Acting Out? What to do? please help
 

Our Yorkie is taken outside on a regular basis and is house trained, but he decides that he wants to take a poop in the middle of the main hallway of our apartment about once a week.

A little background: We were given our dog by someone who found him running along a very busy road. After a few weeks of posting signs and asking around she decided to find a good owner. Thats how we got our Yorkie. He is around two years old according to the vet. The dog is very, very, very smart but insists on 24/7 attention. The dog cannot stand to be on the floor while we are not on the floor with him. We have a rule against him getting on furniture and he knows the rule BUT we think this may be why he acts out.

Our yorkie clearly has abandoment issues when we leave or close a door. He won't even eat if we aren't in the room with him. He will go get a piece of food and bring it to the room we are in before he eats it.

Since he would use the bathroom on the floor while we were gone, we had to attempt a few things.

The first thing we tried was a gate that goes in a doorway and he easily climbed right over it. Then we added some adjustments and Somehow our yorkie was able to climb a 4ft piece of plywood (imagine that). Then we tried a leash that allowed him to roam the floors that had no carpet and he chewed through the leash.

Finally, the most odd thing that happened is when we bought a crate. The first day he actually flipped the pins open and got out. The second day we put a more secure lock on it and he tore up everything inside the crate. The third and fourth days we tried taking everything out of the crate---he somehow becomes drenched in either his own slobber or sweat. Either way, his fur is disgusting and he must have a bath immediately.

Anyone every seen this stuff before? Any suggestions?!!!

:eek: WOW. I'd say your Yorkie has some pretty serious seperation anxiety issues. The best way to handle that would be to get a trainer and work with him that way. Or, if you can afford it, a pet sitter to stay with your dog while you are away. Or doggy daycare, which is much less to pay for than a private sitter. But don't feel ashamed if you do need a sitter. I sit for a dog often who has seperation anxiety issues. The pooping in the hallway...that's something you just might have to keep working on with the house training. Or get a pee pad and put it where he normally goes. At least that way it's not on your carpet/floor. Less to clean. But I would seriously recommend getting a trainer to help you deal with the seperation anxiety problem, or else send your dog to daycare or to someone who can petsit for you be it in their home or at yours. Hope that helps you out some! :)

Have you considered getting something like a Snuggle Puppy? It simluates a heart beat and is a heating pack as well. While it won't substitute you being there, it may give your Yorkie some comfort. We also leave the TV on, or radio on (with classical music) when we are gone, it works pretty well for our Yoda. Good luck!

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...ight=heartbeat

I'm not sure which way to go with this one...He really does seem to have some separation problems....I know that can be a challenge!
I have read several posts and replies which refer to a book but Jan fennell ..."The Dog Listener". I have not had a chance to read it but will be going to the book-store this weekend to get my copy....I do know I have spent ALOT of time watching "The Dog Whisperer" with Cesear Millan and he has taught me ALOT about dog behaviors and responses....Everything has worked wonders with my 10 month old chihuahua...who wanted to get bossy and start ruling the place...she is now the best little thing and everybody just loves her.
I think if you can get a chihuahua to be likable you can do anything!!!
Good Luck......

Thanks for the reply, but we can not afford a pet sitter (we are both recent college grads and in grad school :-) ) I thought about a pee pad, but I don't want to promote using the bathroom in the apartment, even if it is in one spot. I may look into a pet trainer to at least get foundation training skills. Or try to find some books to read. Thanks again for the reply.

INTERESTING! Thanks for the reply and the recommendation. I will look into one of those!!! Thanks again.

Thanks for the reply. I think the first thing I will do is look for a book and I will keep your suggestion in mind. I am also really interested in the snuggle puppy (thanks fasteddie!) Thanks again. Congrats on your training success!