Can dogs have Claustrophobia?

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Is this spelled right? Anyways, can dogs have claustrophobia?

I put the puppy in the crate last night with Yankee and I right there. He started to hyperventilate and wouldn't stop. I started to get scared and took him out. He didn't stop right away, I had to take him outside. I knew I wouldn't get any much needed sleep so I put a blanket in the bathroom and closed the door and he was just fine in there. He was there for 5 or 6 hours and didn't make any messes. DH took him out around 6am and he did his business. I also put him in there when I went out today and he is fine with it. I am afraid to try the crate again.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Some members will have good advice for you about how to crate train your dog. Our doodle took to the crate right away, but our English Springer did NOT. We gave up crating him and all was fine. There are some positive things about using a crate, but it isn't mandatory.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I think bathrooms and laundry rooms make great crates for a lot of dogs. I use my laundry room for my two doodles after about six months because I got tired of tripping over the crate. Small laundry room- large crate! Just make sure the bathroom is doodleproof. Put tot locks on the cupboard doors if you have to, one of my doods can open the bath vanity door to the trash - yuck - so tot lock.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

And I still am waiting for the day when someone will post "Why did my dog chew the water pipes in my bathroom, or laundry room?"..lol. Crates like everything else have their up's and down's. Try putting him in the crate for 2 mins at a time and sit right there petting and talking to him, give him a small treat..than bring him out..slowly increase the time and your distance...he will get the idea and be fine with it. Hannah was the worst I ever crate trained...took her at least a month..every night it was bath time because she would poop in it no matter what(seperation anixety), finally she stopped and they love their crates they nap in them all the time.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

I made my DH cover the pipes with a strong wood box years ago, also the handles on the sink. But you are right you can never tell what a dtermined escaper will do.