Extremely anxious yorkie poo. . . need advice - YorkieTalk.com Forums

mycharlie · 01-26-2010, 03:19 PM

My yorkiepoo is 13 weeks old. I have to leave him for only a few hours at a time. Because he's in the chewing stage, I gate him in the kitchen with his bed, toys, a radio, one of my shirts, etc. The poor little guy jumps at the gate the entire time. He gets so upset he wont leave the gate and ends up wetting and dirtying there and then jumping in it. The cleanup isn't fun, but I'm much more concerned about how upset being alone makes him. I do let him sleep in my bed, but beyond that I've been trying everything to help him feel more independent, including practicing while I'm home. He's not feeling any better about it. I'm deperate for advice!

cdawnfine · 01-26-2010, 03:30 PM

Hi,

There are a few things you can try. Dogs are very smart they know when you are getting ready to leave. What I did with Milo was I practiced leaving by doing things in different orders. One time I would grab my keys first another I would put on my coat keep changing it up so you are not so predictable. Then only leave for a min or two, this way he associates you coming back. This is the hard part don't look back and don't say goodbye just go. Taking him for a walk to tire him out before you go also helps. Lastly try a Kong you can get the puppy one fill it with a healthy treat inside (I never use kong stuffing) this will keep him busy for some time. Hope this helps.

friscomom · 01-26-2010, 07:28 PM

Hi, I get the sense these yorkies are just not the 'independent type'. I think cdawn has some very good tips. I am wondering whether the thing about hiding around the corner, and shaking a can of coins suddenly when he jumps at the wall might freak him out and startle him out of the jumping at least. *If* jumping makes a terrible noise happen, he might not want to do it, and might *maybe* go find some safer diversion. Might be worth a try?

HarleyHOO · 01-27-2010, 08:28 AM

Try a heartbeat pillow...you can get one from Petsmart. It's a little pillow in the shape of a bone which has a voice box inside. It's very sensitive so your pup will probably be able to make it work by himself. It literally sounds like a heartbeat from the mama's womb. It was made for anxiety in dogs...
I only had this issue for about 3 days before I heard about the pillow. Once I got it, I put it in Harley's crate with her and she would lay on it. Once you push it, it'll run for about 10 minutes I think. It was great at night time too, because anytime she would move around or turn, she'd step on it and it would start beating and she'd go right back to sleep. Good luck!!

mycharlie · 01-27-2010, 11:02 AM

Thank you guys so much! I'll let you know how it works. You're probably right that he'll never be "independent" but I hope he gets so he's not so upset at being alone for a little while. I really appreciate all of your tips////////////////////1

tarczely · 01-27-2010, 05:52 PM

mine goes in the laundry room, we had a gate but he jumped over so now have to close the door, but iam gone all day that is why i leave him in there with his pee pads toys bed food water...you said you are gone for just a few hours could you crate him, he should be fine and be able to hold it? and he would maybe more secure? just a thought...

friscomom · 01-27-2010, 06:12 PM

I think if you develop and maintain an awesome relationship with him he will in time be able to tolerate your occasional absence and still be normal. But he will never like it. If you are single you'd both probably be happier making friends with somebody else with dogs, so sometimes at least he can have someone to hang with. I'm pretty new to yorkies, it looks to me like most people end up keeping at least two, and that makes for happy company. I'm struggling with that one myself. I can't see promising 15 years to my little friend here (unplanned yorkiehood), so I'm thinking of having his memory erased and shipping him up to Brittany and Jackson's house ( YouTube - brittanyjadexo's Channel ). (They don't know that yet, though.) I just don't think I can do it though, because here's something folks don't make all that plain:

THE SEPARATION ANXIETY GOES BOTH WAYS WITH A YORKIE

If your little friend ever goes missing, you too will find yourself climbing the walls.

