Feeling badly

[Jen & Ember]

So after reading someone's post about audio recording their dood, I thought, "Hey! I should webcam her!" I was curious what she did while I was gone and how some of her toys mysteriously ended up on the outside of her expen (she has an open crate attached to her expen).  I set up the webcam on my laptop and proceeded with my day as usual... When I came home at lunch time I reviewed the footage.

For the first 20 mins she was very occupied with a frozen kong and a treat ball, laying in the crate. Then she got out and picked up a toy and started whining, then doing a bark/howl muffled by the toy. Then she started climbing up the expen and looking out, whining/barking (now I know how the toys got out...). When I watched it the first time I thought it went on for about 15-20 mins, but I just watched again and it's actually 3 minutes. But still, I feel awful that she was feeling anxious and barking. After that she went back in the crate, laid down and slept. She moved around to different spots, but stayed calm and slept the rest of the couple hours. 

I guess the first thing is that the ex-pen has to go. I'm certain she will be able to jump out or hurt herself trying at some point, and there really is no reason to have it. I had it because I had gotten a guilt trip from a family member about their view on crating. 

I wish I wouldn't have watched it, I have to say. I feel so badly about her barking/howling... and that she has probably been doing this for a long time. I wonder if there's a way to help her transition from kong to calm/sleep better? I feel like a failure. :( 

Sorry, just needed to vent. Feeling like a bad puppy mom. 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

The bottom line though is it was only 3 minutes and not 15-20 and then she was fine. You are not a bad puppy mom.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Oh boy, I am sorry you feel that way.... I don't have any advice as I had/have the guilts about leaving Jack and if I am going to be gone for more then a few hours he goes to his baby sitters house or I have someone come get him. When he was litle and had a lot of energy he went to daycare all day to play.

three minutes is not that long to bark, really it isn't and I am a softie... That was a protest but she settled right down.....  Can you do daycare? Is that an option? Really just a few minutes is not bad.....

You most certainly are not a bad doodle mom over that,

[Jen & Ember]

Thanks Jennifer. She goes to daycare 2 days a week and looooves it. 2 days a week I work a half day and she stays at home in the crate. The other day is a bit longer and I come home on lunch. If for some reason I have too long of a day or late appointments scheduled at work, I have family in the area that picks her up to go play with other doggie buddies. 

I just hated seeing her sad. I think you're right though, probably a protest and then she settled down fine. Hopefully she grows out of it quickly. 

[BG and Gavin]

Do not feel guilty!  If you are leaving her feeling guilty she will sense that and be more anxious.  Three mintues of fussing is not much at all.  Just like babies they have to learn how to self-sooth.  She obviously got through it successfully and put herself to sleep.  Give her a good bit of exercise before you leave in the morning, leave her the Kong and she will take care of the rest.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Exactly, this is just how I feel.  Three minutes of fussing is no big deal.  You should feel great that she's confident enough to relax after that and go to sleep.  You certainly don't want her to sense your "guilt".  I also agree that exercise to tire her out before you leave and the Kong to keep her busy for a while after will help.  I think she's doing great, and learning that she can be alone and wait for your return is good for every dog.   You're doing a wonderful job, Mom. 

[Melanie and Girls]

I think you are doing an excellent job!!  Maybe she's just howling because her kong is empty :)  "Oh waiter...."

[Ann Hughes]

That's exactly it!  ;-) Your dog does that too?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Our Springer is on post surgical confinement in an ex-pen.  He gets anxious when left without a human and climbs/jumps out - bad leg and all.  He doesn't tip it over or go under it.  Just thought I'd let you know that you might come home to be greeted at the front door instead.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Awwww don't feel bad Jen, dogs are den animals and crates are their homes and safe places.  Crates are good things - not bad.  Both my doodles are crated and I come home for lunch every day to spend the hour with them.  They  have each other to keep company and their crates are next to each other.  I am going to transition to eventually no crate at all, Sasha is a little over 2 years old and Oliver is 18 months.  Both doodles are house trained and are loose all night with no issues and if one of them needs to go out they bark at my bedroom door.   I think I may let them loose in the morning when I leave for work and then crate them after lunch until I get home and see how that goes.  Sasha would be fine not crated at all but I am still a bit concerned about Ollie, he still has lots of "puppy" in him and I don't want him to get into any trouble.

 

Don't feel bad or stress out over this, sometimes we humanize our dogs, I know I am guilty of that big time.  You sound like you are a wonderful doodle Mom.  If you stress out over this then you could stress out Ember as well.  Keep doing what you are doing... she is safe in her crate.

 

My computer has a web cam but I never used it - how did you set it up?

[Jen & Ember]

Thanks Barbara. :) We're definitely going to just crate and I think she'll be fine. I'm feel better today about it. 

I think I will also want to transition to no crate at some point in the (very) distant future. She now has free run of the bedroom at night and of the whole house when I'm home and can keep an eye on her. She can be very sneaky when getting into trouble and if there is silence she is sure to be getting into something she shouldn't. :)

For the webcam, I put my laptop on the kitchen counter in view of the area that she was penned in, turned on the webcam, and hit record. I also made sure my powercord was plugged in since I figured it could possibly run out of battery while I was gone. 

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Jen, Do you leave a TV or radio on or something for Ember when you leave? The bottom line is you have to leave Ember sometimes....you just do...and she might have to carry on for a few minutes to settle herself down and voice her disapproval, but then it sounded like she was fine. She is safer in a crate than wandering around the house, etc. I know it is hard to leave them, but it has to be done. You sound like a great puppy mom.

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I agree - you should not feel bad although I know that it is easier to say than to do.  The fact that she calmed herself is a good sign, we want our dogs to be left and know that we will return so although it took a bit she did self sooth.  I think this is healthy and a good sign that she is fine.  Had she of barked and cried for an hour - then I would be concerned.