Today has been the worst day of my life. Rant and Cry – LONG - *warning*

[SirTeddykins]

I have been trying to acclimate my dog to his crate since I bought him.
Background:I bought him at 12 weeks old from a Crufts judge who was registered as a Kennel Club approved breeder.
I knew that dogs could be prone to separation anxiety so I made sure that I didn’t let him sleep on me, follow me around the house or sleep with me at night.
I took two weeks off to train him and he was potty trained in this time but he definitely was not happy about being crated.He paced until his nose sweat, he peed outside the bars of his crate, dug, barked, howled and whined.
I then thought he might feel more secure if I let him sleep in my room with his crate.This definitely meant that he stopped barking at night.The rest of the above remained unchanged.
However, I started experiencing other problems.
I called a dog ‘behaviorist and psychologist’ to understand where I was going wrong with training.
This guy was an idiot from the beginning.I didn’t like his attitude over the phone as he made assumptions which were simply not true due to, what I presume, are his own biases with regards to small dogs.For example, he stated that women always cuddle little dogs and this causes problems.
I assured him that my dog was not ‘cuddled’.On the contrary, I mentioned the things I had done above and he seemed surprised and his tone changed from condescension to approval.Thinking I had overcome his ignorance, I asked if he could help me with a couple of things:
a) my dog was (and still is) very reactive on a leash
b) as my dog was not doing well in the crate, which I suspected was due to separation anxiety despite the precautions I had taken, I’d let him use the hallway when I was at work and the downstairs bathroom where his potty box is.I thought this was going well until I realized that the front door carpet was saturated with pee.I had him on webcam and left him with a kong, toys, his bed and radio.None of this seemed to help.
The guy came out and told me to be the general and treat the dog as sentry.Command him and my space.Don’t let him follow me around the house and don’t let him sleep in my room.This will make him more confident and make him realize that he can exist without me.He told me to ‘mock charge’ the dog by stamping on the ground and cornering the dogwhich would make the dog realize that I’m the leader.When he showed submission, either by lying down or sitting, squat and praise him.
He also suggested that the dog needed more exercise.We took him to the park off the leash.He came back to me.He was tired and seemed happy.
Everything was great, or so I thought. Well, based on this professionals advice, I let my dog off the leash again to play. What the 'professional' didn't tell me is that just because recall works once, it won't always work. My dog barked at people and wouldn't let them pass paths and he also chased another dog to the street and had my child not been with me and ran full speed to bring him back, my dog would have been hit and killed by a van. The other problem is, he still barks in his crate for hours.Today, for example, he barked for four hours straight.I was told that you can’t release a dog in his crate when he barks or you reinforce barking.He was in his crate because I was cleaning the bathrooms (there are three) and I didn’t want him loose with a cat that attacks him, him marking and bleach etc being out.
I felt like crying.This guy said I could call him for life anytime I needed help.I called him today, at my wits end, because I couldn’t get the dog to be quiet.
I told him I had crated him, why, and said that I praised him when quiet, gave him a treat when quiet, walked off when he was noisy, let him out when quiet.I tried everything and he just wouldn’t shut up.
The trainer says to me, “When you don’t want to play, you put your head up in the air until he walks off.” Um, ok.Playing isn’t the issue – barking in the crate is?
He says, “Why is he in the crate?”I REPEATED what I’d already said.He says, “Don’t praise your dog when he’s behaving as he’s supposed to be behaving.Do nothing when he’s behaved and only correct bad behavior otherwise you’ll really mess his head up.”
Um, WHAT???
I said again, “So what do about him now as if I let him out am I not encouraging him to bark to be let out?”
Again, he asked me why he was in the crate and then states that the dog is ‘request barking’.That’s great that you have labelled the barking but you still have not told me what the $%%^^ to do about it!This is my head screaming!!!!!!
I asked him, “Do you ever crate your dogs?”He says, “No.”I said, “What do you do when you have to go out to the doctors office, for example?”he says, “I leave my dogs outside or in the house.”I said, “Right, well I can’t do that as you know, since he pees up the door.So what do I do.”
He says, “Read the separation anxiety booklet I sent you.”
IT SAYS NOTHING ABOUT CRATE TRAINING OH MY GOD
I feel like crying, screaming and can only suggest that anyone getting a dog not think that trainers know what they are talking about just because they learn to repeat something they’ve learned.
I am happy to PM anyone with this trainers name and location so that you do not use him.He deletes all bad reviews on FreeIndex which I didn’t realize and only used him because of the high reviews before I knew what he did.
I could use moral support and a big bottle of wine
I just want to give up. I no longer work (as of last week) but that does not mean that I will never leave the house and I feel like I'm a prisoner to this dog. This is not how I imagined dog ownership to be. I don't know what else to do as he's not improving and he is a year old next month.

