Major seperation anxiety
 

Please--suggestions anyone. Two weeks ago I got a 1 year old yorkie female---she had been owned by a couple of different families and was being kept outside in cold by last family. She looked pitiful when we got her. As long as I am right with her she is fine--gets a little too aggressive with my 6 month old male because of jealousy, but that is manageable. As soon as I have to leave her presence she goes beserk--jumps up and down barking, peeing and pooping, and will tear up anything she can get to--including the wallpaper off of my kitchen wall. I walk them about 1 hour every day so she's getting plenty of exercise. I've tried Rescue Remedy, some other calming med. from petsmart and DAP from vet--I've tried behavior methods of leaving for short amount of time and coming back as soon as she calms, but nothing is working--is there anything left for me to try. I know she isn't doing any of this on purpose and I don't fuss at her, but she's not any better than she was 2 weeeks ago. Crating won't work--the one time I tried it she thew herself against it until I was worried about her hurting herself. If anyone knows anything else please help. Sorry this was so long.
:animal-paSergeant and Bailey's mom:animal-pa

Wow..you pretty much have tried everything that I know of..I don't really know what other things to say but would keeping her in a playpen help instead of crating? Just an idea.

I haven't been crating her-only tried it once and it was so bad--I use a puppy gate that keeps her in the kitchen/dinning area--it's a really good size space, but size of space doesn't seen to matter--she just can't tolerate not being right with me.

This sounds awful! I don't have any suggestions for you, but I just wanted you to know that I feel for ya! This is the most serious case of seperation anxiety that I've ever heard of. Hopefully time will heal? You said you've had her for 2 weeks. Poor little thing, I feel bad for her. :(

Oh wow...this is almost like reading about my Lulu. I got her at 6 months from what I thought was a good breeder but some of her behavior worries me. I just wanted to tell you you are not alone...I hope someone has some advice to help.

HUGS!

Hi there,

My baby Bailey has the same problem EXCEPT he has grown out of the destroying phase. I've gone through 2 pet classes and 3 trainers. I've tried the same methods you've tried with no results. Bailey will be 5 years old this year. I guess i've just accepted the fact that he acts this way when I leave the house. I hope somoene has some good advice to give... wish I could be of more help... hang in there :0)

I'm dealing with the same...check out my thread in the Training section. I got some good pack leader advice and also am talking to a behavior specialist tomorrow, will let you know what info I get (promise!) Snick's Sep Anx is making me crazy. A few things I did today to help him...I put him in his babygate area while I was home, with his things. He rebelled, thinking I was leaving but when he saw me, he relaxed and went to sleep, got up, barked at me (horrible bark-like let me know out your meanie!) then I fed him in there and he ate well, then went to sleep again. I only did 1 hour today with him, I also went to get the mail to see if he went nutts and he didn't. It's all about having them in the same area while you are there and while you are gone. So they do not associate the area as you leaving...all psychology. I did get some herbal/natural supplements to take the egde off and the DAP plug in. Snick is the worst in the morning, so I have vowed to walk him in the morning and afternoon now. Will help me stay fit as well.....I'll let you know what the specialist says. No I am not paying for the professional advise, I found her through a connection at work, so no clue how much it would cost. So greatful for the connection!!!! Good luck...

It helps to know there are others out there, but I'm sad to hear you haven't found anything that helped---some even after years. Vivian, Please do get back to me--I never thought about place and association with leaving--thanks all!
Cathy

Also...another pack leader tip...dogs with Sep Anx should not sleep with their parents. I am guilty, I love Snick sleeping with us but understand how I am making his anxiety worse. Last night he slept in HIS bed in our bed. Slowly I am going to love it farther and farther and finally onto the floor. But I'm doing is slowly not to freak him out. Luckily he slept in his bed all night last night next to me, I thought for sure he would jump out to cuddle, but he didn't. Proves he likes his own space. Now, i just need him to love his space he stays in while we are away....ugh!!!!!! We can do this!!!!!!! For our babies, anything!

Since bringing Lulu home, she has slept in her own bed in our room. We get up in the am, go to the bathroom, eat and from that point on she is attached to my side. If I leave the room, she barks, whines and goes crazy and if she is with one of my sons or hubby does her darndest to come after me. When I have to put her in her x-pen while cleaning, etc, she paces back and forth, whining, yelping...and when we left her alone last week for a few hours she went crazy and started pushing her body against the sides of the pen while pacing and moved it a good 10 feet across the floor. I know about her behavior while we're gone because my mom (she lives with us) happened to be home on this particular day and heard her making such a big commotion and "rescued" her. I realize she loves being with us as we do being there with her but on the times we can't, I would like to know she is "ok" and not sad the whole time we're gone. We have tried the gradual thing but she isn't ok even for a little while...it breaks my heart...:(

Major seperation anxiety
 

what is the DAP plug in???

Separation anxiety can be a tough thing to conquer. She's afraid of losing you because she's lost everyone else she's ever loved in the past. She thinks that if she keeps you in view, you'll never leave her. Change is hard for animals.

I'm going to offer a combination of things for you to try. You may have to try them in conjunction with one another. Regardless, fixing this can be done, but it'll take a great deal of time and dedication.

Continue with the rescue remedy. it will help, but it's obviously not enough by itself.

First, start by leaving her in the house and closing the front door between you. Wait 3 minutes, open the door, love her up and give her a treat. A very small piece of hot dog works WONDERS as a treat (just not as a staple diet). Do this at least 5 times a day, each time for only 3 minutes. Use a stopwatch if you have to.

The next day, increase it to 4 minutes, the day after, 5 minutes and so on. A minute to a fearful dog seems like eternity, so go slow. She'll eventually learn to associate a great deal of love with your return and look forward to it.

As far as crating her, we have to make the crate a fun, safe and exciting place to be. Take a kong toy, pack it with peanut butter and put it in the freezer (you'll need at least 2). When you crate her, offer her the kong. Leave the door open at first so she can come out if she's scared. If she brings the toy, take it and put it back in the crate. When she goes in on her own, praise her and tell her how good a girl she is! Since the peanut butter is frozen solid, the only way she'll be able to get it out is by licking it. This is one of those "busy" toys and has the ability to keep her occupied for hours. If she gets interested enough in the kong, she might not notice you're gone. Either way, she'll learn to associate the crate with something pleasant, which is important.

I haven't gotten my baby as yet (few more weeks!) but my best friend has a yorkie who used to have MAJOR sep. anxiety. What she did to help the situation was never getting excited (I know it is soo hard) when she enters the room and see's Lucy, or never makes a big deal when she leaves. That started helping after awhile even though it is so hard to resist Lucy's precious little face! Another thing she did was if she wouldn't be home for awhile, she'd hire a credible dog walker or leave her at a doggy day care-not every day because these things can get very expensive-for a few hours. The more socialable Lucy became, the less anxiety she felt when she was alone all day. I know this could probably have the reverse effect but everything is worth a try! Good luck :D

Great advice! what is "Rescue Remedy"?