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02-01-2015, 03:39 AM | #1 |
Yorkie Yakker | Hello from Scotland! Could use your advice! Hello Everyone I'm Alexa, I am 24 and from Scotland! I'm Mummy to a nearly 8 Month old Yorkshire Terrier (Full Breed, no mix) Called Oscar. Oscar is my first Dog, so I've been a bit of an over protective Mother. I have no Children, but my Maternal side kicked in right way. I have a few questions that I would like to ask you all, I hope you don't mind? 1.) Oscar, HATES it when I leave him. I've been trying to leave him almost every day for 10-15 minutes and have recorded each session with my Webcam, so that I can see the progress. Unfortunately, all he does is bark (Very loudly) And howl. He tends to stay at the door. He doesn't play with his Toys, or even eat or drink (Until I come back) The reason I am having to fix this issue, is because I have a very nosey Neighbour who is in her 70s and loves to complain. She has knocked on my door repeatedly and told me: "If you don't get THAT horrible Animal under control I will report you to the Housing Association and get you kicked out of here!" I tried to explain to her that I need to leave him, so that he get's used to me leaving him. But she just yells over me and says she doesn't care, she will not put up with his barking. If she complains enough about me, she could actually manage to get me kicked out and become Homeless! :| I am a well behaved Neighbour, I don't have Parties, I don't play Music during the day, or at night. I don't have lots of Friends over. For a 20something year old, I am quiet and sensible, and if all she has to complain about is Oscar, then I should be laughing. But she has made my Life Hell. 2.) When he was younger, and I took him off the lead in the Park, he always came back when I called him. Recently he started ignoring my calls and just did his own thing. The last straw, was when he ran out the Park and ran into the Road. I just about had a fit. Without thinking, I just ran out after him without looking. You know how fast Yorkies can be, so I struggled to grab him. I just managed to chase him off the Road, for him to just run back on it! My Partner, luckily managed to grab him and no one was hurt. I cried for over an hour. I was in shock, thinking he could have died. The pain was unbearable. Oscar, of course was just sitting on my lap, licking my face, not really understanding why his Mummy was crying. It took about 2 Months for me to let him off the lead again. This time, I was with my older Brother, and he was fine for the first hour, playing and coming back to us. Then, he saw another Dog up ahead and was off. He ran over to the Dog, played with him for a few minutes, still ignoring our calls, and then ran off away from the Dog and started heading towards the Road again. I haven't let him off the lead again since then. And that was just after Christmas. I am just so terrified that he's going to keep running back, towards the Road and get killed. I don't know what to do! I feel cruel having him on the lead, because he loved to run about and chase other Dogs. Has anyone else been through this? How do I get him to come back again like he used to? I've tried having treats and all his favourites Toys with me. But none of that brings him back I'm sorry for the long, and probably very boring Post. I look forward to hearing from you all We are sending our good thoughts your way, Alexa and Oscar |
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02-01-2015, 05:43 AM | #2 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fishkill, ny, USA
Posts: 487
| I would suggest maybe putting him in a crate away from the door when you leave. This way he isn't allowed to be anxiously waiting at the door for your return. It may be a little more comforting for him to be confined in a smaller space while you are gone. As far as the leash goes I personally wouldn't let him off the leash. They are easily distracted and could run into trouble if unleashed as you have already experienced. Good luck and welcome to YT! |
02-01-2015, 05:44 AM | #3 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: GA, USA
Posts: 693
| I hear ya in the motherly instinct thing, I call my furbaby Kimchi my daughter and my mother refers herself as grandma, and my little niece thinks of her as a little cousin. One thing that may help when leaving him alone is leaving him with something that has your scent on it, like a toy or maybe a piece of clothing that he can chew on safely. Also giving him and interactive toy, something that'll keep his attention. As for the park off leash thing. I would never allow my girl off leash in open areas (only inclosed/fenced in) unless she was properly trained and even then, you'd have to consider that other people may not have dogs that are as nice or well behaved (also that people or wild animals may try and snatch her up). As pups they'll listen to you and not want to be far from your at first, especially in new places they are not familiar with, but they will get into the exploring mode the more comfortable and familiar the area is to them. So I wouldn't let her off leash anymore in any non-enclosed areas until she is at least properly trained to come at command, heel, etc. I'm fortunate that I have a doggie park at the place I take my girl to be groomed, they have a fenced-in large area I can let her off leash (which I'll only do if we're alone or with familiar dogs/people), otherwise, she stays on the leash (or as I prefer, harness).