[shelbysmom]

I hope this doesn't sound too harsh but it sounds like you are trying to take the Yorkie out of him. I am really not sure why you got a Yorkie if you didn't want someone following you around the house and being with you every moment of the day. They are a pretty needy breed, meaning they love their people.

I would start over. Spend time with your pup, take time to walk him even if he isn't good at it. Get him socialized, even if you spend the time apologizing. Get him an expen, put his bed and potty etc. in that when you leave or can't keep him with you.

These little creatures are meant to be with their people. If you want him in a crate at night put it where he can see you and you can touch him.

In other words, ignore everything the trainer has said.

Too harsh? Sorry

[yorkietalkjilly]

I've read your post and try to give you some thoughts to try to help your dog from the information you have provided for you to consider or disregard, as I will try to honestly access what it sounds to me that the problems are. Thanks to that trainer and some poor advice and perhaps a lack of dog-handling skills, you little hyper-excitable, high-energy, intelligent baby sounds more like a POW at times than a pet! The problem is likely not with him but with an inconsistent training/handling program of confusion and lifestyle he cannot understand or accept. He sounds thoroughly confused as to what is expected of him.

I'd first get him thoroughly examined by a vet from teeth to tail with blood tests, urine/fecal tests and get a clean bill of health as he could be ill or have an occult injury or something causing him physical problems.

Yorkshire Terriers are intensely personal dogs and yours wants you to show him lots of love, cuddles, to be with you every moment and lots of attention and love - that's what you got him for. He wants lots of positive reinforcement for everything he does right. It just makes them shine to know they have pleased you. Dogs are pack animals and not human sentries and need to be treated as members of our family for the most part, remembering their canine instincts kick in and we can harness those instincts with re-training in order to live successfully and happily with us.

Most Yorkies want to sleep touching or near their other pack members at night and to spend the day with them in life-enriching, fun, mentally-stimulating activities or resting on our bodies or very near us when we aren't up and about. We are to show firm, gentle leadership, show them their boundaries and reinforce those to the uttermost when they exhibit behavior we disagree with and stand them down until they desist and turn away or relax or give up, not in a fearful way that scares them but as a mother dog would her pup. I'll tell you how to do that later if you'd like.

I got my dog Tibbe when he was 9 mos. old, kennel-crazy from spending his 1st 9 mos. of life alone in a cage outside under a shed so he was wild, almost feral and totally fearful of humans, sounds, things and life in general. He screamed at the top of his lungs when I crated him but I taught him his crate was a friendly, warm, quiet, wonderful place and in time, he loved going in it. I never used it for punishment or "time out" as it was to be his refuge during the times I couldn't be with him until he was housebroken or when he had to spend time at the vet or in it during some type of emergency situation.

I spent the first 18 months I had my dog housebreaking him by confining him only when I left the home or left the room to work at something and couldn't be watching him for evidence he was about to pee or poo. Otherwise, he was out and about and almost always literally on or near me, getting loads of praise for every good thing he did. At the end of his 18 months, he was totally clean in the house - unless he's ill & cannot help having diarrhea - but otherwise, he'll hold himself all day if I'm away a long time and won't even use the pee pads I put down. When it's storming and pouring rain and he doesn't want to go outside, he won't even use the front or back porch he's so firmly housebroken to go only on the grass or dirt!

