One of our readers recently emailed us about their Schnauzer, McQueen. They are struggling with the decision of whether or not to keep McQueen or allow him to be adopted by another family because of his separation and anxiety issues. Our reader, Adam, gave us permission to post his email and we are hoping that you will comment below with advice.
Hello-
My wife and I have been reading your blog for the last couple of months, and have really been enjoying it. I was hoping you might be able to help us with a decision we’re needing to make.
First a little background, we’re similar to you guys, in that we both grew up with dogs, but haven’t had one since we were in high school. I grew up with Miniature Schnauzers and my wife’s family had Labs. Anyway, we purchased a Miniature Schnauzer at the beginning of March, he was only 7 weeks old, but the breeder thought he should be fine, he wasn’t. He had severe separation anxiety, as soon as we put him in his crate, he’d start to cry. We did everything all the training materials said, we introduced it to him slowly, using treats, leaving him in for short periods. Ignoring him when he cried. But, he wouldn’t stop crying. At nights we’d put him in his crate and set our alarms for 3 hour increments to take him out (the books said take his age in months, add one and that’s how many hours they can hold it). We’d wear earplugs to fall asleep, but he’d be crying when we’d wake up, he eventually went hoarse. I started sleeping in the living room next to the crate. He’d fall asleep as long as my fingers were in the crate.
After a week of this, we were pretty worn out, but still willing to do it, if he’d eventually get better, but our landlord, who we’d convinced to change her no-pets policy, decided she actually didn’t want pets. So, we were forced to give McQueen back to the breeder. My wife also received news that she might need surgery. And, I work from home as a freelance designer, which was great with the dog, as I could be with him during the day, and he could keep me company. But, I wasn’t able to work much with McQueen being so upset. And if my wife was going to need surgery, I’d need to take on a larger work load. So, even though we were devastated, we felt that it was probably the best decision, rather than break out lease.
Now, here’s where this gets murky. We’ve decided to move to a new house at the end of April — for unrelated reasons — that does allow pets. After a couple more tests, it looks like surgery isn’t going to be a problem for my wife. And the breeder emailed us to tell us that McQueen hasn’t resold and she’d really like us to have him if we’re able.
My wife grew very attached to McQueen, as did I, but she’s having a harder time recovering from the loss. I still remember waking up three times a night to take him out, cleaning his crate from his diarrhea (as a result of his anxiety, it wasn’t a regular accident, he was so stressed it made him sick), and how tired we were.
My question is, he’ll be 13 week in May, when we’d get him back, from your experience will he be easier to work with?
I know this sounds like we’re high maintenance, but I want to give this dog the best life possible, and part of that is making sure I can handle taking care of him. I love this dog, but if someone else can provide him a better life, than I’d rather do that.
Like I said, I’m a freelance graphic designer, and I figured he’d be a good excuse to get out couple times a day. Go for walks, there’s a dog park half-a-mile away and many of our friends have dogs, so we have a social network and support. We travel some, but most of the time we’d be able to take McQueen with us, and the other times, friends of ours have volunteered to dogsit.
Thanks so much,
Adam and Diana
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Tags: Crating, Dog, Friends, Mini Schnauzer, Miniature Schnauzer, Puppy, Separation Anxiety, Training
March 31st, 2010 at 10:07 am
Has the puppy experienced the same issues while back at the breeders? Has the breeder tried to sell the dog o someone else? (and was it returned for the same reasons?) I would say take he puppy for a week and see if it is now better able to cope. I have had schanuzers in the house since I was a baby and have three now. This seems very unusual.
March 31st, 2010 at 10:17 am
Hi, I know what you are going through. I had a Yorkshire Terrier named Bailey. He had a hard time with separation anxiety. Bailey was an agressive and protective dog as well (little man’s syndrome). So when we had a house full of people over we would have to lock him in our room or attach him to his leash outside. If I was not next to him or holding him, even 10 feet away he would panic. He would cry the whole time! This goes for any situation where we were not at home. He would work himself up so bad that the next day he would be sick, part of that did come from his illness though. I would worry every time I had to take him to the vet and leave him there because he would not go to the bathroom, eat, and would only sleep due to complete exhaustion from crying all day (he had pancreatis and diabetes). The nurses grew to know Baily and knew of his awkward behavior. I would have to go to the hospital several times a day just to feed him and take him out to the restroom and when I left the nurses said he would cry until he feel asleep. It was heartbraking to me and I could never imagine giving him up. It is definatley A LOT of work and definatley not characteristics of a common dog. Yet, my family and I adapted and knew it was something that we could never change and acceped it since we loved him so much! He was definatley the baby in the family and needed extra TLC then most dogs, but we didn’t mind knowing he was happy! I am sure with time McQueen will ease up on the anxiety. She is just a puppy and may have to much energy! As they get older they do mellow out. I hope you choose to take McQueen back! Maybe you can put the crate in your room so she is closer or get another dog so she is preoccupied, just suggestions…
April 2nd, 2010 at 8:36 am
I have heard of people placing a ticking clock next to the crate to give the impression of the mother’s heart beat which can give puppies peace of mind. Anyone ever tried this before?
We actually never crated Kaiser during the night. We put him on his leash and tied it to our bed post so he would not wander, and that seemed to work out fine.
Now, Kaiser has free roam at night and usually ends up sleeping on the rug next to our bed. This probably isn’t recommended, but it worked for us.
