Please help- need advice for our Yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Sne53 · 01-18-2011, 06:50 PM

Hi! My husband and I are in need of advice for our little yorkie- Gizmo. Our little guy seems to be suffering from separation anxiety ( or at least we think that could be it). Whenever we leave, he barks a lot and poops or pees in his crate. This has been an issue since we got him when he was 4 mths old which is over 8 months ago now. We have tried EVERYTHING possible- kong in crate, music, dog walker, dog trainers, DAP, going to vet and getting him tested ( which everything came out negative for any kidney problems), premium food ( he eats Merrick- No Grain food), etc. He was doing great with the dog walker but then all of sudden the peeing and pooping started again. He is doing it now before she comes or after she comes and she comes for him twice a day .

Our trainers are even baffled by his behavior. He can't be left alone it seems for more then 3 hours without having some sort of accident. Also he doesn't even mind sitting or being in it. We have made the crate as wonderful a place as possible by feeding him in it and having him sleep in it next to our bed. Any advice would be wonderful because we are at our wits end and are now debating about finding him a home where someone is always around- not something we want to do at all.

LaurenPatrice · 01-18-2011, 07:35 PM

Hi, welcome to YT. I may not be much help but have you tried an ex pen with potty pads? You could put his crate in the ex-pen and then he could get out of the crate to do his business on the potty pad. This is the only solution I can think of. I hope someone comes along that knows more about this problem because I've never heard of a dog doing this. Best of luck, and I sure hope you don't have to rehome him because of his problem.

AprilLove · 01-18-2011, 07:36 PM

Have you tried an expen?
Put his bed at one side and a peepee pad on the othet. Try leaving a easy listening radio station on when you leave. Also dont make a big deal of it when you leave, as that can cause him more anxiety.

Katrinka · 01-18-2011, 08:45 PM

My Chloe did this and I too felt helpless, the vet told me I could put her on anxiety medication so perhaps you could look into that, I know that no one wants to medicate their baby but if she is this stressed it may help. I decided not to do the medication because I was able to take her with me everywhere (in a dog purse) and my job allows me to have her with me as well, I did this for the first year and now she is to the point where she can stay by herself. It may also help to have another dog as a companion. She has a big brother and they keep each other company, however if one is left without the other the one that is left throws a fit but nothing like the separation anxiety I was dealing with before. I know how stressed you must feel, believe me, at work I couldn't even walk out of the room to use the restroom without her squealing like a pig and messing her crate

. I felt like I was constantly cleaning up messes and bathing her, I felt like I had a newborn human baby and it was tough. You said you have tried many things and nothing has worked, try sticking with one thing for an extended period. The person that comes twice a day does she come at the same exact time everyday?

Mom to Hot Rod · 01-18-2011, 10:54 PM

I would suggest and expen with his crate/bed, potty pad and food and water. Also, have you tried leaving for a few seconds at a time? Sounds silly but if you get him used to you leaving and coming right back, it might alleviate some of his anxiety of you leaving.

I have suggested to others to go out a door and literally come back in in a second or 2. Keep doing this so your little guy will see that you come back. You may even want to try and treat him if he doesn't bark when you leave and come back in. Keep doing this over and over, several times a day or each day.

I kinda did this inadvertently...I forget things when I leave so I usually wind up needing to go back in, lol. But as a result, my 2 just look at me and tilt their little heads about the 4th time I come back in, lol. Most of the time they are already across the living room when I come back in.

Good luck.

dands · 01-18-2011, 11:16 PM

I really like the advice above. We've done that to our dog too, leave and come back. It's important when you do this to not make a big deal of leaving or coming back. Don't even say bye or anything, just walk out and back in as if it's not a big deal at all

Also Victoria stillwell shows how to do this. Perhaps look up her videos online

Sne53 · 01-19-2011, 06:13 PM

Thank you everyone for the awesome responses! Being new to Yorkietalk I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to fellow yorkie owners such as yourselves. I really like all the suggestions.

In terms of the ex pen- we do have one and have tried leaving him in it with his crate. However, he has managed to climb out of it. One time I was watching how he was doing it and luckily I was there because he got his paw stuck and couldn't get loose. So we decided to not let him stay in it just in case he does do something like that again.

The dog walker does come at the same time each day. That is why we found it odd that he would go before or in between her visits.