When he was out and about, I kept him within eyesight of me so that when he was running about in the room(I kept him confined to whatever room I was in by not allowing him to leave the room for that 18 months by saying "uh oh" if he neared the door and getting up and herding him back inside the room over and over until he got the message he must stay in whatever room I was in), I could watch him and look for evidence of his staring at me, staring at the door to outside, going around urgently in fast circles, sniffing the ground like a madman and with great urgency or right after meals, grooming sessions, heightened excitement of any kind such as visitors coming/going, etc. He's had total free-run of the house since that 18 mos. period was over!

All of these things usually precede a dog needing to go potty. That's when I'd say "Wait! Let's go potty outside" and rush to him, scoop him up the first few weeks and later get him to rapidly follow me outside. Then, a big praise when he did actually "go" and a nice treat which I always keep in my pocket. I treated my dog for almost everything he did right for his first 5 years with me and he comes running anytime I say "Tibbe, come!" or any other command as his treat/praise training made him happy to always obey. (Even now, he knows praise and a treat are possibly forthcoming but always praise. He's always praised and he just feeds off it. He'll do anything now to get my pleasure in him.)

Plus, to start him off right and imprint his brain that pottying was to be done only outside, the first 3 weeks or so after I brought him home, I just routinely took him out to potty every 30 minutes from morning until bedtime!!! It nearly killed me but he got it! He got the message quickly that no matter what, he'd be taken outside with great regularity and that outside was the natural place to go and leave his scent and markings for all the world to enjoy.

In time, he learned to hold himself for the next 30 minute window and the chance to go potty and mark all over the outside back yard and in time, he could hold himself up to an hour and then two and finally, 4 hours. He now usually needs to go pee about every 4 hours - longer if it's raining or I'm not home - and he always goes Potty #2 in the mornings after breakfast and at night just before 10:00 p.m. But should I be away from the house over 4 hours, he will hold it as he's learned that outside is the right place to go and he just refuses to go anywhere else. Once a Yorkie learns a way of doing something, he'll always want to do that thing that way forever as he's got a sense of what is expected of him. Yorkies love to do what they know is right.

I can give you some pointers and specific training tips and ideas I used in rehabilitating my dog from a wild thing to a well-behaved, happy, feisty little companion who is a total joy to have around, if you'd like.

If you want to use some of my ideas for your dog, for starters, could you describe his day - what his activities are and how much time he's confined, etc. from morning to the last thing at night? Then I could give you some starting training tips to get you all out of the bad place you seem to be and go from there. You can totally reform this dog if you bring him along slowly and show your love always, train him using only positive reinforcement, keep his training always fun and upbeat and give him fair but firm boundaries of behavior that he cannot cross without you stepping in to stop him without any fear or harsh, scary techniques. Hugs to you for reaching out for help for your sweet baby.

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by shelbysmom

I hope this doesn't sound too harsh but it sounds like you are trying to take the Yorkie out of him. I am really not sure why you got a Yorkie if you didn't want someone following you around the house and being with you every moment of the day. They are a pretty needy breed, meaning they love their people.

I would start over. Spend time with your pup, take time to walk him even if he isn't good at it. Get him socialized, even if you spend the time apologizing. Get him an expen, put his bed and potty etc. in that when you leave or can't keep him with you.

These little creatures are meant to be with their people. If you want him in a crate at night put it where he can see you and you can touch him.

In other words, ignore everything the trainer has said.

Too harsh? Sorry

Not too harsh but irrelevant to my situation - thanks for trying anyway

[shelbysmom]

You're welcome, I did indeed try. It sounds like you have a plan so you should stick with it.

