Oliver still hates the crate

[Doodle & Hound]

So he is almost 16 weeks, cute as a button,friendly, sleeps on bed with us and Lucy Basset. I have literally tried every trick from vet, YouTube, trainer, friends, this forum, etc. He goes into crate to eat, (door closed)will lay down on his own but once the door closes when I'm leaving- the high pitched squealing begins. I left for an hour and I believe he cried the entire time. So now I have purchased this. https://ifamcare.com/product/home-video-monitor-white/
And hope it will help my anxiety too. I know he must feel my stress too. Please wish us luck.

[Emery & Watson]

Perhaps try tiring him out before crate time?  

Also I found that my pup seemed to like having white noise around, like we were there.  We tried leaving the tv on, talk radio, or classical music on and it seemed to help. Or maybe it was just time :P

Anyhow, I remember those days and being heartbroken that he would cry for so long, but it gets better!

Good luck!

[Kat and Winston]

I'm sorry that Oliver is making you feel so anxious. I definitely understand and I hope the monitor helps reassure you that he is OK.

As you know we were having similar issues with Winston so I'm going to share what I've been doing for just two days after being confused by all the positive/reward methods etc., which I do like for most things, but wasn't sure how to really make it work with this since it's not that he doesn't like his crate, he just doesn't like being left alone. It's based on Jan Fennell's methods and some love her and some really really don't, so take it for what it's worth.

Again, in our case Winston likes his crate, but gets upset when we all leave the room. So what I've done is let him settle himself in the crate while I'm in the room. Then I get up and leave, and usually before I'm even out the door, even if he was asleep, he's up and looking and whining. I do not speak to him or look at him and leave the room, count to 10 or so and come back in and wander around the room without looking at him, speaking to him or acknowledging him.  I just pretend I"m busy doing whatever. Repeat, next time leaving for 15 or so seconds. Then 20. Then 30. His whining doesn't seem to get as carried away but he's usually still a bit noisy with whimpers or what have you.

Then I'll come back in and sit down still ignoring him, looking at a book or whatever, until he completely settles himself by laying down and not making any noise. At that point I will tell him what a good boy he is in a very happy voice a few times and then he'll usually go back to sleep and then I repeat the scenario again.

By the fourth time, I was able to leave and go make my lunch and he stayed in his crate asleep.

It worked again today and this time I only had to come in and out 3 times before he settled and I was able to leave and he stayed asleep in it for over an hour. I also noticed that he wasn't as worked up even when I left the first couple of times, but still did make noise and yelp a bit.

Some worry that it will break the bond, but I don't think so, since I make a big deal to praise him when he's laying in the crate when I'm in the room and pay him lots of attention when he gets out after.

I've also started to do this ignoring when the kids come in to the room in the morning. Instead of them acknowledging him when he jumps up to greet them, I tell them to ignore him and to take a seat. Once Winston is calm then they can call him to them and have a nice greeting. I have dh do the same when he returns from work.

I've read by quite a few trainers now that the ignoring them when leaving and coming is key to keeping the separation anxiety low.

I hope that you find something that works soon for you and Oliver.

[Doodle & Hound]

Thanks so much for the positive feedback! So appreciative! Today, I ltired him out, put his Kong and fav toy in the crate turned on the camera- went to the store, gone about an hour. Checked the camera feed and he fussed right away, next time I checked he was asleep!!!!! I feel like a young mom again, so happy that baby is sleeping!
The camera has sound so that along with the "real time video" has settled me down. As I am writing this, Oliver just went into his crate and curled up.

[Kat and Winston]

OH that's great success. Winston is currently sleeping in his crate in another room as I type too. I'm feeling more and more successful and realize at this age it's not so much true separation anxiety as just learning to be able to settle themselves when left alone. 

I agree with the feeling like a young mom again. That really struck me yesterday when Winston slept from 10:30p.m.  to 5:30 a.m.without waking. It was like that feeling when the baby sleeps through the night for the first time...lol