Why does my 8-year-old poodle cry, pant, and beg when I leave?

From your description, if Miel is showing this crying behavior when you aren't around, it can be sign of separation anxiety. She is anxious when you leave and is afraid you may not be coming back. This can be a common problem in dogs. I recommend crating her when you are gone. The crate will provide her a small space where she can feel safe in it when you are gone. You will have to slowly train her to get used to a crate. Start putting her in it when you are home and sitting nearby so she doesn't think you are abandoning her, and slowly increase the time she is in it. She can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that she has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can put a tablespoon of peanut butter in a Kong toy and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to her in the crate. That will keep her occupied for a while. Finally, you can get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety and pair that will a DAP pheromone collar that releases pheromones when in contact with his skin. If these methods do not help her, then I recommend having her seen by a vet to discuss the use of anti-anxiety medications. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I agree with you. This is possibly separation anxiety which is actually way more common than people think. While there are behavioral medications that may help, I still prefer more behavioral modifications such as increasing the frequency of those times that you are separated to get her more used to it but more importantly, start rewarding her for when she behaves well when left alone. You can do this with praise and of course treats. If this does not work, there are medications that can be used for this purpose which your veterinarian may be able to prescribe if deemed useful at that time. Good luck and have a good night!

This is probably a stage little Papi is going through. You could try leaving a shirt or something else with your smell with him when you have to leave. You could also try distracting him with a toy or treat when you need to go. It's great that he likes his bag - you may want to try putting the bag in his play pen so he has a safe, familiar place to rest. As long as you don't make a big deal out of his behavior (and therefore reinforce it) I think Papi will probably stop, although some dogs do become more attached to just one person.

This could be separation anxiety as digging/heavy panting are both signs of extreme stress. Looking into techniques to address separation anxiety such as using pheromone diffusers, crate training, playing a soothing talk radio show or music station, providing puzzle toys that can be chewed on while away, etc, may help reduce her stressful behavior. If the problem continues or worsens, talking with a veterinary behaviorist or your vet about a program of medication in addition to a training plan may help her relax enough to feel better.

Poor pup! Barking and vocalizing while you're gone is usually a sign of separation anxiety - this is similar to a panic attack that occurs every day when you leave the house. Shock collars should never be used to treat this problem, as this will only increase his anxiety and make things worse. I would strongly recommend consulting with your veterinarian about this problem, as most dogs with significant separation anxiety issues will need prescription medication in order to make any headway with treatment. If your regular vet isn't well-versed in behavior, you could also consider making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist for a full evaluation and treatment plan - you can search for one in your area here: www.dacvb.org In the meantime, you could try a DAP pheromone diffuser as well as a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help with his anxiety. These will not be as effective as prescription meds, but may help to take the edge off a bit until you are able to see the vet.

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Your description sounds most suspicious of generalized anxiety. There may have been something that spooked your dog recently to cause the behavior change, making him want to be near you all the time and causing him to seek reassurance. However, given his breed, it's also possible that he's just got too much pent-up energy - many high energy breeds can develop either anxiety or boredom if they aren't given an outlet for their energy and a way to tire themselves out. I recommend making sure your dog has a way to RUN his energy off daily. (with his breed and age, a walk probably won't cut it). You can take him running, or if he's ball motivated, throwing a ball is a great option to get him running. Fenced in dog parks are good options too. If tiring him out doesn't help reduce his clingy behaviors, I recommend consulting your vet and having them do a physical exam and likely some screening bloodwork. Sometimes panting, whining, and being generally clingy are the dog's way of telling us that something's not right, which can be the first sign of a disease or health problem. I hope this helps!

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Poor Nova! It sounds like Nova has severe separation anxiety. Since she is only 4 months old I highly recommend aggressive remedies as this behavior doesn't usually start this young. I would hire a private trainer or a Veterinary Behaviorist and discuss starting anti-anxiety medications now. You will have to work with her a lot one on one. This will not be easy and you will have to put in the effort or she will not get better. Be sure when you have time to provide plenty of exercise and once she is spayed and fully vaccinated I would enroll her in doggie daycare 2-3 times per week. Below are links to articles to read. I hope this helps and I wish you and Nova the very best! https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3144 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1502 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1379 https://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1129