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I've read your post and try to give you some thoughts to try to help your dog from the information you have provided for you to consider or disregard, as I will try to honestly access what it sounds to me that the problems are. Thanks to that trainer and some poor advice and perhaps a lack of dog-handling skills, you little hyper-excitable, high-energy, intelligent baby sounds more like a POW at times than a pet! The problem is likely not with him but with an inconsistent training/handling program of confusion and lifestyle he cannot understand or accept. He sounds thoroughly confused as to what is expected of him. - agree which is why I brought the trainer

I'd first get him thoroughly examined by a vet from teeth to tail with blood tests, urine/fecal tests and get a clean bill of health as he could be ill or have an occult injury or something causing him physical problems. - done, clean health

Yorkshire Terriers are intensely personal dogs and yours wants you to show him lots of love, cuddles, to be with you every moment and lots of attention and love - that's what you got him for. He wants lots of positive reinforcement for everything he does right. It just makes them shine to know they have pleased you. Dogs are pack animals and not human sentries and need to be treated as members of our family for the most part, remembering their canine instincts kick in and we can harness those instincts with re-training in order to live successfully and happily with us - agree - although I was then advised that I need to wean my dog off of me as this is why he has separation anxiety - I am happy to send you the report the trainer gave me to show that his opinion was that I was giving the dog too much attention which led to his problems.

Most Yorkies want to sleep touching or near their other pack members at night and to spend the day with them in life-enriching, fun, mentally-stimulating activities or resting on our bodies or very near us when we aren't up and about. We are to show firm, gentle leadership, show them their boundaries and reinforce those to the uttermost when they exhibit behavior we disagree with and stand them down until they desist and turn away or relax or give up, not in a fearful way that scares them but as a mother dog would her pup. I'll tell you how to do that later if you'd like. yes, I have been doing this with a firm AH! and then praise when the undesirable behaviour ceases - the trainer told me today that I shouldn't praise him when he's behaving as that will 'mess up his head' so now I'm confused and have completely written off anything he says as nonsense

I got my dog Tibbe when he was 9 mos. old, kennel-crazy from spending his 1st 9 mos. of life alone in a cage outside under a shed so he was wild, almost feral and totally fearful of humans, sounds, things and life in general. He screamed at the top of his lungs when I crated him but I taught him his crate was a friendly, warm, quiet, wonderful place and in time, he loved going in it. I never used it for punishment or "time out" as it was to be his refuge during the times I couldn't be with him until he was housebroken or when he had to spend time at the vet or in it during some type of emergency situation. - I have never used the crate as time out, he has blankets in there, treats, praise and is fed in there, the door is left open and he sleeps in there at night -again with the door open, when he was let out of the crate after today's debacle, he actually went back in to get the kong and carrot he ignored when the crate door was shut - he puts himself in there - it would appear he just doesn't like the door shut

I spent the first 18 months I had my dog housebreaking him by confining him only when I left the home or left the room to work at something and couldn't be watching him for evidence he was about to pee or poo. Otherwise, he was out and about and almost always literally on or near me, getting loads of praise for every good thing he did. At the end of his 18 months, he was totally clean in the house - unless he's ill & cannot help having diarrhea - but otherwise, he'll hold himself all day if I'm away a long time and won't even use the pee pads I put down. When it's storming and pouring rain and he doesn't want to go outside, he won't even use the front or back porch he's so firmly housebroken to go only on the grass or dirt! - I taught him to use his litter box due to preference

When he was out and about, I kept him within eyesight of me so that when he was running about in the room(I kept him confined to whatever room I was in by not allowing him to leave the room for that 18 months by saying "uh oh" if he neared the door and getting up and herding him back inside the room over and over until he got the message he must stay in whatever room I was in), I could watch him and look for evidence of his staring at me, staring at the door to outside, going around urgently in fast circles, sniffing the ground like a madman and with great urgency or right after meals, grooming sessions, heightened excitement of any kind such as visitors coming/going, etc. He's had total free-run of the house since that 18 mos. period was over! - not having potty trouble but thank you!

