natural product used to calm a person or animal down.
I would also keep your pup in one room while your gone. It's terrible
to have to go threw this but it does happen and obviously they don't outgrow
it. Bud has never done anything so drastic before or after this one time.
It still bother's me to think he was so frantic to get to me.
I use the RR every morning by putting a drop or two on each ear and on his nose then treat him and run. I also now close two
bedroom doors so there's not much house to guard and pull
a dinning room chair close by the front door so he can't get to
the brass plate on the door. It's like baracading yourself out
more than in but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep them
safe and happy. (I hope)