Separation Anxiety....HELP!!!!
 

Not sure if I posted this in the correct place, but I need some help. Does anyone know of ways to help cure or ease a dogs separation anxiety? My 2 year old yorkie barks continuously whenver we leave the house and nothing I've done can get him to stop. He's completely calm and quiet when we are home but during the day when we are at work he apparently barks all day. I hear him when I come home from work but I thought it was just because he heard the front door open, we live in a condo complex. I've recently gotten some nasty notes on my door from a neighbor regarding his constant barking which implied that they would be calling animal control and even accused me of animal cruelty. While I have not in any way laid a hand on my dog I know his barking can get pretty tiring after awhile. Any suggestions anyone has would be very much appreciated. I really don't want someone coming to take my dog away!:(

What have you tried?

i had the same problem, and i posted a thread asking for help.... i got some good answers.... i dont know how to quote the link to the thread i started (i am kinda of new at this).... but i started leaving Chloe in a confine space while i WAS home, and disappear for short periods of time.... then letting her see me... then increase my "Away" time and she has been getting used to it.. also i always leave the TV (on Animal Planet :rolleyes: cuz she loves it) or a radio on for her to hear voices while i am away.... it worked for me... and she's behaving pretty good lately... she always whines a little when i first put her in the play pen, but she calms down almost immediately....

maybe try that....good luck!

I found a website that gave tips on how to solve it. I practiced getting him used to my leaving cues (picking up my keys, putting on my coat). He still paced around and looked uneasy. I tried gating him in the kitchen but he was able to scale the gate and climb over it. I also tried leaving the house for a few minutes at a time, the only thing I hadn't tried was talking to the vet about it.

I tried crate training him and have for the last few months left him in the crate while I'm at work, because otherwise I'm afraid he will have accidents in the house. I got a crate with enough room for him move around in, put a bed in there along with his favorite toy and old t-shirt of mine. He absolutely hates the crate and barks constantly while he's in there. I left him out today and left the radio on for him. I went home during my lunch break and the house was still in one piece and best of all no accidents. I'm hoping perhaps with the radio on and being out of the crate during the day he'll be quiet. I left plenty of toys for him to play with and gave him a small bone to chew on. I'm going to go to Petco tonight and get a Kong to put treats in to keep him occupied during the day. He still clings to me whenever I'm home but I'm hoping this new arrangement will make him feel better about being alone for awhile.

I found this article...hope it is helpful.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs, My dog has Separation Anxiety

Thanks Princes Mom. That was helpful. The instruction about the dog walking beside or behind you was enlightening. My dog currently runs ahead and tries to drag me along. I'm working with him on this, but whenever I give him the "short leash" he's so determined to get in front that he chokes himself. Just have to keep at it though. :)