Help! My Fuzzy gets soo lonely he shakes - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Fairzyorkie · 11-23-2008, 11:17 AM

I have a one year old Yorkie - Mr. Fuzzy. Each morning when we leave for work and school he hides under the couch and gives me a look that breaks my heart. And once we come home he jumps around shaking and shivering so horribly that I've considered giving him away to someone who's home all day. Today, he peaked around the kitchen cabinets with his ears down

Does anyone else have this problem? What have you done to ease your dog's blues? I don't want to be selfish if he needs more attention during the day but the thought of giving him to someone and they don't take care of him makes my stomach ache

marcerella02 · 11-23-2008, 11:21 AM

i'm pretty sure the shaking and shivering is excitment. Layla shakes when she gets excited and just doesn't know what to do with herself

as long as his gums are pink and he has food/water down i'm sure it is excitment - he is still pretty young. Layla is 2.5 and the "excitment" goes away

she is very excited to see me stil but isnt shaking like she did when she was younger. Do you walk him before you leave and when you get back? Is there someone who can maybe come for an hour to let him out? I'm sure he is fine during the day (Many yorkies here are alone during the day and do great) but it might help make you feel better.

marcerella02 · 11-23-2008, 11:24 AM

Also you might consider starting a :routine: before you leave. When I leave a put a blanket down on the stairs (where she hangs out all day) I give her her Kong with something good in there (maybe you could try peanut buttter or something) and then i tell her - Layla i will be RIGHT back. So when all of these things happen- she knows 1) she gets a GREAT treat that she only gets when i leave -which takes her attention off that i'm leaving) and 2) oh when this happens- mom goes and then comes back! They start to know what to expect. Then when i come home i give her a special treat and out we go for a walk. Do you leave the TV on for him? Does he get the whole run of the house?

SamiNFurbabies · 11-23-2008, 11:26 AM

Are you sure he is not hungry?
Have you tried slowly getting him used to being alone?
Have you considered doggy daycare (I know, expensive) or perhaps letting him stay with a friend with a dog?
Does he get toys to play with when you are gone?
Have you considered getting him acclimated to a crate (where he'll feel safe and secure)?
Have you considered walking him and tiring him out (as someone suggested in another thread) before you leave him?
Do you give him a treat before you leave?
He does not need someone to be home all day---he just needs to get used to his new routine.

Fairzyorkie · 11-23-2008, 12:00 PM

I haven't tried giving him a treat before I leave and when I return. I like that idea. But every morning we do tell him we love him and will be back . We also leave a light on and the t.v.
I walk him before I leave and after I get home. Otherwise he will pee on the first thing he finds! Fuzzy is a very picky eater so sometimes he has eaten before we go and other times he hasn't. I haven't seen a pattern in his "shakiness" associated with food.
I'm kinda hoping it's something he will grow out of and pray it's not separation anxiety!

Fairzyorkie · 11-23-2008, 12:04 PM

Sorry, I missed a few points. He does have toys, pet sitting in Philly is absurd and the only place near my office was booked solid! I haven't found in one to check on him but when one person offered she wanted me to guarantee that he wouldn't pee on her rugs...... I can't even guarantee that he won't pee on my rugs! LOL!
But thanks again for the tips - I'll run him around a lot more in the morning and try giving him a treat!

SamiNFurbabies · 11-23-2008, 12:26 PM

Does someone see him mid-day to take him out or play with him?
How is he potty trained?
It's good that you walk him before you leave... I would continue doing that.
Izze used to hate me leaving her at home---now she is excited because that means she'll get a bonemarrow milkbone cookie and a small bit of swiss cheese.
It's good that you leave the tv on and provide treats--- does he have a crate that he can feel secure? I kennel Chachi and Suzie... I leave a dog bag open for Molly (and she stays there all day)... Izze hates crates(she's a rescue 3x rehomed, came from a puppymill or shady breeder so it is understandable), but the others love it and it's a nice place where they can feel secure and relax. I would close the kennel until he feels comfortable.
He could have separation anxiety---but that doesn't mean it can't be worked out. All four of mine had it at one time and they are all better now. I don't think that you'll rehome him

You love him too much.
Just try to be patient.
I must say that it helps that I have multiple.

marcerella02 · 11-23-2008, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairzyorkie

I haven't tried giving him a treat before I leave and when I return. I like that idea. But every morning we do tell him we love him and will be back . We also leave a light on and the t.v.
I walk him before I leave and after I get home. Otherwise he will pee on the first thing he finds! Fuzzy is a very picky eater so sometimes he has eaten before we go and other times he hasn't. I haven't seen a pattern in his "shakiness" associated with food.
I'm kinda hoping it's something he will grow out of and pray it's not separation anxiety!

dont' just give him a treat he can gobble- try a puzzle toy or a kong stuffed with soemthing- to take his mind off the fact that you have left. And you know he has at least eaten something during the day. I stuff Layla's with treats and then find a big treat to plug the whole and it takes her a good while to get out.