All of these things usually precede a dog needing to go potty. That's when I'd say "Wait! Let's go potty outside" and rush to him, scoop him up the first few weeks and later get him to rapidly follow me outside. Then, a big praise when he did actually "go" and a nice treat which I always keep in my pocket. I treated my dog for almost everything he did right for his first 5 years with me and he comes running anytime I say "Tibbe, come!" or any other command as his treat/praise training made him happy to always obey. Yes! This is what I was doing and then the trainer told me that treat training doesn't work and messes up the dog! I can show you his website! I just trusted what he said because I'm not a trainer, I'm just a dog owner! I think you're right about how you're doing things so its nice to know that my intuition was correct and my intuition about this trainer being wrong is correct!!!(Even now, he knows praise and a treat are possibly forthcoming but always praise. He's always praised and he just feeds off it. He'll do anything now to get my pleasure in him.)

Plus, to start him off right and imprint his brain that pottying was to be done only outside, the first 3 weeks or so after I brought him home, I just routinely took him out to potty every 30 minutes from morning until bedtime!!! It nearly killed me but he got it! He got the message quickly that no matter what, he'd be taken outside with great regularity and that outside was the natural place to go and leave his scent and markings for all the world to enjoy.

In time, he learned to hold himself for the next 30 minute window and the chance to go potty and mark all over the outside back yard and in time, he could hold himself up to an hour and then two and finally, 4 hours. He now usually needs to go pee about every 4 hours - longer if it's raining or I'm not home - and he always goes Potty #2 in the mornings after breakfast and at night just before 10:00 p.m. But should I be away from the house over 4 hours, he will hold it as he's learned that outside is the right place to go and he just refuses to go anywhere else. Once a Yorkie learns a way of doing something, he'll always want to do that thing that way forever as he's got a sense of what is expected of him. Yorkies love to do what they know is right.

I can give you some pointers and specific training tips and ideas I used in rehabilitating my dog from a wild thing to a well-behaved, happy, feisty little companion who is a total joy to have around, if you'd like.

If you want to use some of my ideas for your dog, for starters, could you describe his day From tomorrow- he will be exercised on a long leash (20ft) for an hour in a park (see above why I won't let him free run!)- what his activities are - he is played with by all family members for at least an hour - fetch - training sessions with tricks etc and how much time he's confined, etc. from morning to the last thing at night? - 2 hrs maximum at the minute (1 hour when I am cooking and we're eating to protect him from the cat and 1 hour in the morning where he can see me and then he is let out - this is done so that he doesn't view a shut crate door as punishment and knows that crate is used even when I'm here so he doesn't associate the crate with just my being gone Then I could give you some starting training tips to get you all out of the bad place you seem to be and go from there. You can totally reform this dog if you bring him along slowly and show your love always, train him using only positive reinforcement, keep his training always fun and upbeat and give him fair but firm boundaries of behavior that he cannot cross without you stepping in to stop him without any fear or harsh, scary techniques. Hugs to you for reaching out for help for your sweet baby.

Thanks for your very comprehensive reply. I can't tell you how grateful I am.

I've tried to address your points above in red for you to comment back if you would be so kind.


The techniques I've used are due to the trainers advice that my dog suffers from separation anxiety which has been caused by over attentiveness and lack of boundaries. I hope that explains things but please let me know if you want any further info which you think will help you to help me!


Thanks again

[SirTeddykins]

duplicate entry

[SirTeddykins]

Sorry shelbysmom, you did mention to ignore the trainer and I think that is excellent advice and exactly what I intend to do.


I am really angry with him and think he has led to my confusion and, thus, my dogs confusion and now this situation I'm in which has made me so frustrated.


As I mentioned subsequent to your posting, the trainer told me I caused problems by being to attentive to my dog and I think he is an idiot!!!!


Thanks for taking the time to reply, I hope I didn't sound harsh. I don't mind any criticism at all if it helps.


I probably wasn't clear with why I was doing some of the things I was doing.

[yorkietalkjilly]

I guess I misunderstood on the potty thing. I thought you'd said the dog peed all over the carpet but if he's now clean in the house with no mistakes, that's wonderful. However, as this is a public thread and many read the posts, the things I posted may help someone else. If this were my dog, I'd do just like you are going to do and I'd forget all that your trainer ever did or thought and I certainly have no interest in seeing any report from said so-called trainer.

