Lonely?

Question
QUESTION: Zak, our yorkie of 14 months  has just started waking at 4am and crying. He doesn't want a wee or a poo so I can only assume that he is lonely. He has been sleeping in his own area downstairs happily and silently ever since he was a puppy so I cannot understand what has changed. Please help.
Kind regards, Hilary

ANSWER: Hilary,

Possibly. Please tell me what you do when Zak wakes up. Do you take him outside? What are his eating, drinking and elimination habits? Do you keep him in a crate at night? During the day? Are you at home during the day or at work? Does Zak get daily walks, and has he had any obedience training? Has anything in your life changed since Zak has been waking up early in the morning, for example your work habits or relationship status?  When was the last time he saw a veterinarian and was his examination normal? Do you have any other pets? Is there any noise outside at night?

Please provide this additional information so I can best answer your question. Thank you.

Cindy

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Last night I left him hoping he would settle down himself, but normally I get up, give him a cuddle and take him out. He is eating and drinking normally - Fed twice/day ( Ekanuba) . He never rushes with his food and usually takes his last snack of his "evening meal" around 9pm but often doesn't finish it all.
In the daytime my husband and I are both at home, he has the run of the house, is very happy although always loves being close to us.  At night he is in a smaller area which is gated off. We walk him every day and up to this past 2 weeks he has been very settled and in a good routine.
The only change in his life has been that we have just had the house painted outside and there have been a team of 7 extra guys on the property - however, there was no negative incidents and for him his routine was kept pretty much the same. We live on a golf course so it's quiet and he is the only pet in the home. He had a routine check up at the vet about 6 months ago and is due for his next course of injections in a couple of months.
He attended training when he was a puppy. I am quite firm with him as I know Yorkies have very strong characters. Our previous Yorkie,  which we had for 16 years,  was a female,  perhaps this make a difference?
I appreciate your help. Should you require further info please let me know
Kind regards, Hilary

Answer
Hi Hilary,

Thank you for this additional information. I think I get the picture and can help you now. If you notice anything else different with your dog other than what you've told me here - change in appetite, change in behavior, change in elimination, etc., please contact your veterinarian for a visit to rule out any medical causes for his behavior change.

From what you tell me, I think your assessment is probably right. I think Zak may want to be with you - also, by picking him up and cuddling with him when he cries, you are inadvertently rewarding that behavior and making it stronger.

I would recommend not giving him any attention when he cries. It may sound cruel, but he has no doubt learned that crying gets him your attention. At first he may cry more when you do not give him the attention he is accustomed to, but it should fade away once he realizes it will no longer work to get him what he wants.

I would also recommend feeding him at scheduled times and allowing him to eat for a maximum of 15 minutes. What he does not eat, I would pick up and put away for his next feeding. I know he's a tiny dog, but he will probably not starve. He will get hungry and eat. The late night snacking may be affecting his ability to sleep through the night, or it may not be, but it is not good for a dog to be able to graze on his food. Structure and limited availability of resources usually helps a dog's psyche. Just imagine how you would start to think about eating if you were surrounded by a buffet 24/7.

I wonder if your dog doesn't like his food? You might try switching to another food, but if you do so you need to change gradually: 1/4 new food to 3/4 old for a couple of days, then 1/2 and 1/2 for a couple of days, then 3/4 new and 1/4 old for a couple days and finally all of the new food if he is tolerating this procedure and the new food. Look for a high quality food without artificial colorings, preservatives and other additives.

Zak is now an adolescent dog. He may have decided that he wants to be with you day and night and since he gets what he wants by crying, he continues to cry. He may have a tad of separation anxiety since you and your husband are both home during the day. It sounds like night time is the only time he is separated from you. Is there any reason he can't sleep in the bedroom with you in his crate or on a dog bed? My dogs are free to sleep where they choose at night but I have crates and dog beds set up for them in my bedroom as well as in the living room. We all sleep well at night, though they may change rooms early in the night before midnight.

You might also want to practice some separation periods with Zak so he can learn to tolerate being without you. Leave the house for very short periods of time and return without making a big fuss over him.

I realize Zak is a terrier and commend you for being "firm" with him, but please don't be too firm. I believe that regardless of breed, all dogs benefit from the same things - a predictable schedule, regular exercise, positive reinforcement training and mental stimulation.

Perhaps Zak needs more mental stimulation. Have you ever thought about clicker training? I like clicker training because it teaches dogs to think and leaves them satisfied and tired from thinking. A dog that thinks and feels like he has control over his environment will be more confident and tend to have fewer behavior issues. You might also want to consider interactive toys. Here are some videos of one of my dogs with some interactive toys:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4DqzlwSOx8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTXuKaNOdWY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4MwI3GSdqo

Here is another game you can play with your dog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mQrS6n4kJU

I doubt the fact that Zak is a male makes much of a difference, though he most certainly has his own unique personality that is different from your previous Yorkie. I have a feeling that once you provide a little more mental stimulation for Zak, take a look at his diet and feeding schedule and re-evaluate his bedtime sleeping place, plus stop reinforcing him for crying, things will improve. But, please keep a close watch on him and take him to the vet for a medical evaluation should the crying continue or he develop additional behavior changes.

Hope this helps - please let me know if you have further questions.

Cindy