We are definitely going to try leaving for a few seconds and coming back in. Do we do this when are actually leaving the house as well or just when we are already home?

Mom to Hot Rod · 01-20-2011, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sne53

Thank you everyone for the awesome responses! Being new to Yorkietalk I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to fellow yorkie owners such as yourselves. I really like all the suggestions.

In terms of the ex pen- we do have one and have tried leaving him in it with his crate. However, he has managed to climb out of it. One time I was watching how he was doing it and luckily I was there because he got his paw stuck and couldn't get loose. So we decided to not let him stay in it just in case he does do something like that again.

The dog walker does come at the same time each day. That is why we found it odd that he would go before or in between her visits.

We are definitely going to try leaving for a few seconds and coming back in. Do we do this when are actually leaving the house as well or just when we are already home?

I would do it while you are at home. Literally, practice it several times at once. I was told by my trainer that a quick 5 minutes of training is easy to keep up with. You may not want to do this for 5 minutes, lol, but I would suggest maybe 4, 5 or maybe 6x. As you see any type of reaction such as him getting more used to you "going out", stretch the time out longer. You will be able to see him getting calmer. Before you know it, he'll be so used to you coming and going. and definitely don't make a fuss as you leave and come in as someone above suggested. Just be very matter of fact about it.

alaskayorkie · 01-20-2011, 10:28 PM

You might look into a covered xpen or playpen. I've heard good thinks about them from people with good climbers.

Here's one I found on a quick google search. You might want to shop around.

BestPet Zebra Pet Tent Exercise Pen Playpen Dog Crate XS

TLC · 01-21-2011, 07:43 AM

Hi there...He is only 8 months old...They DO regress in the training (sorry to say), but this is when you start back at the beggining to get back on track. Not sure he needs a new home, just back to training again

Sne53 · 01-21-2011, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TLC

Hi there...He is only 8 months old...They DO regress in the training (sorry to say), but this is when you start back at the beggining to get back on track. Not sure he needs a new home, just back to training again

Hi! Gizmo is 1 year old now. We are consistent with the training. We practice everyday

TLC · 01-21-2011, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sne53

Hi! Gizmo is 1 year old now. We are consistent with the training. We practice everyday

oh ok....

My two weren't 100% until they were 1.5 y/o - terriers have a mind of their own

Hobofan · 01-21-2011, 02:40 PM

Our dog turned 1 last month and we had issues with separation anxiety as well -although not to the extent that you are unfortunately dealing with. I read the article below and took from it what I thought would help Hobo and began to practice. We've been working on this for about 2 months and we are seeing improvement.

http://http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/separation-anxiety-in-dogs.html

Good luck with Gizmo.

Rhonda

01-18-2011, 06:50 PM	#1
Sne53 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somerset, NJ USA Posts: 7	Please help- need advice for our Yorkie Hi! My husband and I are in need of advice for our little yorkie- Gizmo. Our little guy seems to be suffering from separation anxiety ( or at least we think that could be it). Whenever we leave, he barks a lot and poops or pees in his crate. This has been an issue since we got him when he was 4 mths old which is over 8 months ago now. We have tried EVERYTHING possible- kong in crate, music, dog walker, dog trainers, DAP, going to vet and getting him tested ( which everything came out negative for any kidney problems), premium food ( he eats Merrick- No Grain food), etc. He was doing great with the dog walker but then all of sudden the peeing and pooping started again. He is doing it now before she comes or after she comes and she comes for him twice a day . Our trainers are even baffled by his behavior. He can't be left alone it seems for more then 3 hours without having some sort of accident. Also he doesn't even mind sitting or being in it. We have made the crate as wonderful a place as possible by feeding him in it and having him sleep in it next to our bed. Any advice would be wonderful because we are at our wits end and are now debating about finding him a home where someone is always around- not something we want to do at all.