__________________ R.I.P. Mick & Mandy (before 2010), Mila - 4/3/15, Chloe - 2/18/16, Kimchi - 6/2/2021 |
02-01-2015, 05:50 AM | #4 |
Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator | Hi and welcome to YT !! CONGRATS on your new baby, he sounds so precious! For the barking....this is a tough one, bc it may just take a good amount of time, to be honest. You may want to buy the Bark Genie -- and stand outside the door when you leave, and then each time he barks, try the Bark Genie...this may help...? Some people here have had very good luck w/ it. For the neighbor...since she just shouts over you and doesn't listen, what about writing her a little letter, explaining what's going on and what you're trying to do about it...and letting her know that you totally understand her frustration...give her some validation. For the running off, that's another tough one. NONE of my dogs will stay right by us if we're out and they see a dog -- so they are never, ever off leash. Some dogs just will not stick around if they see another dog.
__________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann | Pfeiffer | Marcel Verdel Purcell | Wylie | Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° |
02-01-2015, 06:01 AM | #5 |
Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: the land of high taxes
Posts: 123
| Hi. When I had my first Yorkie he would stress out and bark when we all left for work/school. I used all the above methods. I also bought a hard marrow bone from the pet shop and filled it with cheese or peanut butter. I froze it and gave it to him as a treat when we were home to see his reaction. He actually zoned out trying to get the stuff out of the bone. I started giving it to him each time we left. I even listened by the door for a few minutes after I left and heard nothing. When I got home (or the kids got home first) he was sleeping in his bed waiting for us. The bone distracted him. You might want to try it. I would also try and have that miserable neighbor "buy" into your issue. Maybe she would like to spend some time with your pup? Who knows, maybe she is miserable because she is lonely - who can resist these babies????? |
02-01-2015, 06:14 AM | #7 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chessington, Surrey, UK
Posts: 5,062
| Hello, and welcome fellow UK-er!!! The first question you ask is very, very difficult. Harry was the same when he was 'little' - but we didn't live with the horrible threat that you're under. What a nightmare for you I tried stuffed Kongs, play-penning him, getting someone to pop in - everything imaginable - but nothing worked. He, too, didn't eat, drink, or play with toys while I was out...in fact he still doesn't...he just waits for one of us to come home (I find that quite sad...). But having said that - time is probably what solved the barking problem - realising that we WOULD be coming home. I KNOW!!!! A pair of earplugs put in the envelope of the letter to your neighbour.... Your second question - well, I certainly wouldn't let Oscar off the lead, you just can't risk it. Now a LOT of people will disagree with me now...but I got Harry the longest Flexilead I could find - not the cord type, but the tape kind. To us, it has been an absolute saviour. I never use it when we're doing road-walking, but I always use it if we're in a park or somewhere that I don't know the boundaries. I truly wish you all the very best - and please keep us posted on your yucky neighbour Sally + Harry xx
__________________ Sally x |
02-01-2015, 07:01 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: FL, USA
Posts: 2,767
| Hi, welcome, and congrats on the new Yorkie baby. I understand barking is very annoying to neighbors who are powerless to stop it, and to puppy owners who don't want their babies missing them and barking the whole time they must be absent. Obviously, there are puzzle and treat toys, you could maybe create a sound dampened play and sleep space as far away from your neighbor's home, as possible, etc. Have you given any thought to maybe inviting the neighbor for tea so she gets to know you and your baby? If she is lonely, having a Yorkie work its magic on her might give you a puppy companion when you must be out and give her a bit of light in her life she might be missing. Just a thought. LOL About the roadway, though...some dogs do not ever seem to learn to respect that oh so dangerous boundary, so why chance it with the love of your life? I hope you find a solution that works.