01-26-2010, 03:19 PM	#1
mycharlie YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: coral gables, fl Posts: 2	Extremely anxious yorkie poo. . . need advice My yorkiepoo is 13 weeks old. I have to leave him for only a few hours at a time. Because he's in the chewing stage, I gate him in the kitchen with his bed, toys, a radio, one of my shirts, etc. The poor little guy jumps at the gate the entire time. He gets so upset he wont leave the gate and ends up wetting and dirtying there and then jumping in it. The cleanup isn't fun, but I'm much more concerned about how upset being alone makes him. I do let him sleep in my bed, but beyond that I've been trying everything to help him feel more independent, including practicing while I'm home. He's not feeling any better about it. I'm deperate for advice!

01-27-2010, 08:28 AM	#4
HarleyHOO YT Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Jacksonville Posts: 255	Try a heartbeat pillow...you can get one from Petsmart. It's a little pillow in the shape of a bone which has a voice box inside. It's very sensitive so your pup will probably be able to make it work by himself. It literally sounds like a heartbeat from the mama's womb. It was made for anxiety in dogs... I only had this issue for about 3 days before I heard about the pillow. Once I got it, I put it in Harley's crate with her and she would lay on it. Once you push it, it'll run for about 10 minutes I think. It was great at night time too, because anytime she would move around or turn, she'd step on it and it would start beating and she'd go right back to sleep. Good luck!! __________________ ---~<3 Harley...aka...mama's sweet sweet~---

01-27-2010, 06:12 PM	#7
friscomom CURRENTLY SUSPENDED! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA, US Posts: 207	I think if you develop and maintain an awesome relationship with him he will in time be able to tolerate your occasional absence and still be normal. But he will never like it. If you are single you'd both probably be happier making friends with somebody else with dogs, so sometimes at least he can have someone to hang with. I'm pretty new to yorkies, it looks to me like most people end up keeping at least two, and that makes for happy company. I'm struggling with that one myself. I can't see promising 15 years to my little friend here (unplanned yorkiehood), so I'm thinking of having his memory erased and shipping him up to Brittany and Jackson's house ( YouTube - brittanyjadexo's Channel ). (They don't know that yet, though.) I just don't think I can do it though, because here's something folks don't make all that plain: THE SEPARATION ANXIETY GOES BOTH WAYS WITH A YORKIE If your little friend ever goes missing, you too will find yourself climbing the walls. Last edited by friscomom; 01-27-2010 at 06:14 PM.

01-26-2010, 03:30 PM	#2
cdawnfine Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: nj Posts: 1,256	Hi, There are a few things you can try. Dogs are very smart they know when you are getting ready to leave. What I did with Milo was I practiced leaving by doing things in different orders. One time I would grab my keys first another I would put on my coat keep changing it up so you are not so predictable. Then only leave for a min or two, this way he associates you coming back. This is the hard part don't look back and don't say goodbye just go. Taking him for a walk to tire him out before you go also helps. Lastly try a Kong you can get the puppy one fill it with a healthy treat inside (I never use kong stuffing) this will keep him busy for some time. Hope this helps.

01-26-2010, 07:28 PM	#3
friscomom CURRENTLY SUSPENDED! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA, US Posts: 207	Hi, I get the sense these yorkies are just not the 'independent type'. I think cdawn has some very good tips. I am wondering whether the thing about hiding around the corner, and shaking a can of coins suddenly when he jumps at the wall might freak him out and startle him out of the jumping at least. If jumping makes a terrible noise happen, he might not want to do it, and might maybe go find some safer diversion. Might be worth a try?

01-27-2010, 11:02 AM	#5
mycharlie YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: coral gables, fl Posts: 2	Thank you guys so much! I'll let you know how it works. You're probably right that he'll never be "independent" but I hope he gets so he's not so upset at being alone for a little while. I really appreciate all of your tips////////////////////1

01-27-2010, 05:52 PM	#6
tarczely YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: dallas, ga Posts: 457 Blog Entries: 2	mine goes in the laundry room, we had a gate but he jumped over so now have to close the door, but iam gone all day that is why i leave him in there with his pee pads toys bed food water...you said you are gone for just a few hours could you crate him, he should be fine and be able to hold it? and he would maybe more secure? just a thought...