Do female cotons suffer less from separation anxiety than male cotons?

Or do both tend to have the same issue? I heard females tend to be more independent so was wondering if they might do better when left alone.

Any tips for a puppy who's scared of other dogs?

by June
(Chicago, IL)

We have had our puppy (ella) for 3 weeks now. She is 11.5 weeks now, and we're concerned b/c from day 1, our puppy has been scared of other dogs. B/c of her age, we didn't allow her to sniff other dogs at first until she got her second set at 9 weeks, but since then, we have allowed her to go to puppy class and be around other dogs who are uptodate with vaccinations - when she sees a dog, she will bark and put her bottom in the air (playful) and then run away from the dogs when they come close. If they come really close (like many puppies do), she will go into fear mode and bark in a warning/fear way and start growling and showing her teeth. She's turning into a yappy dog, and we're trying not to coddle her or accept it, but I would like to hear about other people's experiences. When we leave her, she doesn't have a lot of separation anxiety - she will bark for 30 seconds and then quiet down.

I thought cotons were good with other dogs, but she is starting to turn into a fearful one, despite our socialization efforts. I even pet the other dogs to show her that it's ok, but she still runs away and barks. She is now starting to be this away around people where if they try to pet her she will start running away. We don't want to accept this behavior. I'm kind of mad b/c now i'm starting to question what exactly happened before we got her from the breeder, but perhaps we may be doing something wrong. We don't pet her when she does this, and we've stopped picking her up when she's fearful. Anyone had similar experiences?

Need advice about nervous resuce Coton de Tulear

by Gary

Hi I have two coton de tulear dogs - both came from homes for battered dogs. The female has recovered very well where as the male is still very nervous around men and barks non stop once we leave the house. Both dogs are lovely although I do worry a little about the male although things are better it is taking a long time to see any real improvement. Any advice will be appreciated.

Coton de Tulear afraid and hiding under the couch

by Amanda

My Coton de Tulear is having issues with hiding under the couch. But not just during storms it is all the time. He seems scared of people.

I have had him about 2 months and he has been this way since we got him. My husband and I have started house training him and he loves being outside but if he goes potty in the apartment and we try to catch him he may start biting and pooping on himself.

We have started giving him lots of treats and praise so he knows we are not mean people and we love him. Do you have any suggestions?

Why my 10 week old Coton is constantly scared

by Dee
(Somewhere in Europe)

I got my Coton day ago, but it seems that she is scared constantly. She doesnt like to be hold in hands and every move that i make freaks her out. The breeder told me that from all of her brothers and sisters she was the most scared one, didnt want to go to play ect... She was the last left but i didnt expect that she will be scared all the time.

I have three kids and i am so disapointed that she is scared from them too, and they wanted puppy for so long. What i should do? Is she is going to stay this way or there are chances that her character change? I am to the point of crying. So long waited puppy and now this...

12 week old Coton afraid of everything

by Sonia
(USA)

Hi! We just got our 12 week old Coton 3 days ago. I know it is soon but I've started to try some socialization and he is afraid of everything. He barks at all people or animals. What is the best way to get him used to things without traumatizing him?

Does the thundershirt really work for dog anxiety?

I was wondering if anyone's used the thundershirt (or is it the thunder coat?). It's coming up to that dreaded time of year again - 4th of July and the loud fireworks. That, plus the summer thunderstorms are just too much for my dog Linus.

He isn't afraid of anything - EXCEPT fireworks and thunder. It breaks my heart to see him so anxious and I've read about the thundershirt, but would like to know if anyone else has had success? Our Vet actually recommended it (after having no results with the mild sedative that was prescribed).

Thanks
Bertie and Linus

Scared of people still....

by Brenda
(Jacksonville FL)

Sadie is 15 months old now and still scared of anyone who comes to visit us or approaches her while outside. What can I do? She is a great gal and a joy to have in our lives. She does love our grandchildren but is stand offish toward the teenage ones.

I can't leave my dog alone

by Meg

Need help with separation anxiety for my new Coton puppy. Yesterday, I just got my first Coton, a 10 week old female named Clara. If I leave her for even a moment, she begins to chirp like a bird and then becomes quite anxious, and she can get very worked up, with very obstreperous high-pitched "barking" that is unlike anything I've ever heard. It sounds as if a flock of seagulls is being strangled. Is this typical behavior for the getting-to-know-you stage of Cotons?

