My female dog is an emotional reck!

Question
I have a female yorkie/shit zu, and she is almost two years old.  Lately she has been different in every way.  She use to be the best friendly and loving dog now she is neurotic, and yes she is fixed.  She is my boyfriend and I dog, and she has always favored men more than women. But lately she is so bad.  If I take her and our other dog out to the bathroom she won't go for me, only him.  My boyfriend has just received a promotion and travels a lot during the week and when he is gone she walks around shaking and panting.  She won't eat and she hides in the closet where he keeps his suitcases.  She will do this for days and I don't know what to do.  I give her reassurance, bones, treats, and praise.  Nothing works.  If you have any suggestion I would greatly appreciate it, she needs some help it can't be healthy for her.

Answer
If you reread your email I think you'll find most of your own answers :). She's reacting to the fact that he is gone so much and you are reacting by giving her 'reassurance, bones, treats and praise" You are affectively rewarding her for her bad behavior which is reinforcing the fear response and the anxiety attacks she's having. Go to alpha boot camp on the web , read it and implement it. Even with a tiny toy these dogs need to feel that you are the leader, they are the follower and in a safe place emotionally. Stop rewarding her bad behavior and instead ignore it. Walk her, I know she's small, but walk her anyway, at least twice a day  every day.
Good luck and I hope better days are ahead for you. This is fixable, you just have to learn how to be the alpha in your home so that she feels she is not in danger.
Cindi