Separation Anxiety

[Bsulli719]

Hi, I have not been on here for quite a while, since I first got my puppy, Scout. She is an amazing dog, and I am so grateful for all of the puppy advice I was given on this forum. Well, I am back because I need some more advice. Scout was crate trained and did very well with it. She now has the run of the house while I am gone and has not been in a crate for over a year. Then quarantine happened. It has been a total reversal. She has major separation anxiety now that I am back to work outside of the home. I have a camera that I have used since I got her to monitor her at home and now I just see her at the front door howling and barking for HOURS. I feel terrible! I can’t go back to the crate because she literally has not stepped foot in one in so long. She is not causing any damage in the house, not going to the bathroom where she shouldn’t, etc. She simply barks and howls by the front door and it is not getting any better. Anyone have any suggestions? The advice I got on here before was spot on, so I am really hoping that you all can help again! Thank you!

PS. Scout is my first dog, and so many people told me not to get a Yorkie because they are yappy, hard to potty-train, etc., etc. I am SO GLAD I didn’t listen to them. I will ALWAYS have a Yorkie!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bsulli719

Hi, I have not been on here for quite a while, since I first got my puppy, Scout. She is an amazing dog, and I am so grateful for all of the puppy advice I was given on this forum. Well, I am back because I need some more advice. Scout was crate trained and did very well with it. She now has the run of the house while I am gone and has not been in a crate for over a year. Then quarantine happened. It has been a total reversal. She has major separation anxiety now that I am back to work outside of the home. I have a camera that I have used since I got her to monitor her at home and now I just see her at the front door howling and barking for HOURS. I feel terrible! I can’t go back to the crate because she literally has not stepped foot in one in so long. She is not causing any damage in the house, not going to the bathroom where she shouldn’t, etc. She simply barks and howls by the front door and it is not getting any better. Anyone have any suggestions? The advice I got on here before was spot on, so I am really hoping that you all can help again! Thank you!

PS. Scout is my first dog, and so many people told me not to get a Yorkie because they are yappy, hard to potty-train, etc., etc. I am SO GLAD I didn’t listen to them. I will ALWAYS have a Yorkie!

Yorkies make wonderful pets, watchdogs. She's barking out of frustration that you have left her alone, calling her pack leader back because she loved the at-home arrangement. She's likely wondering what happened, bored to tears & desperately trying to fix it all.

I'd start by leaving TV sound, a radio talk show on during the time you are gone. Leave her with the night clothes you just slept in so your potent scent level in house stays high, reassuring her, w/numerous treat-loaded puzzle toys, lots of interactive toys you've shown her how to use, chew toys.

When you're home, weekends, holidays, nights, gradually desensitize her that by going out, you'll leave her with your familiar scent -your nightshirt, gown, etc., drop a treat going out of door, you'll stay out 1 - 10 mins., gradually increasing time out, return, greet, love her up & then repeat, gradually increasing time outside. Replace clothing article as its scent fades during desensitization training.

Eventually, outside you'll get in your car, drive around block, come back, gradually increasing length of drive times but sooner rather than later, you always return. Eventually, smart dogs finally grow accustomed to being on their own, learn to sleep, play, etc., to busy themselves or tune out until mom/dad back. Can't emphasize enough how recently worn clothing, old socks you've worn to load w/scent, night clothes, sound of human voice on TV/radio can reassure nervous dog mom's scent is strong, human voice in the air and she or dad back soon.

[yorkietalkjilly]

P. S. Try leaving your scent-loaded garment and those treat-loaded puzzle toys, chewies by the door or where she seems to spend most of her time calling for you.

[Bsulli719]

Thanks for the great advice. I have not heard about the clothes. I heard about that when she was a puppy, but never thought about it with her as an adult. Good to know. I had someone suggest pheromones in the way of a collar or a plug-in. They also suggested CBD. Any thoughts on those? I am hesitant because the reviews seem to be 50/50 and my understanding of CBD is that there has not been enough research when it comes to animals.