You should try maybe a web cam to ease your mind- i'm sure he just sleeps all day. Many dogs are upset when their owners first leave and then kinda just forget about it- and then he is reminded of your return when you come home. Also he is still young- Layla used to get VERY upset when i would leave- up until she was a year and a half and then one day- she just didn't care anymore. She would bark and cry when i left- so since he isn't doing that when you leave- it's a good sign. If you ARE worried that it is food induced (although it sounds like youd ont' think it is) Try leaving out wet food for him before you leave- this way you know he IS eating when you are gone (dogs tend to REALLY like wet food)

hope this has been some help. i think if you set out a routine and give him a VERY special Kong before you leave he will start to put two and two together and get that yup you leave but then you come home and he gets another treat! bonus

11-23-2008, 11:17 AM	#1
Fairzyorkie Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philly Posts: 10	Help! My Fuzzy gets soo lonely he shakes I have a one year old Yorkie - Mr. Fuzzy. Each morning when we leave for work and school he hides under the couch and gives me a look that breaks my heart. And once we come home he jumps around shaking and shivering so horribly that I've considered giving him away to someone who's home all day. Today, he peaked around the kitchen cabinets with his ears downDoes anyone else have this problem? What have you done to ease your dog's blues? I don't want to be selfish if he needs more attention during the day but the thought of giving him to someone and they don't take care of him makes my stomach ache

11-23-2008, 11:21 AM	#2
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	i'm pretty sure the shaking and shivering is excitment. Layla shakes when she gets excited and just doesn't know what to do with herself as long as his gums are pink and he has food/water down i'm sure it is excitment - he is still pretty young. Layla is 2.5 and the "excitment" goes away she is very excited to see me stil but isnt shaking like she did when she was younger. Do you walk him before you leave and when you get back? Is there someone who can maybe come for an hour to let him out? I'm sure he is fine during the day (Many yorkies here are alone during the day and do great) but it might help make you feel better. __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

11-23-2008, 11:24 AM	#3
marcerella02 Loved by Layla Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 11,257	Also you might consider starting a :routine: before you leave. When I leave a put a blanket down on the stairs (where she hangs out all day) I give her her Kong with something good in there (maybe you could try peanut buttter or something) and then i tell her - Layla i will be RIGHT back. So when all of these things happen- she knows 1) she gets a GREAT treat that she only gets when i leave -which takes her attention off that i'm leaving) and 2) oh when this happens- mom goes and then comes back! They start to know what to expect. Then when i come home i give her a special treat and out we go for a walk. Do you leave the TV on for him? Does he get the whole run of the house? __________________ http://misscanam.blogspot.com/ Layla 's Simon

11-23-2008, 11:26 AM	#4
SamiNFurbabies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: My House Posts: 517	Are you sure he is not hungry? Have you tried slowly getting him used to being alone? Have you considered doggy daycare (I know, expensive) or perhaps letting him stay with a friend with a dog? Does he get toys to play with when you are gone? Have you considered getting him acclimated to a crate (where he'll feel safe and secure)? Have you considered walking him and tiring him out (as someone suggested in another thread) before you leave him? Do you give him a treat before you leave? He does not need someone to be home all day---he just needs to get used to his new routine. __________________ Chrissy, Izze (Yorkshire Terrier),Molly & Suzie (Toy Poodles), Chachi (Chihuahua)

11-23-2008, 12:26 PM	#7
SamiNFurbabies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: My House Posts: 517	Does someone see him mid-day to take him out or play with him? How is he potty trained? It's good that you walk him before you leave... I would continue doing that. Izze used to hate me leaving her at home---now she is excited because that means she'll get a bonemarrow milkbone cookie and a small bit of swiss cheese. It's good that you leave the tv on and provide treats--- does he have a crate that he can feel secure? I kennel Chachi and Suzie... I leave a dog bag open for Molly (and she stays there all day)... Izze hates crates(she's a rescue 3x rehomed, came from a puppymill or shady breeder so it is understandable), but the others love it and it's a nice place where they can feel secure and relax. I would close the kennel until he feels comfortable. He could have separation anxiety---but that doesn't mean it can't be worked out. All four of mine had it at one time and they are all better now. I don't think that you'll rehome him You love him too much. Just try to be patient. I must say that it helps that I have multiple. __________________ Chrissy, Izze (Yorkshire Terrier),Molly & Suzie (Toy Poodles), Chachi (Chihuahua)

11-23-2008, 12:00 PM	#5
Fairzyorkie Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philly Posts: 10	I haven't tried giving him a treat before I leave and when I return. I like that idea. But every morning we do tell him we love him and will be back . We also leave a light on and the t.v. I walk him before I leave and after I get home. Otherwise he will pee on the first thing he finds! Fuzzy is a very picky eater so sometimes he has eaten before we go and other times he hasn't. I haven't seen a pattern in his "shakiness" associated with food. I'm kinda hoping it's something he will grow out of and pray it's not separation anxiety!

11-23-2008, 12:04 PM	#6
Fairzyorkie Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philly Posts: 10	Sorry, I missed a few points. He does have toys, pet sitting in Philly is absurd and the only place near my office was booked solid! I haven't found in one to check on him but when one person offered she wanted me to guarantee that he wouldn't pee on her rugs...... I can't even guarantee that he won't pee on my rugs! LOL! But thanks again for the tips - I'll run him around a lot more in the morning and try giving him a treat!