Stew's 3rd day home alone....

[Jess & Stewart]

Stew has now been home alone in his crate for 3 days while I'm at work. Actually, Sunday & Monday, I wasn't at work but I acted like I was & left at 7:50 am, came home at 11:45, then left again from 1-4:45 pm.

Yesterday, I did laundry in my basement for an hour, then ran errands until I came home for lunch. He screamed in the crate for the entire hour & I believe he made the other dog in the apt building start barking, because certain barks were definitely not his. I'm on the third floor, in the rear of the building and could still hear him down 4 levels in the basement! I came home for lunch, no pee/poop in the crate, but he had chewed at the plate on the front, there were scratch/bite marks on the paper, he messed the blanket over the crate up, pulled some of it into the crate & his toys (nylabone) was stuck in the back part of the crate. If you look closely at the picture you can see them. I took him out, fed him in the first 10 minutes of my lunch break, then he curled up on the floor & fell asleep! He woke up as I was making myself lunch about 15 minutes later, so I took him for a long walk, then played inside until I had to leave again.

When I came home, he still had the blanket over the crate, but the other stuff was pushed to one side and he was barking, whining & panting. I let him out & he ran full speed to his water bowl & drank almost a cup of water! No pee/poop again in the crate!

Today was the same, more scratches on the front of the crate, the blanket over top was messed up & had a bunch of bite marks in it! His face was wet also. Again. he ran right to his water bowl for water, although I did leave him with some ice cubes in addition to all his other stuff.

I have the crate in my bedroom, blanket covering it, snuggle puppy, a pillowcase of mine & a nylabone in there with him. I also gave him bits of apple to chew on (he'd eaten them the day before). I left the radio on & a nightlight so it wasn't total darkness. What else can I do?

I attached a fun snow picture also! He LOVES the snow!

[Donna Bay & Buzz]

Sometimes you've done all you can do and there are just some dogs who have major crate anxiety. Can i recommend that you remove the blanket on top. I would really hate to hear about an accident. They make crate covers that might fit more securely that he cant pull in. Or just nothing at all. You are really making a valiant effort. I think he will settle over some time. I know its hard. Good luck.

[Jess & Stewart]

Thanks, yes I'm considering removing the blanket. My neighbor who has dogs said he barked for most of the day, although she said she could only hear it when her apartment was quiet. She said her dogs barely reacted, only a few barks.
I felt awful, but she said it was no big deal. Everyone in my building works during the day thankfully, she was only home because of the snow here.

I find it hard to believe it's already bad separation anxiety, he's only 11 weeks old. I don't want to make it worse! Should I look into a trainer? There is one in my area who will come to your home & is very highly recommended.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this issue of separation anxiety. It sounds to me you've really put the effort in to make a smooth transition back to work, but Stew just isn't cooperating.... so frustrating. You're lucky that your neighbors are all out during the day. The last thing you need is complaints from other tenants. I'm a little concerned by how thirsty Stew is, especially since he gets himself so worked up when you're away. I wonder if it would hurt to put a bowl of water in his crate when you leave? I know you don't want any accidents, but it really sounds to me he needs access to water. Maybe others have more experience with this. I was lucky that both my doodles loved their crates (and still do) and will happily go inside and immediately lie down to sleep. They never fuss (and never did as young puppies, either) when we leave. The only things I did differently from what you're doing is I had a CD I played whenever they went into their crates (and every time, without exception), called, 'While You Are Gone, Music Pets Love":

http://www.amazon.com/While-You-Are-Gone-Music/dp/B00004ZB78

I played it whenever I took them in the car, too. It became a cue for them to settle and sleep. Also, I always gave them a small edible treat whenever they went into their crates. They really looked forward to it! I don't know if these things would work with Stew, but they couldn't hurt. Good luck, I hope this is just a temporary thing. BTW, a good trainer is a good idea, too!

[Jess & Stewart]

Debb- A friend at work suggested putting a ice cube or two in the crate. She said he may be thirsty & bored rather than hating the crate, since there are only slight marks & he hasn't injured himself or really tried to get out. She said I should keep trying things in the KONG or a Buster Cube, maybe I just haven't found something he really likes yet. If I put some yogurt or pumpkin in the KONG, would that encourage him to go to the bathroom in the crate? How much yogurt would be a good amount to use? Maybe I'll look up recipes.