__________________ - Cat Brody Mia BriaStormy |
02-01-2015, 07:17 AM | #9 | |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chessington, Surrey, UK
Posts: 5,062
| Quote:
There I am, shoving earplugs into the woman's ears - and you're inviting her to tea....amazing!!!
__________________ Sally x | |
02-01-2015, 11:31 AM | #10 |
Yorkie Yakker | I'll try the crate thing. Although, the reason I let him sleep in my Bed was because he just cried whenever I put him in there, and refused to sleep (I am too soft and he knows it!) See, I agree with you all here about not letting him off the leash, but my Partner and even Mother, think I am being ridiculous and mean, by not letting him off. I actually was very brave today and took him off and he was fantastic! He didn't listen, maybe once or twice, but he didn't wander like he did last time. But there was 3 of us with him, which is sort of why I took him off. That, and I was getting ganged up on by Partner and Mother. I'm putting this success down to luck though, to be honest. There weren't that many Dogs, and by the sounds of it, you all know how it is. The minute they see another Dog, there off! LunarBerry - My Mum calls herself Grandma and my Partner calls himself Daddy too. It's amazing the love you feel for them I usually let Oscar lie on my jumpers and hoodies. But if I do decide to try the crate then, I will leave him a few things that smell of me, and see if that helps. An interactive Toy, do you have anything in mind? He has hundreds of Toys. I'm afraid whenever I go out, I end up bringing him back a new Toy. Wylie's Mom - I've never heard of the Bark Genie, what is that? God, I must sound so silly. Can you tell this is my first Dog!? I could try and write her a letter I suppose, although I'm pretty sure she would just come down to yell at me more. Seastheday - I'll try that hard marrow bone trick, I never even thought of that! Hopefully he won't ignore it like he does everything else that I give him before I leave. I'm afraid she HATES Oscar, whenever she's yelling at me and then sees Oscar, she screams and points at him calling him "The Devil Dog" "The Horrible Beast" "A Thug" And so on. I wouldn't let her anywhere near him. She doesn't see him as a Cute, small Dog. She thinks he's disgusting. I've seen her yelling at the Cats that wander into our Street. I think she just may hate all Animals :| Dayswalter - I'll try the Radio idea, see if that helps him. Harrysmum - Hello fellow UK-er Yes, I have been under a lot of stress with my Neighbour. It's ok for her, but it took me 2 years to get the place that I am in. I lived in a Homeless Hostel for 2 years to get the Flat that I am in now. It would probably take me over 5 years to get another one! But she doesn't care about any of that, of course. That is so sad I wonder why they do it to themselves? Have they just become too attached? I sometimes wonder if it's my fault. I'm unemployed at the moment, so we do spend everyday together. We're rarely apart. The earplugs thing would be so funny! But she has no sense of humour, so I don't think that would go down so well! Haha. Navillusc - I'm afraid that I live in a Ground Floor Flat, and her whole Flat is above mines. My Living room is under hers, my Bedroom is under her Bedroom etc. So there isn't anywhere that is further away from hers. I wouldn't dream of having her in my Flat or anywhere near Oscar, as I said above ^ ^ She yells names at him, all the time. She may be lonely, but she revels in picking a fight with me. My other Neighbour told me that she made the last Tenants Life a misery, and constantly screamed at him. She complained so much about him, that they removed him from the property. I think she just enjoys being rude. I don't mean to sound harsh, but when she starts screaming and pointing at Oscar, there's not going to be any invitation to my door. Thank you all so much, for your lovely comments And for taking the time to speak to me. I hope that you are all having a brilliant day! Love Alexa and Oscar |
02-01-2015, 11:34 AM | #11 |
Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 74
| Hi, I'm from Scotland too Also 24 and loving being a Mummy to my little Pup! I'm at Uni and in 3 days a week, on 2 of those days Poppy is left in for approx. 3 hours alone. I crate her for that time. Likewise we recorded her the first couple of times and she howled and cried for a good half hour then slept and then howled again when she woke. I no longer record her simply because I was using my phone and can't leave it in the house. She is much more comfortable in the crate now though and my neighbours assure me they hear no noise from her. We got a medium/large sized crate for her though the first one I bought was a small and she was constantly knocking her water over. As long as your dog has room a toy, place to sleep and water he will be fine. Poppy actually retires to the crate of her own accord now at times. I have the smaller crate in my bedroom with her bed in it, I leave the door open at night and she goes between that and a pillow I place on the floor she likes to sleep in. I really wouldn't worry too much about the neighbour, if she compains to the council they will send the RSPCA out they will see a puppy (which at under a year he still is) who has a loving home end of. They will not take a dog away or evict you for a puppy whining when alone. Good Luck x |
