Escapee

[Jessica]

Luther severely dislikes being separated from us. He's fine in his kennel at night (it's in or room). Not so much any other time. He has escaped it several times while we have been gone. The first time he was in a smaller kennel and figured out how to unlatch it. So we tied it shut the next time. He pushed the bottom tray out, flipped the kennel, and squeezed out a bottom square. We moved him to a larger kennel and used a carabeener in the middle of the door (halfway between the two latches). He unlatched the bottom latch and managed to squeeze out. The next time we leave we're putting a carabeener on each latch. He is way too smart lol. Hopefully he doesn't find another way to break free. Our mini poodle only requires 1 carabeener on the door to keep her in. Thankfully the only things he's destroyed are 3 mini blinds, a diaper (pee thank heavens!), and a wicker basket. There are sooo many things he could have destroyed. He didn't even have a potty accident, amd we were gone about 4 hours.

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Houdini has nothing on him.  I know it must be frustrating to you but his antics have me in stitches.  

[Jessica]

lol, we're finding it more funny than frustrating currently. DH freaked once. Now he just laughs in disbelief. We will escape proof his kennel!!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Do you know if he gets really upset when you leave?  Sometimes dogs develop separation anxiety which is why they feel the need to escape from the crate.  I would really worry that he is going to ingest something that will do serious damage or hurt himself while trying to escape.  Maybe you could put his crate in a room that his been "Doodle proofed" to at least address the concern with what he might get into.  Have you tried a treat filled kong in the crate when you leave....exercising him well right before you go so he would be tired?

[Jessica]

He does have separation anxiety. He's perfectly fine in his kennel at night. His crate is already in the most doodle proof room (ours). I always do a check before leaving to ensure there isn't anything that could hurt him at his level, the doors are shut, trash/laundry is up, etc. He has a hollow bone in the kennel with him. We tried putting peanut butter in it a few times. Didn't make a difference. He's almost always exercised before (either walk or fetch) and he isn't in there for extended periods if time. Our other dog is in a separate kennel in the room. We've tried not leaving her in the room (she's fine roaming while we're gone), and leaving her. We've tried music. We haven't tried a blanket over the kennel because I didn't want him to pull it in and chew on it. He does seem to be getting better, he doesn't seem to flip out as much, and is more willing to go in the kennel. Hopefully with time he'll be better.
For giggles I'm attaching a picture of the most recent configuration on the kennel. Hubby decided to use a leash on it. So currently there are 4 carabeeners and a leash on the kennel lol.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Well it certainly sounds like you're doing everything to control this and keep him safe.  I hope with time his anxiety gets better.  Good luck.