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01-02-2012, 03:23 PM | #1 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: usa
Posts: 158
| Normal Puppy? - or separation anxiety? Cries when alone. I've had my puppy for only 12 days. He's a 2.5 lb, 13 week Yorkie mix. I'm having issues with him crying, whining, whimpering and sometimes letting out yaps when I leave him alone...even for a couple minutes or to go to the bathroom. When I'm with him he's pretty good, he'll chew things, run around, play etc. and he's very quiet. I take him around a lot in a portable crate/carrier during the day and he doesn't make a peep. So he's with me most of the day. In the 12 days I've had him the longest he was alone was for a 2 hour period and a 3 hour period of time. I have managed to get him to be OK in his crate/carrier at night sleeping next to my bed. Things that I've tried: -stuffing kongs -sometimes won't touch until I am close -bully sticks (he loves these but will often not eat them until I am back in the room watching him or with him) -walking in and out of the room to desensitize him -he whines & cries in his crate/carrier but I think less so than in his pen. I've fed him treats in the carrier a lot, and take him around in it alot during the day -leaving him gated in bathroom about 12 feet from where I do work (he will whine during this time, but sometimes won't) -leaving him in his play pen with toys, bed, pee pads, food water (this he's become more accustomed to and he will be ok in it, but often will whine/wimper even if i' 4 feet away) -if i go to the bathroom sometimes he whines as he sees me walk away or close the door -if i just go into the kitchen he whimpers -i try to ignore him if he whines/cries, is this the right thing to do? -i try to give him some attention if he stops whining for a moment -when i did leave him for 1-3 hours only a couple times, I left the radio on, left him in a play pen with toys, pee pads, etc. tons of chews, kong etc -WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO I'm going nuts!?? Things I might try: -thunder shirt? I don't know if there is one big enough for him because he's only 2.5 lbs now and will probably be 5 lbs -DAP diffuser? i ordered one but don';t know What's the longest you can be apart from one of these guys? I have a flexible work schedule, and often work from home, but there will be times when I can't take him places etc. I just feel so bad when he's crying and it's pretty loud/ makes me feel awful...is there any methods you recommend for this? Also, will he grow out of it? As a puppy, should I just try to keep him with me or with a friend at all times? Am I doing the right thing trying to train him to be alright by himself? Should I just try to leave him alone for longer periods and he will get "used to it?" I'm not sure whether this is normal or not? |
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01-02-2012, 04:51 PM | #2 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: ohio
Posts: 5
| Brewster is my shadow he goes everywhere I go. I have had him for five months now. The first month took him to get used to being alone. I work full time so he is alone for 8 hrs a day. He would whine and cry when I put him in his pen , but eventually stopped as he realizes now what time I will come home. He just needs some time. Don't go to him just for crying bc then he will know thats what he needs to do to get u in there. Just leave the toys...only ones that are durable enough to be left alone with him so he doesn't get bored. He will figure it out . They are very smart I have learned. Now brewster has gotten to where hr knows I'm leaving and just does not want put I'm his pen o have to bribe him with a treat or chase him around the house. |
01-02-2012, 05:01 PM | #3 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Gansevoort, New York
Posts: 134
| sounds like you are doing everything you can. yorkies are just like kids, they want you around, difficult to leave a kid @ daycare but while your leaving they cry, once you leave they are fine. your pup is very young & tiny, i am not an expert by any means, but as long as you leave the essentials & are not gone too too long the pup will be fine. probably a lot harder on you than him or her. good luck, you sound like an awesome parent. best of luck |
01-02-2012, 05:15 PM | #4 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: usa
Posts: 158
| Thank you guys. That reassures me a lot. I hope he will grow out of this. Any other advice or stories about your own puppies would be very appreciated. I'm just wondering if I should be keeping him at my side or in the same room most of the time OR should I be training him to be comfortable alone as I have been trying with him crying away from me? At what point could I leave him for longer periods and for how long? He's only 13 and half weeks old. I'm a man and I've been walking around with him in a bag a lot hahaha. But I'm fine with this at least for now. I just don't want to cause him long term trauma...the crying is pretty hard. Also I'm afraid my neighbors will start complaining when I eventually have to leave him for longer as he grows. i'm in a very dense apartment.! Last edited by YorkieMiki; 01-02-2012 at 05:17 PM. |
01-02-2012, 05:31 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Michigan USA & Sheffield UK
Posts: 4,119
| When I first got her, ZoE would cry whenever I was out of her sight. I never took showers so quick, cos she would whine & cry the whole time I was in there. Gradually she got better, and was fine as long as she knew where I was in the house. By 4 months she was no longer crying when she couldn't see me. It just takes time.
