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"?

Awesome Website
 

check out this link to read all about Separation Anxiety. There is also a section on how to be a Pack Leader. I only have three words of advice.
Cesar Milan Books

Separation Anxiety in Dogs, My dog has Separation Anxiety

It's an herbal homeopathic liquid that you can get at Whole Foods (if there is one near you) or you can get it online. Contains essences from plants that have supposedly been known to help with reducing stress and anxiety. It's suppose to take the edge off...and there is one version for humans also. Make sure you get the one that says "for Pets."

This dog is clearly having effects from the mistreatment it had with it's other families
I think you're going to have to crate her for a while ..... when you are out
this will keep her movements down to a minimum and it will in turn clam her a bit more
The other thing you can try is first with you in sight distance place her in a pen with food and toys .... this may set up some boundary that she might accept for now
keep her in the pen for a good while if you can
then graduate to keeping her in the pen in the next room so she can hear you
you want o slowly graduate to where you can leave her for a few hours at a time

Great thanks and do you happen to know what the DAP plug in is?

It's a cartridge that you plug in the wall similiar to those room fresheners. It's dispenses phermones that are similar to a mother dog. Supposed to make the dog calm down. Humans can't smell it, but the dog can.

Thanks! I aprreciate the help! :thumbup:

really good advice... but I heard with the whole door trick to start at getting your purse and shoes on all of the stuff that you do right before you leave put it all on then go to the door... then stop take it all off sit down next to your little one... then do it all over again until your baby is ok with you just getting your stuff ready to go... then you move on to the next step such as just opening the door then you shut it and take off all of your stuff.. until your baby is comfortable then you can go out of the door... just what I have heard and saw... another trick is get a toy like Gina said a kong works great... and fill it with a treat and only leave it or let them have it while you are gone... ;) good luck to all of you!! i know its A LOT of work!!! but our babies are SMART!!! and they will catch on sooner rather than later ;)

We went through some of this with our rescue Yorkie and the only thing that worked is time and patience. She is MUCH better now and it has taken eight and a half months to get where we are today. It's a trust issue, they need to learn that you WILL come back and WILL NOT abandon them.

I had the same problem with my Lhasa Apso he went through anxiety very bad. I would come home and he would be sick in his crate and shiver and shake and his fur was wet from mouth to bottom of feet from panting so hard. I then decided that it was not going to work so I baby gated him in the front hall so he could see me leave and then see me when I was coming home that seemed to work, no more panting and no more getting sick. Sometimes if they can see you leave and then watch for you when you come back home I think makes them feel better. I hope this helps a bit.

Talked to the Doggy Behaviorist
 

Ok, I spoke to my connection, the behaviorist and boy was I glad I did. There are 5 things that need to happen all at the same time to help our babies get over Sep Anx. There are a few other things that go along with it and I am doing ALL OF THEM. It's hard but gotta do it!!

1. Desensitization- got through the motions of what you do when you leave (getting ready, makeup on, getting keys, jacket, shoes) the moment you see your dog react (follow you, cry, pace etc) stop and sit down, wait 3 min and start again. Do sets of 3, 3 min apart. Then wait 10 min and do again. Keep it up day after day until slowly your dog could care less about what you are doing. THIS TAKES WORK AND PATIENCE.

2. Positive association when you leave- give your dog something AMAZING when you leave. Something special, only given when you're leaving. We are trying something new-kong with cream cheese frozen. We tried it last night and it worked, he did not know we stepped out of door until he ate all the cheese. That's why we are freezing it, will take longer to get through. He has never had this treat and the newness is helping (not much yet).

3. Pharmaceutical support--all up to you. We are starting with DAP plug in and I also got some herbal supplements (neither have made a difference so far) and am THINKING about the prescription meds. She recommended Comicalm (sp?) and guaranteed me it would not hurt Snick. I believe her, just scared of the cost. They have seen a 65% recovery w/o meds, and a 30% (95% total) increase of recovery with meds.

4. Increase mental and physical exercise. Snick is now getting 2 walks a day as opposed to one. Mental exercise includes “Nothing is for free” training methods. Make your dog WORK for their food, no free feeding, no free treats, make him sit for everything. Etc. You can google this to learn more.

5. Clarify relation with your dog—BECOME PACK LEADER!! You decide when it’s play time, you decide when he eats, you decide when its time for him to come cuddle on couch, you decide when for everything. Don’t let your dog control you, you are the leader and your dog will respect you for it. I am guilty of this, I catered to Snickers and now I am paying for it.

A book that was recommended to me by the behaviorist was “I’ll Be Home Soon” by Patricia McConnell. I have ordered it off Amazon for 10 bucks.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

Woo Hooo!
 

Nice Work Vivian - way to go on being a Pack Leader!

Awesome, thanks Vivian! I printed these up and will let you know how they work. :)

Hi! Just a quick note, I didn't read every response 100% so if someone else mentioned this I apologize. My boys have seperation anxiety and used to eat/dig holes in the walls. I started leaving a radio on for them everyday. I used to get written up by the condo assoc for them barking while I was at work. Ive done this for about 2 years now and they have improved sooooo much. I think the radio drowns outside noises and gives them something to 'hear' so they don't feel so alone. I have not been written up in 2 years now, and they stopped destroying the house when I was gone. Try a radio or tv while you are out. Hope that helps!

YES!!!! Great advice! I do this too (but with the tv). Especially when there are thunderstorms. My little one is so anxious during thunderstorms and when the 4th of July comes around. It breaks my heart... :(:(:(