The trainer offers 1 hour 30 minute behavior sessions, with unlimited email/phone support. They aren't terribly expensive either. I'm thinking it would be a good idea, at least to know I'm doing things correctly from a trainer's perspective.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Music's a good idea.  Also, maybe he just hates the crate.  Although they say dogs like their dens, mine did not like it at all. He preferred my closet -- but he wasn't going to stay in there all day :)  If the enclosed crate doesn't work, maybe you could try a puppy pen and put it in your kitchen. That way he can move around, have a bit of water. Unfortunately, there will be accidents but perhaps he'll be more relaxed.  Keep working at it.  You're doing great.  You're in the midst of your first challenge -who's going to train who.  Gosh he's cute!

[Jess & Stewart]

I do keep the radio on low also. I fed Stew in a KONG in his crate tonight, with the door open. After he finished eating, when I was on the couch, he wandered into his crate a few times & was sniffing around. I'll take that as a good sign! I lapsed a bit on feeding him in his crate, but I'm going to start again. He is typically fine in the crate at night, I've been stronger about ignoring him during the night & he's held it all night (11-5:45) for the past 3 nights.

Since he's fine at night & is pretty ok when I need to do something but I'm home, I'm thinking he doesn't HATE the crate, but HATES to be alone. Hopefully, it'll get better once he realizes that's the routine & that I WILL come back at lunch & after work. I'll work from Step 1 & beyond on the ASPCA crate training more this weekend. According to them, it should only take a weekend to acclimate them to being alone.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have Lixit water bottles on my crates. I have never seen Luca use his but Calla does on occasion.

[Nancy and Georgia Brown]

I am so sorry you are dealing with all this.

I know how frustrating it is and I see how hard you are working to do everything right. Sometimes dogs just don't cooperate with the program.

I have two thoughts but since I am a new puppy owner also and first time with the crate I'm sure the others on here would know more.

1. According to my marathon episodes watching the Dog Whisperer (making me an obvious expert!) be sure you aren't projecting your own anxiety around the situation. Make sure you are calm and relaxed.

2. What does your puppy like? Is there a way to incorporate that into the crate routine and/or save a special really great treat that he only gets when you leave?

When I brought my puppy home she let me know within 2 hours that she wanted to be on the sofa at all times. I tried putting her in her crate and she put up a fuss. So that first night I put her in her crate after she fell asleep on the sofa and she was too tired to put up much fuss. I also realized quickly she never soiled in her crate and she likes very soft cushy things to lay on and she likes to spread out when she sleeps, so I took out the divider and and added a regular bed pillow that fit perfectly in the crate. My idea was to simulate the feel of the sofa as much as possible. It has worked really well. She goes in there on her own at times, but still prefers the sofa. Again this may not work for other dogs but I was watching her and what she liked and responding to that. 

If I plan to leave for awhile I put her in the crate a few minutes before I need to leave. I make sure she is well exercised, has gone potty, and not hyped up. And play very soft relaxing music. I walk in and out of the room ignoring her. Then I leave and she doesn't make a peep. I come back and ignore her and she doesn't care. I've been home now for an hour and she is sleeping soundly in her crate by the computer.

But all dogs are different. She has other issues, trust me. 

[Jess & Stewart]

Thanks Nancy- Stew does like to lay on my couch, but will usually jump off to lay by my feet on the hardwood floor. He lays behind my feet on the floor & between the couch with his head on my feet, I think it's adorable! So I figured I wouldn't put a bed or anything in the crate, aside from his snuggle puppy & a small pillowcase of mine.

He hasn't ever gone to the bathroom in his crate and I've had him for almost 3 weeks now this Friday. When we play the crate games, when he goes in for a treat, he usually only goes halfway in, since the divider blocks him & I usually coax him to go in & turn to the side so his whole body is in there. Maybe I should increase the space little by little?

This morning I put some yogurt & a few treats in a KONG (I put it in the freezer for a few minutes so it was cold), I've been giving him a little mixed with his food as we transition, so I know he likes it. I closed the crate down & he freaked trying to get in, I let him in & he was eating away at it. Then I backed out of the room & as soon as I reached my bedroom door, he stopped eating & started barking. I still just continued to walk out. I'm hoping that he'll remember it's there & continue eating it. I also put 2 small ice cubes in a small container & left that for him, if he's thirsty. Took the blanket off so he doesn't pull & bite at it.

I'm hoping that with the KONG & ice cubes he still holds his pee/poop too! I guess I'll see when I go home for lunch. Fingers crossed!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I would certainly give him enough room so that he can walk straight in with a little room to spare.

[Kyoko]

He is so cute!! Sounds like he is not liking to be in the crate... So sorry for the struggle....

I am not a much fan of Nylabone, though.....I hear some scary stories about the pieces getting stuck in their throat, belly, etc....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The non-edible Nylabones are perfectly safe; in fact, that's the only chew object JD's internist says he should have, because they cannot break of pieces bigger than a grain of rice. You just have to buy the right size and strength for the individual dog.