She would not leave my side at all today and when I left for a moment to shower, you would have thought I was torturing her. Otherwise, she seems quite calm and quiet. I appreciate any insights you may have.

I really appreciate the information you are sharing. Thanks

Separation anxiety- potty problems

by Sharon Bennett
(Florida)

My 1 1/2 yr old male has it bad. He screams, cries, grabs my legs when I am about to leave and when I return home he is an emotional mess. Soaked from head to toe from panting etc . He will not settle down for about 1/2 hr. He will drink water when I come home because he is so thirsty from stressing and then he throws up.

I have tried many suggestions-pen (which he jumps out of), crate (which he poops in every time, so I have a messy dog ), he has a shirt of mine on his doggie bed! toys etc. he follows me everywhere in the house and if I do anything out of the ordinary he starts top panic. Oh, and he will always poop in front of my chair in the living room when I am gone ( even though he does not have to). I'm really stumped what to do, I feel so bad for him.

Also the potty thing seems to have regressed, if we are at someone else's house he will poop on their floor ( again I know he doesn't have to go). There are other dogs most places we go so I let him run around with them ( probably a mistake)
Any ideas will certainly help

Thanks, Sharon

How to deal with Separation Anxiety??

by Courtney
(Bournemouth, UK)

Our little Percy is 15 weeks old and he's absolutely lovely and such good fun. He makes us laugh so much. The only major issue we have is leaving him alone for any amount of time.

I am able to bring him to work with me (which he loves as it's loads of attention), but as a result, he hasn't ever really dealt with being alone. It's my fault because when he cries, I can't bear it so I never want to leave him. We've tried to ease him into it slowly, for short periods of time (5-10 minutes while we eat dinner in the other room, for example). Just leave him alone in the kitchen, with all his toys, bed, crate, radio on, food, water, the works, but he just stands at the baby gate and cries and cries and cries.

I will leave to go to the supermarket and I can hear him crying when I get back. I was just wondering if any one had any tips to help train him to accept being left? He sleeps in his crate at night, on the floor next to our bed and doesn't make a noise from 10pm to 7am, but the moment we leave the room, he goes mental. If I am downstairs with him and go upstairs to grab something quickly, he whines and cries at the bottom of the stairs (he is too scared to attempt them).

Does anyone have any tips that worked for you? I don't want him to be unhappy and stressed when he (so very rarely) has to be left. But Mommy and Daddy would like to go out for dinner once in awhile without the guilt!!! Thanks!

My Coton is always scared and figity..

by xio
(union city nj )

My Coton pup I have had for 2 months has weird behavior only if he approached you hs's not scared yet when we bend down to pet him or call him name and say come Eco he freezes and is so scared. I dont understand we give him lots of love.. He also follows me around yet when i walk towards him he runs away. IS this normal? If we go to pick him up he pees... i dont get it.. help.. We have another dog so his not lonely or non social..

I keep reading about separation anxiety in these dogs.

It has me worried. I hope to have a new coton de tulear puppy by Thanksgiving 2012. I have a Corgi and two kittens plus I come home at lunch. Will this curb the separation anxiety?

Do males tend to be scared of male family figures?

by peter
(toronto)

My parents are separated and I along with my brother and 3 sisters live with my mom. My dog is very scared of strangers but he warms up to women and not men. Ive never treated him badly, Ive fed him taken him for walks, but all he thinks I'm good for is giving him food when no one else is there. I think he's scared. Anyone having the same trouble? (My last one favoured whoever spent the most time with him) my sister who spends the most time gave up cause she was ranked one above me on the "hierarchy" .

Opinions would be lovely. My brother did used to scare him cause he is pretty wimpy but I can't imagine thats why he dislikes all men.

Coton de Tulear with fearful behavior

Our Coton de Tulear has extreme reactivity around dogs. Will bark, growl, lunge, try to bite. He is also fearful and unpredictable around people, especially tall men and women - but has growled at a child.

With people and dogs he knows, he is terrific. He is loving, playful, sweet, and smart. It breaks my heart that he is so fearful. Hope you have some new ideas. We've tried so many methods.

Adult Coton Separation Anxiety

(Texas USA)

My husband and I work, but I get home the soonest (after 8 hours max). We would have a dog door and fence for freedom to roam. No other dogs for company. Would an adult Coton we would love to adopt still have separation anxiety and be destructive and miserable? (My husband can come home during lunch for about 20 minutes, but not sure if that is even enough)

Much Thanks!
Julie