Separation Anxiety
 

We've had Sparrow now a whole month:heart to

My husband is a police officer who sleeps during the day and my son was home from school, so during this time he has never been alone for any extended amounts of time other than a couple hours here and there. Unfortunately, my son has left to go to Grandma and Grandpas for a couple weeks.

Sparrow is great at night-- I tell him to go to bed~ he pops into his crate and goes to sleep. I don't hear a peep from him until I get up around 6. I found out that yesterday when I was at work that he CRIED for 5 hours straight. Not a whimper, but CRIED. :(

He is kept in a bathroom with his crate and pee pads along with some lovies. What can we do???

I hope someone has some good suggestions on this one. I have only allowed us to leave Mia alone a couple of times and it was this last weekend. The 3 hours we were away on Sunday nearly took me over the top. She seemed ok when we got back but the big loud screams and cries when we left were just about too much. Do they get better? ok I have ruined Mia probably by not forcing a crate but I admit we got her to spoil her.

When I first starting leaving hannah at home i would lock her in my room, she never was crated before this. My brother told me while I was gone all she would do is cry cry cry and whine and jump on the door. She then started to poop right by the door and step in it and make a huge gross mess. After she did this 3 days in a row I knew it was time to crate her.

I put the crate right by the front door so she can see it, my brother now tells me that she doesnt bark, cry or whine in there.

I dont know if this will help, but maybe try moving her somewhere that the door isnt closed and she could see whats going on in the house.

That's just it, there's nothing going on in the house~ other than my husband TRYING to sleep.

I work horrible hours-- usually I am out the door by 7 and home by 6:15. My husband usually will sleep for 5 hours or so and then he will wake and let Sparrow out & fix him a bowl of lunch (around 2:30 ish).

Is crating for 5 hours realistic during the day?

I dont think it is. A lot of people think it is though. If my mom cant get home and let her out during lunch, shes in the crate for 9 hours (which i try not to let happen, but I mean sometimes it just has to!)

Mia is typically with one of us at all times. Being left with run of the kitchen and laundry room, house radio playing her favorite music, food, toys, water, potty pad all available including something I have worn most recent. She sleeps with us and does great so I get why she would be upset about staying home for a short duration but what do I do differently?? But my dh was correct going to a horse sale where there is no air movement and it is over 85% humidity and 92 degrees is not good for a little one that absolutely protests when there is no air conditioning. She is mad today because I put a bow in her hair. Do they slowly adapt to wearing one of those?

I would love any helpful advise for my little Claire Bear because she is my crier when I leave her alone. I have 3 puppies Chloe and Claire Bear I keep in an x-pen at night to go to bed and they do really well until about 5 in the morning yeek They have their litter box toys and water in with them and a little night light is on and I cover the pen with a blanket at night and they go right to sleep until about 5:00 am. But Claire my second pup cries when I put her in the pen to take a shower or do anythings where I can't be in the room with her. I really want to help her not be so fearful when I'm not in her sight. I've read on here not to give into them when they cry because they will learn that it works and keep doing it but it is so hard. The youngest is so little I keep her in her a little crate by my bed because she needs more attention during the night to get up and go potty and get drinks she is only 1 lb and will be 12 weeks on Wednesday. I also worry about putting her in with the other 2 because they are both 3lbs and Chloe is 17 weeks and Claire is 16 weeks. They are very gentle with her when they play. I love all my babies and only want to do the best for them. They are all doing great on the litter box training but I know they are still to young to have free rein of the house yet. I've decided not to work until they get a bit older because they need my attention. I'm a dog artist and work from home anyways so I will be with them most of the time.

My Claire Bear (so cute that our dogs have the same name!! :aimeeyork ) had to gradually get used to being in her crate. We say kennel up, guide her in and sometimes give her a treat. We started with leaving her in the crate just a few minutes and then working up to longer periods. She does well when we are away, but is MAD when she is crated and I am home. She is getting better in both situations though!! I feel that her crate is her home and it keeps her safe while we have to work. However, she is only crated from 8 - 11 am and then from 12- 3 or 4 at the latest. My hubby feeds her lunch while he is on his lunch break and since I teach I get home early afternoon! It works great for us!

You can try a seperation anxiety exercise of leaving and coming back with in a few mintues--gradually increasing the time you are away. I did this with my pup and it helped a lot, he no longer has fits when we leave and usually goes right to sleep(which definitely was not the case before). I used the key phrase "I'll be back", shut the door and listened by a window to hear him, after a few mintues, during a moment when he was silent--I returned. I did that serveral times until I was away for 30+ mins.. Remember to only return inside when they are silent so they learn to associate your return with them being silent & that silence brings you back, not crying.


Also having them in their crate while you are at home, when they can see you, helps them not to associate being in the crate only at times when you are gone.

I've been giving them naps during the day when they fall asleep on my lap I put them in and she is fine with that until she wakes up and she go really nuts. Also it is the another times like cooking dinner doing laundry that Claire screams. She gets a wet face from tears and can't seem to catch her breath like hiccups and her little heart is pounding. She is my snuggle bunny pup the one that wants to be in my arm all the time. I will work on the leaving the room for a few minutes with saying I'll be back. Her screams are not barks it comes out like ieeeee very high pitched I'm surprised my glass doesn't shatter lol.

Baby Zoey gets so upset being in her crate that within a few minutes she poo's all over it. We have made sure that she has gone to the bathroom before we tried to put her there. But she still does it....