For a dog like this, as owner/guardian, I would show my dog lots of real affection, positive reinforcement and rewards for things done right, keep him busy playing with puzzle games I invent, puzzle toys for kibble treats and feeding him his meals out of kong toys so he has to work for his meal(dogs love this and my Tibbe will choose a kibble-filled kong over his dog bowl for his meal any day), daily fun obedience training 5 min. x2 or 3 daily(this training can totally calm and reshape a dog's behavior), using the Nothing In Life Is Free program for a month(dogs love this program) and keeping him always nearby so he's got a sense of his pack being intact and operating normally.

No need to worry about separation anxiety if his life is enriched with exercise, activities, play, cuddles and love and you are busy training him in a fun way how to obey your upbeat commands and his life is full. But if he does behave anxiously, there is a usually a problem with the owner/guardian's dog-handling skills as most of us aren't experts at handling an over-anxious dog, though the above programs will go far in leeching much of that anxiety and insecurity totally out of him.

Still, if one's dog is going crazy when one leaves him alone, anyone can teach his dog how to handle separation anxiety by slow desensitization to leaving them using one of several specific training techniques to teach them how to remain calm and come to accept the fact of his needing to be alone. I've one technique I've used on fosters and troubled dogs for years that works every time I've housed a dog who grew panicked or nervous when his human left him alone.

My dogs are never let off leash outside when out in the public off their property as that trainer advised. That could get any dog attacked, stolen, lost or killed by a car or larger dog. I certainly hope that trainer will retire soon and quit spreading his terrible advice!

Best of luck to you and your adorable baby boy!

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I guess I misunderstood on the potty thing. I thought you'd said the dog peed all over the carpet but if he's now clean in the house with no mistakes, that's wonderful. However, as this is a public thread and many read the posts, the things I posted may help someone else. If this were my dog, I'd do just like you are going to do and I'd forget all that your trainer ever did or thought and I certainly have no interest in seeing any report from said so-called trainer.

For a dog like this, as owner/guardian, I would show my dog lots of real affection, positive reinforcement and rewards for things done right, keep him busy playing with puzzle games I invent, puzzle toys for kibble treats and feeding him his meals out of kong toys so he has to work for his meal(dogs love this and my Tibbe will choose a kibble-filled kong over his dog bowl for his meal any day), daily fun obedience training 5 min. x2 or 3 daily(this training can totally calm and reshape a dog's behavior), using the Nothing In Life Is Free program for a month(dogs love this program) and keeping him always nearby so he's got a sense of his pack being intact and operating normally.

No need to worry about separation anxiety if his life is enriched with exercise, activities, play, cuddles and love and you are busy training him in a fun way how to obey your upbeat commands and his life is full. But if he does behave anxiously, there is a usually a problem with the owner/guardian's dog-handling skills as most of us aren't experts at handling an over-anxious dog, though the above programs will go far in leeching much of that anxiety and insecurity totally out of him.

Still, if one's dog is going crazy when one leaves him alone, anyone can teach his dog how to handle separation anxiety by slow desensitization to leaving them using one of several specific training techniques to teach them how to remain calm and come to accept the fact of his needing to be alone. I've one technique I've used on fosters and troubled dogs for years that works every time I've housed a dog who grew panicked or nervous when his human left him alone.

My dogs are never let off leash outside when out in the public off their property as that trainer advised. That could get any dog attacked, stolen, lost or killed by a car or larger dog. I certainly hope that trainer will retire soon and quit spreading his terrible advice!

Best of luck to you and your adorable baby boy!

Thanks for this. I probably wasn't clear as I was typing with emotion after a long day. He peed on the front door only when I was away from the house. He never had accidents (pee or poop) when I was in the house from about four months


His peeing at the door is what set off alarm bells re: SA which is why I brought the dog psychologist in for all the good that did!!!