__________________ Karan & ZoE (Chelsea ) |
01-02-2012, 06:24 PM | #6 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada
Posts: 438
| when i first got meesha she'd cry when i went to the bathroom, i use to have to take her in the bathroom when i showered, she'd cry so i had to even pull back the shower curtain so she could see me, then i slowly started leaving her by herself when i'd go to the wahroom, when i got a shower, i'd let her cry for those short periods of time, its been 2 weeks and i can now get a shower or use the bathroom without her crying, its nice lol. i have to also take her everywhere with me too, i think she'll grow out of it, i'm noticing her become more independent with time. I'm terrified when i start working again thou,the salon where i worked closed due to new owners and rennovations, they'll be back up in the spring so i'm hopeing she'll be fine on her own by then:S |
01-02-2012, 06:56 PM | #7 | |
No Longer a Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Pasadena, CA US
Posts: 193
| Quote:
I find that talking to them as much as possible helps. No baby talk, just a conversation. I know it seems strange, but it is soothing to them. Especially talking while you leave the room and praising them when you return if there hasn't been any whining. Start small. My boys get to hear about everything, where I went, what I am making for lunch, a news story I've just read, a chat with my mom. They are my furry buddies I'm no expert on this, but it may be worth trying. | |
01-02-2012, 10:40 PM | #8 |
Donating YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 408
| Chloe was the same way. She would cry and howl when she was alone. Of course they go from being surrounded by their littermates and mom and then suddenly they are by themselves in a strange place. When I thought about it that way it helped me to understand her behavoir. I placed a water bottle in a pillow case for warmth and a ticking clock within earshot for her it is supposed to imitate the sound of a heartbeat. That seemed to help calm her. Really the thing that worked best was time. Just like human infants they are very needy when they are puppies. When I was home I gave her as much attention as I could and played with her ALOT. Keeping her active during the day also helped to eleviate some of her anxiety. I gave Chloe as much attention as I wanted. I spent a great deal of time with her and I dont know if this makes sense but for me it seemed as if the reassurance really helped her to adjust and now she is a pretty quiet dog. I would try the hot water bottle and clock it couldnt hurt Good Luck Tina |
01-04-2012, 12:12 AM | #9 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: usa
Posts: 158
| Thanks for you advice guys! I am going to try everything above. I also appreciate the stories, so I know I'm not alone haha. I was wondering if I am giving him too much attention? I am with him all the time. I do work on his alone time when I am working from home. I leave him crated or in his pen throughout the day as well even when I'm home to practice his alone time (often just an arms reach away or in the same room even though he whines). But I don't like to leave him alone and have been taking him around in a carrier on errands and stuff. Should I be leaving him at home more? He has only been home alone a few times the longest was 4 hours once (earlier today), and 2 hours once and a 3 hour period once. Is he too young to be left alone or should I start working on his alone time already? He's just 13 weeks old. Last edited by YorkieMiki; 01-04-2012 at 12:14 AM. |
01-04-2012, 12:16 AM | #10 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| No your not giving him too much attention he is just young and will become a little more independent in time
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
01-04-2012, 12:29 AM | #11 | |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| Quote:
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 | |
01-06-2012, 12:16 AM | #12 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: usa
Posts: 158
| I've been working on his obedience a little, playing with him lots, and getting him plenty of exercise. Also, I've been giving him alone time even when I'm home. All this seems to be working, somewhat. He still whimpers when I leave the room, but it's not the sound of a dog being abused like it was before LOL. Well now with all his new confidence, he's becoming more rambunctious... now my new issues with him are biting everything, tearing up his weewee pads (i live in an apartment and he hasn't got his last shots), and now digging at the rug.... ughhhh i'm pulling my hair out it's just one thing after another with this one!! |
01-06-2012, 01:56 AM | #13 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Vermont
Posts: 90
| We got Smokey at 5 months and to my knowledge, he has never whined or whimpered. Maybe its because I work from home and he is always with me. He sleeps in his crate beside the bed at night with no problem. I rarely leave him home alone, and then maybe for 2 hrs max. Havent heard any whining when I come back, but the windows are closed in our end unit townhouse condo, so I dont really know what's going on. I can say for sure that he is not (so far) destroying anything in the kitchen while I am out. When I had greyhounds, I got into the habit of leaving the TV on or a radio going when I am not around because that's what they were used to in their kennels. I dont know if this really works or not, but Smokey gets to listen to CNN and catch up on world events when I have to go out. I dont think you can give your puppy too much love and attention. They are only babies and will grow up all too soon. Follow your heart.
__________________ Smokey's personal assistant, Jeff |
01-06-2012, 03:05 AM | #14 |
I♥PeekTinkySaph&Finny Donating Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland
Posts: 18,865
| Maybe a little sweater would help keep him warm... and quiet... warmth is one thing they get from their littermates.... works on my older doggie too, lol! They are very social creatures.... I would only crate him when necessary (nighttime, naptimes and when you do go out).... some get quite pissy when the owner is there, but they are in their crate. (they think it's not fair!) PetsMart carries a Snugglebuddie, it looks like a dog, has a heartbeat ticker, and a microwaveable heat pad that all fit inside it... but a ticking clock and a sweater would accomplish the same thing (as the other poster mentioned).
__________________ Kat Chloe Lizzy PeekABooTinkerbell SapphireInfinity |
01-06-2012, 03:35 AM | #15 |
♥ Piccolo & Vivi ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kentucky
Posts: 14,311
| My sweet Piccolo cried and cried for the first month that she was home. Just broke my heart. (Though, she seemed to be fine when we went to work.) I just tried to keep her with me, when we were home. She still hates being separated from the pack, if we are here, and will carry-on like you would not believe. Though, she is much more independent now than as a puppy. I think it is normal behavior and especially normal for some young Yorkies. Hope things get better and you enjoy this puppy time.
__________________ Lisa, Dixie, and Jazzy (RIP Piccolo and Vivi) |
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