I read somewhere that if you feed them where they keep going potty (where you don't want of course) they will stop. I have started trying that with Claire since she poops in her crate when she gets mad

I may try that when our puppy is well. I found Yorkie Talk when our puppy was injured and needed encouragement from the worries. So far I have gotten some great encouragement, and some great advice.

It is a great place!! I am so glad I found it. I only wish I had run across it earlier...it has SO much information I needed to know!!

We have had Sprocket almost 10 mos now and are his 4th home, separation anxiety is something we work with ALOT, everyday. One thing that I have found that does work sometimes is to take him for a walk before DH and I have to go out or be gone for a couple of hours. I bought an adj. baby gate at Walmart for $39 cause I have one of those open concept kitchens, I can close Sprocket in there, he can see out, is w/food, toys, treats, etc. AND, pee pads. After constant work and 10 months, it's still 50/50 on accidents. A trainer I spoke with about this said the accident probably happens within 10-20 minutes after you leave, he is so upset. And no help with the barking at all sorry, he's a barker, everything, everyone. And he can't be outside cause of 1. the neighbors and 2. the heat. While I'm home, good as GOLD, DH thinks maybe baby is spoiled too:rolleyes: maybe. Anyway, good luck it takes lots of patience, that's what I was told. Sorry for the long post.:animal-pa

My dogs are rarely left alone...I leave to drive my youngin to school (gone 5 min) and my dogs holler and cry until I come in and take my shoes off. They do this every single day, mon-fri....whether someone else is at home or not. Its only when I leave--nobody else.

Of course its come in handy when I've had unwanted house guests..and I'll stay gone for 10-15 minutes instead of 5. Heck-I'll sit in the driveway and enjoy a cup of coffee before coming back in :D

[QUOTE=Cares4Dogs;3210230]My dogs are rarely left alone...I leave to drive my youngin to school (gone 5 min) and my dogs holler and cry until I come in and take my shoes off. They do this every single day, mon-fri....whether someone else is at home or not. Its only when I leave--nobody else.

:rolleyes: LOL poor babies, all alone, :D so cute I can see it!!! Maybe it's not poor babies could be good babies if the house guests were there too long! But still not an answer to the problem. With that much love and adoration, wow, we are lucky to have them even when we wonder WHY,WHY??:animal-pa

[quote=taxlady;3210264]We're lucky to have our fur bff who miss us so much they cant stand it. My neighbors dont like us much cuz of my yappy bffs but its not like I can clone myself to trick my dogs.

I tried sneaking out too--doesnt work. They start crying when they hear my car.

I have been having a lot of separation anxiety issues with my 8 month old morkie. When ever he cannot see me he freaks out. He basically yells as loud as he can and cries. He always has to follow me around, not that is is a problem, I just want him to be more independent. I'm not sure what to do, whenever he cannot see me or can see me but can't get to me he starts to freak out. Any advise will help!

Thank you,
Nicole and Tanner

I have the same problem with my little one. He follows me around EVERYWHERE i go. Even if i am in the shower, he is ready to come in. I did spray some water on him to make him realize that it is wet but he didn't even care...still wanted to come in and be with me. Even leaving him with my husband doesn't work. He also cries and barks when i leave for work. I don't know how long he barks for. I waited outside yesterday for 5 minutes and he was still barking. I think he doesn't even touch his food all day until i come home and stand in the kitchen...then he eats. He seems to be fine though when i come home. He is just really happy to see me... and ready to play and go for a walk. :) Well...i still hope that he will "grow out" of it because i just got him last weekend.

i wish crating helped my adopted rescue, he just bucks in the cage until it moves about 2 feet away from the wall.:(

We got Ferguson from a rescue shelter and his separation anxiety seems to be getting worse.

We've tried special treats just for when we leave, interactive toys to keep him busy, giving him some of our clothes, and he has a blanket, pile of pillows and a big stuffed animal to snuggle with. We keep him in a second bedroom with the door closed so we can control the environment he's confined to and not have to crate him during the day.

It used to be that he'd scream when we left but now he recognizes the signs of us getting ready to leave and he'll start whimpering and shaking and will run away from us when we try and pick him up.

He's also started acting out by pottying while we're gone (he never did this before and we've even tried taking away his food and water but it doesn't seem to make a difference) and finding ways to get into different things and shred them (he loves to shred paper while we're gone)

Any advice?

yes, all i can say is it will get better, jobi was an evil little brat when i got him, he would howl and jump for hours when i left for work, he would poo and pee all around the room, and run through it all day. all of that is gone now, took about three months to calm down and get settled.

he does however want to follow me everywhere including the bathroom, and wants me to come out in the back yard with him, he is in my bedroom when i am at work, but if he gets into another room, with or without me he will poo or pee on things if i don't watch him constantly. one thing i found though, is when the whining went away, it was replaced with destruction, like eating my neices dolls, and my watch ect... i found walking every day curbed that, got him the outlet he needed, and i think i will be putting him into agility to give him something to do.. also if you are working all day, hire a walker to get him around noon and wear him out. there are also calm pills you can buy, all natural.

good luck.

Maybe leave the TV on or something so he will be disctracted. Toys may occupy him or chewing bones.

whats the update on everyones anxious dogs?

jobi has calmed down, he now will walk up to dogs and sniff thier nose. walk up to people instead of dash the other way and barks when people come in the house lol. he also gives me kisses, which took a year and a half.
he is in obedience now also. at petsmart, which i will not be returning to.

i don't think they are real trainers. the girl said to me..do you know why dogs eat grass?.. because they crave vegetable!... good bye

now on to the training section here to find some good ones after this joker class is done.