I adopted my mini pomeranian (2 years old) a few months ago from a co-worker; and when I leave my apartment he usually barks 4-5mins. I thought this was just a normal thing because he is actually mentally retarded, before I got him he broke one of his paws by jumping off of a couch and stopped breathing during the surgery. Even if I leave my apartment for 2 mins to take the trash out and leave him out of his kennel he doesn't bark as much but pees on my carpet in one tiny spot then hides behind my couch. And when I take him to my friends' and we are hanging out, if I have to run out to my car or leave the room for a second he barks a little bit and starts shaking and watches the door waiting for me. When I leave for work I kennel him and he barks for 4-5 mins like I had stated before. Today I came home after being gone for 2 hrs and let him out then got an emergency phone call from work so I had to kennel him again and was only gone for one hour. I came home to find out he was barking insanely for the whole hour straight I was gone. When I'm home he follows me every where and has to be right under my feet at all times. I don't know if I should get a second dog as a friend for him, or if I should consult my vet about getting something to help calm him down (that would be my very last resort). If you have had this issue with your dog in the past and know of some remedies that worked for you or if you have some knowledge in this area that would be great. I'm looking for any advice from anyone as it is hard to train him with his mental condition. Thank You

Courtney B,

I am going to teach you something that most dog trainers and owners don't know in how to over come your dogs separation anxiety.

Get your dogs attention. Then place an open palm in his face and say "BYE!" leave the area for about 10-15 minutes. Repeat this several times. Dogs learn by associtaion and it won't take him long to learn that BYE means you'll be returning. Look at it like this. Your niine years old and one day your parents just up and leave the house without saying a word when they will return. Pretty scary huh? Well, this is the same with the dog. He needs to know that you will be back after a period of time. To increase your absence, get your dogs attention and place your fist in his face and say "BYE!" then stay gone for an hour. Repeat this several times. Now you have taught your dog you will be gone for a longer time. "The point is, your dog needs - to know that you will be returning and there is nothing to worry about. It is like your parents saying, we'll be back in such and such a time. Thus, you have no worries, because you know they're coming back.

Your dog loves you and wants to be with you at all times, no more than a child. To keep him out from beneath your feet, teach him to STAY. You can do this by having him sit, then place your hand on his chest and dropping a treat a few feet away, when he tries to go after the treat, hold him fast and say, "STAY!" once he settles down, say OKAY and give him a nudge toward the treat. Then say "Good Dog!" Repeat this several times. OKAY is a release command. So, to keep him out from beneath your feet, tell him to STAY wherever he is at, and go about your business. Dogs don't know they're exhibiting bad behavior until you teach otherwise. Your the pack leader, he looks to you for guidance. I hope that i have been of some help to you and your dog.

Everett

Thirty years of raising and training dogs.