Separation Anxiety?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

LoveMyBabies · 07-18-2005, 08:10 AM

Hi guys!

Ok, I've tried everything to no avail - I thought that by getting two pups, they wouldn't be as upset when they were left alone. However, whenever I go to take a shower/go to work/accidentally shut the door behind me, both of them start HOWLING.

I'm in an apartment bulding, so I can't let them cry it out or I would. Crate training is at a standstill right now for the same reason. They'll go in and out of their crates all day, but once you shut the door, the symphony begins.

When I go to work, I always leave them with food, water, and the TV or radio on...but if they're in their (pretty big) x-pen, they go nuts. The only time they're quiet is if I gate off the living room and let them run free. Obviously this isn't an ideal situation...I'd like them to be comfortable with being in their x-pen when I'm home so I can confine them while cleaning/showering/etc. I have a dog walker that comes at noon to play with them for a half hour, and I spend tons of time with them when I get home from work, so I know they're getting lots of attention and exercise. Does ANYONE have any advice??????

Thanks!

JCarlson2004 · 07-18-2005, 08:12 AM

Awww I'm sorry to hear this. My seperation anxiety problem was solved when I got my second dog. Sorry but I don't have any other advice except ask your vet or the breeder you got your babies from. Maybe they know how to help. Good luck!

Latuya · 07-18-2005, 08:25 AM

Gus is really bad too. I want to get him a sister so he will have someone to be with and not stress so much when I leave him. Even when I leave him here with the kids or my husband, he will just sit around and wait for me to get home. How long have you had your new baby? Maybe it will just take some time. Will you let us know how they are in from time to time? I would like to think there is hope for Gus to beable to stay at home and not have to stress so much when I am gone and have someone to play with.

LoveMyBabies · 07-18-2005, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latuya

Gus is really bad too. I want to get him a sister so he will have someone to be with and not stress so much when I leave him. Even when I leave him here with the kids or my husband, he will just sit around and wait for me to get home. How long have you had your new baby? Maybe it will just take some time. Will you let us know how they are in from time to time? I would like to think there is hope for Gus to beable to stay at home and not have to stress so much when I am gone and have someone to play with.

I've had them since July 3rd, do you guys think that's enough time? I don't want to be unreasonable, I'm just praying that it'll get better as they get older

Latuya · 07-18-2005, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoveMyBabies

I've had them since July 3rd, do you guys think that's enough time? I don't want to be unreasonable, I'm just praying that it'll get better as they get older

After reading your thread again. I see you got the 2 at the same time. Are they from the same litter? That is strage that they are like that. I pray that there is hope for Gus then after getting another.

LoveMyBabies · 07-18-2005, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latuya

After reading your thread again. I see you got the 2 at the same time. Are they from the same litter? That is strage that they are like that. I pray that there is hope for Gus then after getting another.

Yup, they're brother & sister

Ponyup · 07-18-2005, 08:57 AM

I know that it's hard living in an apartment, but they have you trained. they've learned in they cry you come back or let them out of their crate. they are very bright. you may not be able to do this, but for ours to get crate trained we just had to ignore for 3 or 4 nights and he learned that crying isn't going to make us open the door and he stopped. you may have trouble doing this in an apartment.

LoveMyBabies · 07-18-2005, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponyup

I know that it's hard living in an apartment, but they have you trained. they've learned in they cry you come back or let them out of their crate. they are very bright. you may not be able to do this, but for ours to get crate trained we just had to ignore for 3 or 4 nights and he learned that crying isn't going to make us open the door and he stopped. you may have trouble doing this in an apartment.

When they cry, I don't let them see me and I just say "Quiet" in a really deep voice...it quiets them down for a little while, but once they hear me doing stuff, they start up again. I don't go to them and play when they cry because that'd be a really bad thing to reinforce

Before my neighbors moved in, I really worked at crate training them and would leave them in for a half hour, hour, 1.5 hours, moving my way up time-wise, but they never stopped howling. Maybe I should just buy my neighbors some earplugs!

Latuya · 07-18-2005, 09:12 AM

I agree with Ponyup. My problem is not that he wont stay in his crate. He will but as long as I'm right there by him or in eyes sight. I don't mind him following me around the house. He's just too attached to me and is a sad little guy when I leave him alone or even when someone is here. He just lays there either in his crate or near the door just staring at it waiting for me to walk in through the door.

ldstull · 07-19-2005, 11:53 AM

I got this herbal stuff called "Calm Down" We used it for a week and she no longer cries or has to take it any more.

vainchick5 · 07-19-2005, 12:07 PM

I think the trick is, when getting 2, is to get them from a different litter and at different times. I've heard that when they are together at the same age they tend to pick up eachothers bad habits while if one a bit older, they might learn from each other. Anyways, every pup is different. Does your apartment allow dogs? Because if they don't I think you just need to give your neighbors a warning and start crate training or pen training them IMMEDIATELY. otherwise you will have to deal with this forever!. If the neighbors aren't cool with it, maybe go to someones house for a weekend, and try the training for a full 3 days. Either way, you need YOU time. I know what it's like because Coco was like that too. I ignored her crying for a while and now everything is a piece of cake. I hope all works out.

atm2004sheila · 07-19-2005, 01:31 PM

When I got Alley, I kept him in a pen (big one!) at night when I slept. I would always talk of 3 "times" during the day; play time for when I was moving around the house; quiet time for when I was watching television and night-night time for bed time. He pretty much got use to it and I didn't get him out of the pen when he would cry. It took only took a day or two for him to figure out when he should play and when he should sleep. Now, at 10 months, I can tell him "quiet time" and he'll go get one of his babies and lay down and play with it. Good luck!

