Can someone HELP please? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

BentleysMamax3 · 12-21-2010, 01:41 PM

I got Bentley on November 25, 2010 ( Thanksgiving ) && I think he suffers from separation anxiety really bad. I'm usually alone with him in the mornings so when I would go take a shower he would start crying and starts barking really loud. I don't know what to do.

I'm currently off from college until January 28th when the next semester starts and I made my schedule late in the day so that I could be with him until my brother or parents come home. So he would most likely be home by himself for about 2 hours the most.

I don't know how to fix this and it gets me really sad.. I feel so guilty because when I'm with him he follows me everywhere! And when I disappear he starts crying.

Someone please give me some tips or ideas on how to fix this please! Thank you <3

Yeenita

boopster · 12-21-2010, 02:23 PM

It takes time... Tallulah has had the same issue and has just recently started relaxing when she's left alone. She was the same way as your Bentley -- if I even went in the next room for a second and she couldn't go with me she would shriek. She still has issues with being left alone for more than a few minutes but is slowly adapting.

If you will click on the "search" tab and enter "anxiety," you will find previous threads that talk about how to deal with the problem -- since I'm not an expert I won't try to repeat it here, but there is excellent advice available. So far the best advice I've received is to NOT make a big deal about leaving or returning. This is opposite to what I've done with previous dogs, who always got a treat when I left and a big fuss when I returned, but it does seems to be making a difference.

Wylie's Mom · 12-21-2010, 02:41 PM

Was he a puppy when you got him, or is he an older dog who has some history already? Do you the age of weaning?

A little thing to try is when you are gone, leave a shirt of yours (maybe the shirt you wore to bed the previous night?) with him, in his bed for example -- so that he has your smell close by. Sometimes, Dog Appeasing Pheromone (either a collar, or a 'plug-in' can help.

Do you think he might be scared of the shower, btw?

BentleysMamax3 · 12-21-2010, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Was he a puppy when you got him, or is he an older dog who has some history already? Do you the age of weaning?

A little thing to try is when you are gone, leave a shirt of yours (maybe the shirt you wore to bed the previous night?) with him, in his bed for example -- so that he has your smell close by. Sometimes, Dog Appeasing Pheromone (either a collar, or a 'plug-in' can help.

Do you think he might be scared of the shower, btw?

He was about 15 weeks when I got him and I got him as a present from my boyfriend.

And I know its not from the shower because for instance I would leave him with my boyfriend in the living room and I would go into the room to shower and he would be crying and scratching the door to get in, although my boyfriend is there with him.

He does the same with my parents also. But he loves all of them so much. He loves playing with them but he would never stay with anyone or play unless he sees me.

MyDuke · 12-23-2010, 01:24 PM

It might be because he's still a baby. It will take time, teach him to sit and stay and reward him everytime that he does stay with your bf/parents or alone. Also, leave him alone a little bit at a time so he'll slowly get use to it.
Duke is also my shadow, that could have very well been his name as he follows me everywhere so it could be that. I would say praise him everytime that he's not with you to show him that it's ok.

I left Duke my Tshirt or PJ from the night before on his bed when I'm not around so he still can smell me.
I would also rec'd leaving the TV or music on for him while you're gone.

12-21-2010, 01:41 PM	#1
BentleysMamax3 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Queens, New York Posts: 59	Can someone HELP please? I got Bentley on November 25, 2010 ( Thanksgiving ) && I think he suffers from separation anxiety really bad. I'm usually alone with him in the mornings so when I would go take a shower he would start crying and starts barking really loud. I don't know what to do. I'm currently off from college until January 28th when the next semester starts and I made my schedule late in the day so that I could be with him until my brother or parents come home. So he would most likely be home by himself for about 2 hours the most. I don't know how to fix this and it gets me really sad.. I feel so guilty because when I'm with him he follows me everywhere! And when I disappear he starts crying. Someone please give me some tips or ideas on how to fix this please! Thank you <3 Yeenita __________________ iLOVEBentley

12-21-2010, 02:41 PM	#3
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	Was he a puppy when you got him, or is he an older dog who has some history already? Do you the age of weaning? A little thing to try is when you are gone, leave a shirt of yours (maybe the shirt you wore to bed the previous night?) with him, in his bed for example -- so that he has your smell close by. Sometimes, Dog Appeasing Pheromone (either a collar, or a 'plug-in' can help. Do you think he might be scared of the shower, btw? __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

12-23-2010, 01:24 PM	#5
MyDuke YT Addict Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: NJ & NY Posts: 356	It might be because he's still a baby. It will take time, teach him to sit and stay and reward him everytime that he does stay with your bf/parents or alone. Also, leave him alone a little bit at a time so he'll slowly get use to it. Duke is also my shadow, that could have very well been his name as he follows me everywhere so it could be that. I would say praise him everytime that he's not with you to show him that it's ok. I left Duke my Tshirt or PJ from the night before on his bed when I'm not around so he still can smell me. I would also rec'd leaving the TV or music on for him while you're gone. __________________ Owned by a Yorkie name Duke

12-21-2010, 02:23 PM	#2
boopster Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southern California, USA Posts: 1,643 Blog Entries: 1	It takes time... Tallulah has had the same issue and has just recently started relaxing when she's left alone. She was the same way as your Bentley -- if I even went in the next room for a second and she couldn't go with me she would shriek. She still has issues with being left alone for more than a few minutes but is slowly adapting. If you will click on the "search" tab and enter "anxiety," you will find previous threads that talk about how to deal with the problem -- since I'm not an expert I won't try to repeat it here, but there is excellent advice available. So far the best advice I've received is to NOT make a big deal about leaving or returning. This is opposite to what I've done with previous dogs, who always got a treat when I left and a big fuss when I returned, but it does seems to be making a difference.