Thanks again for your advice!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bsulli719

Thanks for the great advice. I have not heard about the clothes. I heard about that when she was a puppy, but never thought about it with her as an adult. Good to know. I had someone suggest pheromones in the way of a collar or a plug-in. They also suggested CBD. Any thoughts on those? I am hesitant because the reviews seem to be 50/50 and my understanding of CBD is that there has not been enough research when it comes to animals.

Thanks again for your advice!

I first use common sense, well-reviewed positive dog handling techniques, desensitization, helping that baby come to realize being alone will not hurt her and mom/dad showing me with patience, love, positive reward, they're coming back soon. Some dogs feel more secure as long as our potent personal scent level stays high, have toys that dole out treats as they play with them, have fun interactive puzzle to solve for treats, familiar sounds of voices to be heard, shown you'll always be back and gradually accept new circumstances that don't scare or hurt them.

You can always resort to other positive, unharmful methods if your dog is hurting itself, destroying things, losing weight/hair, but smart dogs soon adjust to a life of spending time w/out humans around, coming to know we'll be back. But why dose a dog w/scent it dislikes when it is already feeling insecure alone, when you prob. don't need aversion therapy that can further worry, upset an insecure dog.

[Bsulli719]

Good point. Thank you! She is not destructive in any way, never has been, so I think you are correct. It doesn’t make sense to go to drastic measures. She’s definitely a creature of habit. Tomorrow will begin the process...thanks!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bsulli719

Good point. Thank you! She is not destructive in any way, never has been, so I think you are correct. It doesn’t make sense to go to drastic measures. She’s definitely a creature of habit. Tomorrow will begin the process...thanks!

Just bear in mind that problems that seem so bad at first, a smart, stable, self-confident dog will soon figure out less riotous ways of coping, begin to use their own calming responses on their own, because most dogs need a lot of sleep, eventually get that wild barking uses needless, unproductive energy and grow tired eventually, aren't so nervous, worried when the same things that triggered the worrisome antics keep happening w/no really bad effects on the dog, i.e., she's not hurt, made physically uncomfortable, starved, repetitively frightened or put in danger by the repetitive happening of your going out of the door. The dog dislikes being alone now but most of them fairly quickly begin to accept their less fun way of spending the day w/out you, same as you adjust to working without her, fighting traffic, dealing w/workplace stresses again as you go back to your company.

Don't prolong your goodbyes, make going out of the door matter-of-fact, drama-free and just use the tools you have at hand to help that little one adjust, begin to accept her new normal. She will. Eventually, she'll likely begin to spend her days on your bed or wherever she feels closest to your scent, napping, busying herself patroling around her perimeter as watchdog, napping again on the couch, in her bed, back to the front door, or your bed, until your happy return.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bsulli719

Good point. Thank you! She is not destructive in any way, never has been, so I think you are correct. It doesn’t make sense to go to drastic measures. She’s definitely a creature of habit. Tomorrow will begin the process...thanks!

She sounds like s normal, basically confident dog, secure in you and herself, just frustrated to the point of expressing her frustration aloud with this lonely change in her lifestyle. Left unchecked, occas. dogs do escalate beyond the release of barking into urinating, defacating, intense chewing on your things where your personal scent is strongest such as your bed, sleeping pillow, place on the den couch, favorite lounge chair, shoes, a favorite purse, cell phone, iPad, things you frequently use, then leave lying within the dog's reach.

Dogs don't understand vengence but sometimes when left alone, may seek out comforting themselves on your items to vent their frustrations, nervous energy when facing change in their lifestyle, their custodian's absence when barking fails to satisfy. Some dogs begin to love the release felt with their own active barking to use excess adrenalin, become habituated to it in an OCD-like addiction so it's good to intervene as humanely as possible to help them turn back to their own calming responses and learn how to better cope with your help. Dogs have no books, jobs, internet, TV, etc., to help them bear up so often may need our help learning how to manage themselves better when alone and most play some while still young, snoop around their house, watch/listen outside through windows, sniff passing interests, patrol their premises and learn to nap during their alone time.