April 5th, 2010 at 12:44 pm
When we first brought Oskar home at 6 weeks old Kelly and I kept close eye on him. He was very small, and we felt that he was too young and little to roam too far on his own. This is not to say that we didn’t let him roam. We had already decided that he would be crate trained for nights (sleeping), and times that we’d be away at work, etc. (at least until we felt he could handle a little more space). Remember crates are not to be considered confinement, punishment, or anything of the sort. A pup’s crate is his or her safe space.
The first day and the next we mostly played with him in the Living Room. The first night he was crated in that room, and we all slept great. The following night we moved the crate into a spare Bedroom that we had predetermined would be his room. This is when things took a turn into the kind of restless night you described. Moving him into our room didn’t seem to help, as a matter of fact may have made future separation harder for him to bear.
I too sifted though literature in order to find a fix, but mostly found all the things I had already read about and done to properly acclimate him to his crate. I don’t remember how but finally in a “duh” moment I found something I didn’t really notice before. It retrospect it seems so obvious. That spare Bedroom is in the exact opposite corner of the house from the Living Room. He’d never been in there in his first 48 hours of being in this place. Sure the crate was familiar, but to him what was this place outside the crate?
We moved the crate back into the Living Room, and all returned to peaceful night’s sleep. In the following weeks we introduced him to that and all other rooms in the house. We would leave the door to the crate open in the living room while we were all hanging out and secretly place treats inside – that way, when he was comfortable he could poke his head in the crate and find something great. This way, the crate became a place he wanted to go. Eventually we moved the crate into that spare bedroom without losing a wink of sleep. As a matter of fact when he knows it’s his last trip to “do his business” and time for bed, he’ll trot to that room and get right in without command. Of course he knows a treat is coming.
This may not be the exact answer for you, but I’m willing to bet that the answer is obvious but is somehow being missed. If you watch Animal Planet, National Geographic, and Discover Channel shows long enough you’ll notice that almost all the time the problem is not the dog, it’s the owners. It’s us. This won’t win me any new friends on this site, but the number one mistake seems to be forgetting that they are dogs. Don’t get me wrong Oskar is my best bud, and Kelly and I dote and spoil and all that as well as anyone. However, we have to constantly remember he is a dog; therefore he’ll view and react to the world in a way I may not understand.
It would be nice to know how she is doing back with the breeder. Assuming she is doing fine I would say try again. You said it wouldn’t be until May, which is good timing to get a game plan together. You’ll be in a different house so it’ll provide a good place to basically start over. I’d clean that crate thoroughly, not because of the accident, but to make it once again unfamiliar. This is all to start over. In the first days play with her in the vicinity of the crate with the door open, try to get her to sleep and play in there with the door open, etc. The fact that you work at home will mean that you may have to go out of your way to leave McQueen alone sometimes. Just for short periods. She will have to get used to you not always being around.
Also make sure puppy is healthy and not suffering from something like ringworm – A friend’s pup had this problem when brought home from breeder – they thought the mess in the crate was anxiety and it turned out to be ringworm.
Hopefully you make it then it’s on to other issues like toilet paper, low waste baskets, and those little caps over the bolts that hold down the toilet, bad breath…
Mitch
April 7th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
We got our schnauzer (miniature schnauzer x standard schnauzer) at ten weeks old from a slightly shonky breeder who had her and her brother in a pet shop. The brother was twice the size of her and had a completely different nature, Very scatty etc. The first night we bought puppy home and fed her we realised she had severe food aggression issues, which went as far as growling, snapping- which was not a nice experience! We believe that our puppy left her mother too early for the pet shop, and was previously having to battle to get any food. After asafe in a small environment- so she slept in a cat cage for three months which se adored and slept soundly through the night.I would advise using a cage only month of repetitive training she eventually got over this issue,when she realised that we were in charge-pack leader etc. I believe dogs live for the day and your dog surely will not have this problem for ever.Our dog was 3kg when we got her, and we were told a crate would be too big- that she would only feel safe within a small space ( big enough for your dog to stand up, and turn around. Don’t give up! Our schnazer was difficult- but she did get over her issues through repetition and perseverence.
May 11th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Just in case my post can help, even at this late date, I agree with the previous post – this is something that can be overcome with patience and perseverance. Check to make sure the puppy is warm, has a small enough crate, and some cuddle toys. Make sure the puppy gets a good long walk (for a puppy with short legs!) and lots of play during the day. I also do freelance work at home, and our most recent mini schnauzer has been a handful, but the walks help so much! I use a modified Cesar Milan, Dog Whisperer approach. Puppies need time to grow and be puppies, our job is to stay patient.
Hope it goes well, no matter what you decide.
July 16th, 2010 at 4:23 am
We had the same issue with one of our schnauzers… we have 3. We gave up and let our pup sleep with us, and it was fine. Then we put him in the crate with his sister and he never cried when we left during the day again. My grandmother has schnauzers as well and she had one that had severe anxiety. The vet actually encouraged her to give him xanax/prozac. She gave him like 1/4 a prozac/xanax for about 3 years until he didnt need it anymore.
Hope it goes well, and hope you get to bring your little guy home. Puppies are like babies…they take extra understanding, patience and love in the begginging.
September 30th, 2011 at 8:57 am
My post is way beyond late but I had never been to this website before.I had a couple of thoughts that I wanted to share. The first is that you might want to think about getting a companion schnauzer for the one that you already have they seem to love that. I did a bit of hobby breeding until the economy started making it diffucult to find homes for my sweet puppies. The other is that Min. Schnauzers love to sleep with you partly because I think they often get cool and so they love to snuggle up with their owners for body warmth. Mine like to get right behind my back and up as close as possible warning though they won’t budge so you may get wedged between them. LOL Even though this didn’t help your decision earlier just thought I would share my thoughts maybe it will help someone sometime.