01-18-2011, 07:35 PM	#2
LaurenPatrice YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Louisiana Posts: 555	Hi, welcome to YT. I may not be much help but have you tried an ex pen with potty pads? You could put his crate in the ex-pen and then he could get out of the crate to do his business on the potty pad. This is the only solution I can think of. I hope someone comes along that knows more about this problem because I've never heard of a dog doing this. Best of luck, and I sure hope you don't have to rehome him because of his problem. __________________ Mommy to Remy and Winston

01-18-2011, 07:36 PM	#3
AprilLove My Three Hearts Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wrapped around their paws :-) Posts: 7,190	Have you tried an expen? Put his bed at one side and a peepee pad on the othet. Try leaving a easy listening radio station on when you leave. Also dont make a big deal of it when you leave, as that can cause him more anxiety. __________________ MaryKay AprilLove Wubs Moosie R.I.P. Bailey & BitsyRoo

01-18-2011, 10:54 PM	#5
Mom to Hot Rod Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD Posts: 10,908	I would suggest and expen with his crate/bed, potty pad and food and water. Also, have you tried leaving for a few seconds at a time? Sounds silly but if you get him used to you leaving and coming right back, it might alleviate some of his anxiety of you leaving. I have suggested to others to go out a door and literally come back in in a second or 2. Keep doing this so your little guy will see that you come back. You may even want to try and treat him if he doesn't bark when you leave and come back in. Keep doing this over and over, several times a day or each day. I kinda did this inadvertently...I forget things when I leave so I usually wind up needing to go back in, lol. But as a result, my 2 just look at me and tilt their little heads about the 4th time I come back in, lol. Most of the time they are already across the living room when I come back in. Good luck. __________________ www.kissecollar.com Soft Cone Collars for Post-surgery and much more! 10% (non-food) - Discount code YT10

01-20-2011, 10:28 PM	#9
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	You might look into a covered xpen or playpen. I've heard good thinks about them from people with good climbers. Here's one I found on a quick google search. You might want to shop around. BestPet Zebra Pet Tent Exercise Pen Playpen Dog Crate XS __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

01-18-2011, 08:45 PM	#4
Katrinka Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: May 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 85	My Chloe did this and I too felt helpless, the vet told me I could put her on anxiety medication so perhaps you could look into that, I know that no one wants to medicate their baby but if she is this stressed it may help. I decided not to do the medication because I was able to take her with me everywhere (in a dog purse) and my job allows me to have her with me as well, I did this for the first year and now she is to the point where she can stay by herself. It may also help to have another dog as a companion. She has a big brother and they keep each other company, however if one is left without the other the one that is left throws a fit but nothing like the separation anxiety I was dealing with before. I know how stressed you must feel, believe me, at work I couldn't even walk out of the room to use the restroom without her squealing like a pig and messing her crate . I felt like I was constantly cleaning up messes and bathing her, I felt like I had a newborn human baby and it was tough. You said you have tried many things and nothing has worked, try sticking with one thing for an extended period. The person that comes twice a day does she come at the same exact time everyday?

01-18-2011, 11:16 PM	#6
dands Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Temecula Posts: 181	I really like the advice above. We've done that to our dog too, leave and come back. It's important when you do this to not make a big deal of leaving or coming back. Don't even say bye or anything, just walk out and back in as if it's not a big deal at all Also Victoria stillwell shows how to do this. Perhaps look up her videos online

01-19-2011, 06:13 PM	#7
Sne53 YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Somerset, NJ USA Posts: 7	Thank you everyone for the awesome responses! Being new to Yorkietalk I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to talk to fellow yorkie owners such as yourselves. I really like all the suggestions. In terms of the ex pen- we do have one and have tried leaving him in it with his crate. However, he has managed to climb out of it. One time I was watching how he was doing it and luckily I was there because he got his paw stuck and couldn't get loose. So we decided to not let him stay in it just in case he does do something like that again. The dog walker does come at the same time each day. That is why we found it odd that he would go before or in between her visits. We are definitely going to try leaving for a few seconds and coming back in. Do we do this when are actually leaving the house as well or just when we are already home?

01-21-2011, 07:43 AM	#10
TLC Slave to My Rug-Rats Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Long Island Posts: 7,247	Hi there...He is only 8 months old...They DO regress in the training (sorry to say), but this is when you start back at the beggining to get back on track. Not sure he needs a new home, just back to training again __________________ Adopt Donate Foster www.yorkie911rescue.com

01-21-2011, 02:40 PM	#13
Hobofan Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chesterfield, VA, USA Posts: 60	Article to pass along Our dog turned 1 last month and we had issues with separation anxiety as well -although not to the extent that you are unfortunately dealing with. I read the article below and took from it what I thought would help Hobo and began to practice. We've been working on this for about 2 months and we are seeing improvement. http://http://www.dog-obedience-training-review.com/separation-anxiety-in-dogs.html Good luck with Gizmo. Rhonda __________________ Hobofan