My Mini Pin Cries throughout the Night

[Londres70]

I have three mini pins, but I have a problem with one, Noir.  He cries throughout the night.  He just started this behavior about 2-3 months ago.  

He also poops and pees throughout our living room if we leave.  He likes to stay in the house.  The other dogs like being outside.  

We both work.  So, to come home to this alot of the time is driving us nuts.  Plus, we cannot get a good night's sleep.  

We are taking him to the vet next week.  

Any tips? Ideas?  

[Londres70]

Well, the vet said it was pretty much anxiety and offered us some non-medication options.  I don't want to medicate my dog with tranquilizers, etc.  We will try her options too.  

Noir has been good for the last couple of days as far as the poop and urine.  He whines some nights, but not every night like before.  

[Ghilly]

I think it was very wise of you to make an appointment for him at the vet.  When a young dog starts to develop odd habits (and inappropriate elimination is one of the biggies), the first thing you need to do is to eliminate any possible medical problems as the cause.  When dogs (and cats, as well) start to eliminate inappropriately, since they cannot speak to us, it's their way of telling us that something is wrong.  They have to find a way to get us to notice them and eliminating in the house is probably the surest way to do that.  Hopefully, whatever it is will turn out to be something minor that is easily treated or overcome.  Please post back and let us know what the vet says.

Ghilly

[Londres70]

Noir just turned 2 in August.  

My husband and I just returned from shipping in the city and we actually had clean floors (no poop or urine).  There are few times he is good.  I just don't know why he started this 2-3 months ago.  It is not everytime, but most of the time.  

I will try your tips.  We have never crated our dogs, but I surely will try anything to help Noir at this point.  

He will see the vet on wednesday afternoon.  

[Ghilly]

How old is Noir?  Sometimes when they get older their eyesight and hearing start to fail them, and they develop a mild form of senility.  This tends to be more of a problem to them at night than during the day because they will wander around the house and, for lack of a better way to put it, get "lost" in the house.  They will whine and cry until someone hears them and comes to their rescue.  The pooping and peeing is his reaction to separation anxiety when you leave.  As long as you are there with him, he feels safe and doesn't have the problem.  He probably feels safe in the house, therefore he'd rather stay inside than go out with the other dogs.

Dogs, no matter what breed they are, are descended from wolves and as such, all have a strong denning instinct.  It might help him to set up a crate for him where he can feel safe and secure when you are not there.  As long as you only keep him in there when you are not at home or when you are sleeping, it is not cruel to crate them and, in fact, in the case of dogs who have a separation anxiety, it can sometimes help to keep them calm because they feel more secure in a cozy little space than they do rattling around in a big house by themselves.  You can try crating him, along with a soft, cuddly toy and a shirt that you have worn (so that it carries your scent) and maybe this will help.  You can also try leaving him for very short periods of time several times a day.  Don't announce to him that you are leaving, just simply walk out the door, stay outside for a minute or two, and then come back in.  As time goes on, lengthen the amount of time that you are gone and he will see that no matter when you go or how long you are gone, you always come back.  This could help him to better deal with the situation when he discovers that you are not at home.

If he is a puppy, use the "go ou unannouncedt, stay away a bit longer each time, come back" to help him get adjusted to your schedule and to feel more at ease when you are away.  If he's an older dog, you can use the same method, however your vet may want to prescribe a light anti-anxiety medication for him to help him deal with your absences.  Depending on his age, sometimes it's easier to help them with medicine than to try to retrain them after their senses have begun to fail them, since their hearing and sight are so sharp when they are young and it's upsetting to them when they no longer feel like they can protect themselves as their senses begin to show signs of age.

Of course, the most important factor is the age of your dog, since if he is young, training will be the key and if he is older and beginning to show early signs of senility, playing up his comfort will be the most important thing you can do.  Please post back.

Ghilly