Comments for Coton de Tulear Separation Anxiety

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Sep 02, 2011
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Good news
by: Kelly

I just wanted to let everyone know that Hank is now doing very well with being left alone. He doesn't make a peep!! :) I still don't leave him alone for an entire day--4 hours tops right now. He's going to doggie daycare on the two days per week that I have to be gone the whole week (and loving it, btw). Anyway, I wanted to share how I've made him more comfortable when I leave because I know others might have this same issue. First of all, I had to discover what kind of foods he likes best. I had been giving him a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, but it turns out that he's just not that fond of peanut butter anymore and much prefers cream cheese and that cheap cheese wiz stuff that comes in a spray can. Giving him a frozen Kong stuffed with one of those two things and his kibble, along with taking him on a walk before I leave, has cleared up the problem completely! When I give his Kong, he could care less what I'm doing, so he doesn't get anxious when I leave. :) I can't tell you what a stress relief it has been to know that my Hank isn't suffering when I'm gone and my neighbors aren't being disturbed.

I also want to address those that commented and basically said that I shouldn't have gotten him if I'm going to have to work. First off, his separation anxiety was not caused by my leaving him too often; it was caused by his being overly attached to me. I got him during the summer, and spent way too much time with him, when I should have been working on getting him used to being alone at a young age. If you think you are avoiding the problem by not leaving your dog alone, I think you're living in denial. It doesn't matter if I only have to leave for an hour to go to the store or for 8 to go to work, my dog should not become anxious when I leave. It would not be fair to him to allow him to be that dependent on me without trying to correct it. You can think that I am an irresponsible pet owner for getting a dog when I will have to work full time all you want, but if your dog is so attached to you that he freaks out when you leave and instead of working on it you just make sure he's never alone, then I say YOU are the irresponsible pet owner. I am determined to have a happy, well-adjusted, and well-trained Hank who can stand to be without me for 8 hours. If that makes me a terrible person in your eyes, so be it.

Thanks to those who actually posted something useful, supportive, or encouraging. Hank and I really appreciate it!

Aug 18, 2011
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Working Coton Mom
by: Anonymous

Hi Kelly, just wanted to let you know that my husband and I work full time and our Coton is thriving. We make up for the time we're away when we get back - our Coton gets soooo much love and attention mornings, evenings, and weekends. Sometimes we have family stop by and take him for walks and play with him.

Cotons DO pick up on your anxiety though so if you feel guilty and anxious about leaving, your dog will most likley get anxious.

Enjoy every minute with your dog and he will do just fine.

Aug 16, 2011
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separation anxiety
by: MR

I tend to agree with the last comment, if our Cotons are there for us, we need to be there for them. This breed is not as aloof as other breeds, they are truly lap dogs and a lap is a requirement. When the house emptied out years ago I got in the habit of coming home at lunch to play with her and take her over to visit the dog next door. If there is anyone in your family that is a stay-at-home, you might consider having them sit with your dog. Obviously they will adapt to anything if they have to, but then, why have a Coton, or any dog for that matter, if it's just there for you when your schedule allows? You sound too busy for a pet with needs.

Aug 16, 2011
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Thanks for the encouragement!
by: Kelly

It's so nice to hear that someone else went through the same thing and came out unscathed! :) I don't know why, but I guess I figured that since Hank is crate trained and doesn't make a peep when we leave him in there, that he would be fine being left in his exercise pen. NOT SO! Until yesterday, I'd only practiced leaving, but had never actually gone any further than just outside the door. I guess I was just too scared to actually leave because I live in an apartment and don't want my neighbors filing a complaint on me. Yesterday, however, I worked up the courage to leave him in his pen for just 25 minutes while I ran to the store to pick up a few things. I set up my laptop to record Hank's activities while I was gone. I left him everything I could think of that would comfort him: the shirt I'd slept in, his blanket and teddy bear that he sleeps with every night, peanut butter and kibble stuffed Kong, and his fan that he sleeps with. I waited until he was happily working away at the Kong, and then I just left and didn't look back. When I got home, I was relieved to find that all was quiet!!! He barked twice when I walked in the door, but then went right back to chewing on his treats. It turns out that he only really barked for about 5 minutes after I left, and then he was almost completely quite for the rest of the time. :) YAY! My experience yesterday along with your shared experience gives me hope that my Hank is not doomed to suffer from separation anxiety for the rest of his life just because he is a Coton, and that some day I'll be able to walk out of my apartment and not hear a peep!

For now, I'm only going to leave him for short times, and put him in doggie daycare while he's in training. I plan on taking your advice and leaving him with lots of goodies when I leave. I'm also going to continue to practice leaving him in there every day. I did this when I was crate training him. I'd put him in there and wait until he stopped barking and calmly go in the room and say "Good boy" and give him a treat.

I have hope again! Hank and I THANK YOU!

Aug 16, 2011
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I feel your pain!
by: Anonymous

I totally feel your pain because I went through the same thing. I tried a pen and mine didn't like it either and it also didn't seem big enough.
I ended up getting baby gates and gating him off in the kitchen. I put his kennel in the kitchen when I left so he would have the option to go in it if he wanted. I would always leave a kong stuffed with treats and toys I knew he couldn't destroy. At first, it was tough but eventually he got used to the routine and even looked forward to the treats I would leave for him. (I sometimes would hide treats around the kitchen for him to find). Unfortunately, my dog is a chewer and I could not fully trust him to have full reign of the house until he was 2 1/2 years old!

Aug 16, 2011
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separation angst
by: Anonymous

Cotons are companion dogs and as such the separation anxiety is a reality if left for too many hours each day. In fact, I know of responsible breeders who will not sell to home where the puppy is left alone each day for the work/school day. I hope you find a solution that does not impact your puppy.

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