I will continue to use positive reinforcement and just accept that he's going to bark manically when I'm away as there is nothing that can be done about this..not everywhere lets you bring your dog so that's just life.


Thanks for your help both


x

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

Thanks for this. I probably wasn't clear as I was typing with emotion after a long day. He peed on the front door only when I was away from the house. He never had accidents (pee or poop) when I was in the house from about four months


His peeing at the door is what set off alarm bells re: SA which is why I brought the dog psychologist in for all the good that did!!!


I will continue to use positive reinforcement and just accept that he's going to bark manically when I'm away as there is nothing that can be done about this..not everywhere lets you bring your dog so that's just life.


Thanks for your help both


x

Why not use one of the Separation Anxiety training desensitization training techniques so he feels no need to bark the whole time you are away?

[SirTeddykins]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Why not use one of the Separation Anxiety training desensitization training techniques so he feels no need to bark the whole time you are away?

Yes, I will try it. Again, I was told by the trainer that this was stupid and a waste of time which is why it hasn't been used before.


I will try but I will also accept that it MAY not work (but it may which would be great, too!) and keep everyone updated.


SA is very tiring and emotional for the dog and the human involved!!
I just want my boy happy and secure when I'm away!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

Yes, I will try it. Again, I was told by the trainer that this was stupid and a waste of time which is why it hasn't been used before.


I will try but I will also accept that it MAY not work (but it may which would be great, too!) and keep everyone updated.


SA is very tiring and emotional for the dog and the human involved!!
I just want my boy happy and secure when I'm away!

I found SA training actually fun to see the dog change, begin to calm down and accept and assume his ability to be alone and begin to desensitize every time I rehabbed one. It always worked. Want me to share my method?

[Cat2861]

I'm sorry to hear about all the issues you have but I want to let you know what I have done with my little one.

Remy only goes in his crate at night to sleep and it is on my side of the bed so he can see me and I can see him. (He is very content in his crate at night).

I have a pen for him for when I need to run errands or if I need to keep him safe while I am doing something in the house.

Remy follows me everywhere. He can be playing with his toys and the minute I move to go to another room he does too. It's like he is attached to my hip. He has major separation anxiety. I have been following advice from this forum on helping him out with his separation anxiety and is is definitely working. He has come a long way.

These dogs are very needy, smart, lovable, want to please you, cuddly, etc. You just have to let them know that you are the alpha dog and just be consistent with training them. Training takes a lot of patience but it's well worth it in the long run. I praise Remy constantly with treats and without treats. That is how I got him to use the pee pads, sit, lay down, bring me a certain toy, heel as we walk, etc.

Does he have his bad days....Of course he does but that's just part of life. We all have our bad days.

IMO, I would ditch the trainer. He doesn't sound like a good trainer to me.

I wish you the best of luck!

[gemy]

Jeanie/YorkieTalkJilly gives great detailed advice! She will send you much more info if you request it.

If you don't mind a couple of questions from me; was your puppy always this way with a crate? Peeing/Pooing in it or through the crate?

Have you tried having him in the crate - when you are in the same room cleaning etc? I know you said at night you transferred his crate to your bedroom and the barking stopped. But not the peeing etc...

My other question is have you taken him outside with you in his crate. In your car to go to a fun place - like a park for walks - or a pet store etc. Or on the bus or subway. THis is more to also associate his crate with wonderfull fun things in life to do with you.

Another question is have you thoroughly cleaned his crate with an enzymatic cleanser which gets out the smell of urine? By now you may have to buy a gallon of the stuff and soak the whole crate in it for a few hours. Think of it as starting "fresh".

When I have puppies I pick up all rugs that are not easily laundered until they the pups are housebroken. It makes it much easier to clean up after accidents.

I agree never have your dog off lead until you can train a reliable come! There is absolutely nothing wrong with treat based training! And nothing wrong with paying a whole lot of attention to your dog, any dog of any breed. The right attention - boundaried - loving - firm when needed - exciting - relaxing - structured - then some free form attention.

And your "trainer" is an idiot!