02-01-2015, 11:42 AM | #12 |
YT 2000 Club Donating Member | To put the Recall command aka Come Command in perspective, particularly with a high value distraction (like socializing with another dog), takes many many hours of training. This is at least expected at advanced Obedience Titles. Until you have aThe reliable Come which you do not, then you will need to train him on lead for the Come Command. You can get a Flexi Lead or I prefer a long cloth 20ft lead, and practise outside in that Park with him on the Come Command. No off lead time I am afaird unless you are far inland from roads, and or in an enclosed area. The training is always structured to set up your dog for Success. You first must get a reliable come in house, both on and off lead. Then in your backyard (if you have one), then in the Park and only off lead when you can work safely with him off lead. One key is to train your dog so that you are the most interesting and exciting person to be around. Better than other dogs n toys. This takes a lot of commitment on your part. You start back to baby steps as it were. On lead and stand only 1.5 feet or so away from him, and Command Come. It is best to have built both a Toy drive in your dog as well as treats as pets for rewards. For the Barking - does he bark in the house when you are at home? Have you kept him in one room, then gone into another room yourself, and does he bark when you do this? This is where I would start with the barking. Will he bark if you leave but your partner stays home? The other idea is to get him into a training class immediately.
__________________ Razzle and Dara. Our clan. RIP Karma Dec 24th 2004-July 14 2013 RIP Zoey Jun9 th 2008-May 12 2012. RIP Magic,Mar 26 2006July 1st 2018 |
02-01-2015, 12:36 PM | #13 | |
YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Urbana, IL USA
Posts: 3,648
| Quote:
For the crate training, our Bella sleeps in a pet carrier (big enough for her to stand up and turn around in) that we set on the night stand so she can see us sleeping in the night. The first few nights, she whined a little for the first 10 to 20 minutes, but she got used to it, and now she expects it. If she needs to potty in the night, she will wake us up so we can take her out. Since Oscar is only 8 months old, he should still be young enough to train fairly easily. When we go out during the day, we leave Bella in the crate, with the lights and TV on, for up to four hours maximum without any problem. (Any longer, and you would have to make provisions for food, water, and a potty area--that would require a larger x-pen type of layout.) Bella barks sometimes when we're leaving, but she's asleep when we get home, so we think she probably sleeps most of the time we are away. The crate has a soft baby blanket lining the bottom, and we used to put one of her favorite toys inside to keep her company, but now we find that isn't necessary. A t-shirt with your scent on it might also be comforting. | |
02-01-2015, 01:14 PM | #14 | |
Donating YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Michigan USA & Sheffield UK
Posts: 4,119
| Quote:
If you don't have a safe, fenced in area to let your dog off-leash, then he shouldn't be let off-leash. Before i fenced in my back garden, i bought a long training lead so ZoE could explore safely.
__________________ Karan & ZoE (Chelsea ) | |
02-01-2015, 02:50 PM | #15 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chessington, Surrey, UK
Posts: 5,062
| Sorry - just a thought....so 'the neighbour' got a previous tenant removed? I wonder if it might be worth pre-empting her, and contacting your Housing Association yourself? Explain what's happening - point out her 'previous' - get a letter from your 'nice neighbour' if she would do that for you? I bet that 'lady' has quite the history....!!! Plus, as the others have said, whatever pressure you're under from your partner etc...it's just not worth the risk. Our littlies can, in the blink of an eye, just take off on a whim. Until you have total recall of Oscar - please reconsider Flexileads/long training leads etc....better safe than extremely sorry xx
__________________ Sally x |
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