Ask the pet editor

Question: We have a small 14-yearold Yorkshire terrier that has been exhibiting puzzling behavior since I was very ill last year. When my sister leaves the house, Taffy barks constantly until she returns. Scolding had no effect. She does not do this when I leave. How can I get her to stop?

Answer: When our son was still young and cute, he did have a rather annoying habit of throwing a fit every time we turned off the TV. We’d comfort him, telling him not to worry because TV would come back — it always came back.

Turns out he suffered from separation anxiety. He’d formed such a strong bond with the entertaining yet inanimate object, he feared its departure. Now that he’s 18, he’s overcome this anxiety by having his own TV and leaving it on.

However, you can’t leave your sister “on” all the time with Taffy. It could be construed as false imprisonment.

The goal is to break Taffy of the dependence on your sister, said Valley pet behaviorist Sam Kabbel (petbehaviorsolutions.com). And that means your sister has to ignore the Yorkie at all times so you don’t have to suffer yappy hours each time your sis leaves.

If Taffy is following your sister around, have her close doors to keep the dog out of the bedroom and bathroom. You need to feed and play with Taffy exclusively, Kabbel said.

Have your sister leave the house for 30 seconds, then a minute. As Taffy adjusts (and doesn’t bark), extend the time.

If Taffy continues to stress when your sister leaves, you may need professional help. Or earplugs. Your choice.