BTW, watch where you put the bed in the pen.... by using his bed as a ladder, my little monkey climbed out of his pen when he was 3 months old. Imagine me coming in from work and finding him outside of his locked pen with food, water, potty pad and bed all inside! Also, you learn very quickly to keep the bathroom door closed when you aren't in there. What is it about toilet tissue that they love?????

07-18-2005, 08:10 AM	#1
LoveMyBabies Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N/A Posts: 175	Separation Anxiety?? Hi guys! Ok, I've tried everything to no avail - I thought that by getting two pups, they wouldn't be as upset when they were left alone. However, whenever I go to take a shower/go to work/accidentally shut the door behind me, both of them start HOWLING. I'm in an apartment bulding, so I can't let them cry it out or I would. Crate training is at a standstill right now for the same reason. They'll go in and out of their crates all day, but once you shut the door, the symphony begins. When I go to work, I always leave them with food, water, and the TV or radio on...but if they're in their (pretty big) x-pen, they go nuts. The only time they're quiet is if I gate off the living room and let them run free. Obviously this isn't an ideal situation...I'd like them to be comfortable with being in their x-pen when I'm home so I can confine them while cleaning/showering/etc. I have a dog walker that comes at noon to play with them for a half hour, and I spend tons of time with them when I get home from work, so I know they're getting lots of attention and exercise. Does ANYONE have any advice?????? Thanks!

07-18-2005, 08:12 AM	#2
JCarlson2004 Mommy To 3 Poochies Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New York Posts: 8,287	Awww I'm sorry to hear this. My seperation anxiety problem was solved when I got my second dog. Sorry but I don't have any other advice except ask your vet or the breeder you got your babies from. Maybe they know how to help. Good luck! __________________ Mommy Loves Codie, Tia & Baby Cali RIP My Precious Katie - I Love You

07-18-2005, 08:25 AM	#3
Latuya YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rialto CA Posts: 3,243	Gus is really bad too. I want to get him a sister so he will have someone to be with and not stress so much when I leave him. Even when I leave him here with the kids or my husband, he will just sit around and wait for me to get home. How long have you had your new baby? Maybe it will just take some time. Will you let us know how they are in from time to time? I would like to think there is hope for Gus to beable to stay at home and not have to stress so much when I am gone and have someone to play with. __________________ Monica, Proud mom of Gus who is forever missed! And new mom to Leiloni Gus's Dogster page

07-18-2005, 08:57 AM	#7
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	I know that it's hard living in an apartment, but they have you trained. they've learned in they cry you come back or let them out of their crate. they are very bright. you may not be able to do this, but for ours to get crate trained we just had to ignore for 3 or 4 nights and he learned that crying isn't going to make us open the door and he stopped. you may have trouble doing this in an apartment. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

07-18-2005, 09:12 AM	#9
Latuya YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Rialto CA Posts: 3,243	I agree with Ponyup. My problem is not that he wont stay in his crate. He will but as long as I'm right there by him or in eyes sight. I don't mind him following me around the house. He's just too attached to me and is a sad little guy when I leave him alone or even when someone is here. He just lays there either in his crate or near the door just staring at it waiting for me to walk in through the door. __________________ Monica, Proud mom of Gus who is forever missed! And new mom to Leiloni Gus's Dogster page

07-19-2005, 11:53 AM	#10
ldstull YT Addict Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Clifton, VA Posts: 260	I got this herbal stuff called "Calm Down" We used it for a week and she no longer cries or has to take it any more.

07-19-2005, 12:07 PM	#11
vainchick5 YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: CA Posts: 6,588	I think the trick is, when getting 2, is to get them from a different litter and at different times. I've heard that when they are together at the same age they tend to pick up eachothers bad habits while if one a bit older, they might learn from each other. Anyways, every pup is different. Does your apartment allow dogs? Because if they don't I think you just need to give your neighbors a warning and start crate training or pen training them IMMEDIATELY. otherwise you will have to deal with this forever!. If the neighbors aren't cool with it, maybe go to someones house for a weekend, and try the training for a full 3 days. Either way, you need YOU time. I know what it's like because Coco was like that too. I ignored her crying for a while and now everything is a piece of cake. I hope all works out. __________________ Mommy to Coco and Rocco

07-19-2005, 01:31 PM	#12
atm2004sheila Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Louisiana Posts: 96	Crying from the pen When I got Alley, I kept him in a pen (big one!) at night when I slept. I would always talk of 3 "times" during the day; play time for when I was moving around the house; quiet time for when I was watching television and night-night time for bed time. He pretty much got use to it and I didn't get him out of the pen when he would cry. It took only took a day or two for him to figure out when he should play and when he should sleep. Now, at 10 months, I can tell him "quiet time" and he'll go get one of his babies and lay down and play with it. Good luck! BTW, watch where you put the bed in the pen.... by using his bed as a ladder, my little monkey climbed out of his pen when he was 3 months old. Imagine me coming in from work and finding him outside of his locked pen with food, water, potty pad and bed all inside! Also, you learn very quickly to keep the bathroom door closed when you aren't in there. What is it about toilet tissue that they love????? __________________ Alley's Mom, Sheila