Help please separation anxiety
 

ok here is the problem I went away to visit my family and took royce with me . for 3 weeks he was in a new environment 9 surrouded by people and my family house is huge ) now we came back to montreal i live alone with him in a small apartment and before i go to work I gate him in the kitchen with toys food water and leave the tv on . My neighbor told me that she heard my royce crying in the morning while i was at work .
What should i do ? should i stop gating him in the kitchen and let him roam free in my apartment ( small apartment ) . im really scared this will cause me problems as my building has a no pet policy . please any advise
before we go on our trip i used to leave him alone gated in the kitchen and he didnt cry so this is a new behavior .
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Royce's Mum
http://www.dogster.com/?270929

AWWW poor sweet baby. he only thing I can think of is to leave a shirt with your sent on it. I hope it gets better for you.

good luck
 

probably not the advice most people would give but I would get a playmate for him.

Try putting the Radio or TV on...with people voices. And those little Kong toys filled with something yummy might keep him busy for a while...

Maybe you should consider getting him a buddy...it doesn't have to be a Yorkie...a nice gentle Cat might be a good Companion.

Good Luck!


Francie

Sorry.... Long Winded Post!
 

Pixie was really bad when she was just a pup, and Charlie still has a bit of a whining problem... I've been doing almost all of the following and it's really helping. Pixie is "cured" and Charlie is a lot better than when I first got him.

- Leave a radio or TV on (my pups "watch" the Cartoon Network or Animal Planet all day!)

- Don't make a big deal of coming or going. Try to ignore your pup 10 minutes before and 10 minutes after you come/go. The bigger the deal you make it out to be the bigger the deal they'll think it is.... This is easier to do when you're busy getting ready for work in the morning than when you get home... They always have to go outside SO bad that I feel too guilty leaving them alone! I HAVE to take 'em outside the second I walk in the door!

- Give him a "busy" toy right before you leave. A treat ball or Kong stuffed full of goodies will keep him so busy he won't even notice you left. This works really well with my two. Plus, it teaches them how to play by themselves. They don't ALWAYS need you to have fun!

- Try leaving the apt for five minutes, then come back (again, don't make a big deal of it). Then once you can be gone for five minutes with no whining, increase it to 10... and so on.

- If you pup has figured out that grabbing your keys and putting your shoes on means you're leaving, try doing it at random points throughout the day - without actually leaving. It'll desensitize him to the cues that normally tell him you'll be gone for a while. Pixie had figured out that when I grabbed my keys and/or my purse it meant I was leaving - and she'd immediately start a barking frenzy. After just a couple days of carrying my purse or keys around the house, that stopped.

- Take him for a long walk or play vigorously for a good half hour or so before you leave... That way he's more likely to sleep instead of pace around the room whining. I'd get up 15-20 minutes so we could play fetch right before I left.

Other suggestions I've heard...

- Try getting a DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) plug in. It contains hormones normally secreted by mother dogs to help calm the puppies.

- See if a neighbor can check in a play for an hour or so during the day, that way he isn't alone as long... Or try a doggie day care! The day care near my house is $20 a day (I think!). In addition to the great socialization with other dogs, the "babysitters" will give the dogs a bit of one on one attention. I think some place will even teach them basic obedience commands!

awwwww poor baby! Separation anxiety is the worst!

I had this problem when we had a lab/blue tick hound mix. She was really attached to me because I was with her all day. We went away for a weekend and left her in a kennel where I know she got good care. The kennel has a great reputation and I know others who have used it. But, I think the separation was too much for her. When we came back, she was so happy to see us and seemed completely fine. But, only if I was with her at all times. If I left the room, she would follow me. I was okay with it, but then she would stand outside the bathroom door and cry when I took a shower. Broke my heart.

She had a favorite toy, it was a stuffed bear, so I made sure I handled it alot so it had my scent on it, and I took one of my old t-shirts and cut it and made a t-shirt for the bear. I would give it to her when I would leave or take a shower, and she would be fine. She would still wait outside the bathroom door, but she wouldn't cry. She would just lay there with her head on the bear lol

Anything with your scent on it will probably make him feel much better. Good luck! I know how frustrating it is because you hate to see them upset.