[Ken_AC4RD]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

I first use common sense, well-reviewed positive dog handling techniques,... and mom/dad showing me with patience, love, positive reward, they're coming back soon. .

Very good advice! This reminds me of something I've believed ever since my first Scottie, as a boy: terriers are very smart, and a lot of problem behavior can be worked through just with patience, love, and discussion.

Yes, discussion. Example: one very dear male puppy liked to chew leather things. I sat down with him and my chewed-up belt in my lap, and said in a loving voice, "We will always make sure you have plenty of chew toys, but please don't chew my things, OK?" And Packy never chewed anything of ours again, only his toys.

Most dogs I've known take a little more work, but I'm convinced that you can TALK to terriers, and discuss what's on your mind. "Cricket, can you please let me know when you need to go out?" (That one is taking a bit longer but she's clearly getting the idea.)

You probably think I'm crazy. :-) But dogs are smart, terriers are smarter, and dogs want to please us. Calm patient discussion really can work!
.

[Bluebells]

You’ve gotten a lot of excellent advice, so I’ll just add this: if I were you, I’d also spend some time reintroducing crate training for Scout. I’m not saying she should be confined to a crate for hours while you’re away at work, since she’s trustworthy with the run of the house, but I’m a strong proponent of crate training in general for dogs. Most dogs are happy and secure in their crates once they’ve been crate trained, and that’s a very good thing, especially in case of emergency. Unfortunately, bad things do sometimes happen to dog owners or their homes (illnesses, deaths, fires...) and a dog who is happy and secure in a crate can usually handle those disruptions better than one who is not crate trained.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Bluebells

You’ve gotten a lot of excellent advice, so I’ll just add this: if I were you, I’d also spend some time reintroducing crate training for Scout. I’m not saying she should be confined to a crate for hours while you’re away at work, since she’s trustworthy with the run of the house, but I’m a strong proponent of crate training in general for dogs. Most dogs are happy and secure in their crates once they’ve been crate trained, and that’s a very good thing, especially in case of emergency. Unfortunately, bad things do sometimes happen to dog owners or their homes (illnesses, deaths, fires...) and a dog who is happy and secure in a crate can usually handle those disruptions better than one who is not crate trained.

I couldn't agree more. A dog should love spending time in his/her own secure crate, the experience being sweetened by luscious treats tossed inside, fun interactive, treat-dispensing puzzles/toys, safe chewies inside, along w/a recently worn tee-shirt or other item of your unwashed clothing. Teach your dog to enter into her crate voluntarily, tossing in a treat/ball/chewie/piece of your scent-heavy clothing in to encourage ready entry on her own, if nothing else to enjoy what you've just tossed into the crate and then reams of praises, clapping when she's in, the door closed as you laugh and keep her buoyed up. Always make it a thoroughly happy experience when you entice your dog into the crate, using a high, happy, laughing voice, smiling at her to keep her in an enthusiastic mood as she goes into her crate on her own.

As I pass by the crate in the course of the day, I pat it, rub it, say, "Oh, GOOOOOD crate" and smile so the dog keeps getting reinforcement that the crate is a good, happy place, even when she's not in it, she's still getting the message we love that crate experience. When she's in it, I keep up the patting, praising, toss in another treat occas. to keep her expecting good things when in the crate. Make a happy game of her going into the crate to retrieve a ball/treat, usually coming right back out but other times having the door closed and leaving her in it for a time, praising/treating generously when she is permitted out again. She should be trained to feel that crate is one of life's good, safe sanctuaries all for her, accepting it readily even when she'd rather be with you or lounging on the couch.

Part of being a pet dog is spending time in a crate, during emergency situations, at the vet, groomer, boarding, during travel, house cleaning/repairs, wild, unruly visiting kids or a visiting dog/cat in the house that could hurt her before they get to know, accept each other. Crate time training is absolutely essential to having a happy, secure, stable dog, equipped to do whatever is necessary to accept, remain calm when crated when the situation requires it.