Stew's on tramadol...

[Jess & Stewart]

And I literally couldn't be happier. He's been crazy this week and weekend after the neuter. I'm so glad that I could give him something to mellow him out more while I'm at work.

I took the advice of my aunt, who has raised many dogs and used to be a dog trainer, who said he just needs to get used to the crate and he needs to know that I'm the boss. I left him yesterday morning after a 1.5 hour walk, longer walk since he can't play.

He was

- in his crate

-with the cone on

-DAP collar on

-DAP sprayed on his bed & the crate 15 minutes before I left

-towels partially covering it and tucked under to hold them down.

-his breakfast was loosely packed into two kongs mixed with some honey and PB.

I also set up my iPad to record him.

I came home at lunch and could here him howling from outside my apartment (my living room window is open). I came and went up the stairs and no longer heard him. I came in and both towels were completely inside the crate with huge holes ripped in them. His breakfast was everywhere inside the crate. I told him to sit, be quiet, then waited 1 minute before letting him out of the crate. He then proceeded to walk back in and start eating all his breakfast and playing with the kongs.

I left him out for the afternoon with some PB in a kong, he was fine when I came home, I just walked right in and ignored him, then went over to him a few minutes later to greet him and take him out.

I also put him in the crate while I was cleaning for 30 minutes, he sat and stared at me but barely even pawed at the door to get out.

This morning I left him out of the crate, still put the DAP collar on and sprayed the crate. I gave him the tramadol 5 minutes before I left. I put his breakfast again in the kongs, in the crate, but scattered some on the bedding to entice him to go in. I also found a 2 hour You Tube video on 'Through A Dog's Ear', which I left playing on my iPad. He was laying on the rug in front of the couch when I left and lifted his head when I unlocked my door to walk out, but DID NOT follow me. No barking, crying, scratching at the door as I walked down 3 flights, out of my apt and listened underneath my living room window.

Although EVERYONE is telling me to keep him in the crate, I think it does more harm than good. I think I'll listen to the certified trainer on this one. He has never chewed anything while being out with me at night or last week when he was uncrated, so it's not as if it's 'unsafe'. I think giving him the living room to roam is the way to go.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree that the trainer probably has the best advice here. But the tramadol is also having a sedative effect him, and of course, he's only going to be on it for a very short time, so he may not be so calm and quiet when it is discontinued, even if he's not in the crate when you're not home.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

Sounds like the tramadol might be a great way to allow him to have relaxed, pleasant experiences in his crate. You obviously know him best though, and a trainer definitely has more insight than I do! I am so happy you have found something that can give you both some relief!

[Pam Thomas]

What is a DAP collar-is it safe in a crate?

[Julie and Max]

I do not crate Max, when I am gone I make sure it is safe for him. (I do not even own a crate to be honest) I have not had any problems with that yet. I know some dogs can chew furniture and be destructive but he never has been so I consider myself lucky. If he is happier out of the crate, and he is not destroying anything than it is probably the best thing for both you and him. :)

[Jess & Stewart]

Pam- It stands for Dog Appeasing Pheromone. It comes in a spray and also on a collar. It has a smell to it that mimics the pheromones from the mom to her puppies and is supposed to have a calming effect on dogs. It's a small flexible collar, about a half inch thick, it looks like it's made out of that hard gel that "jellies" shoes used to be made from. It has a powder on it that is supposed to release the pheromones. It sounds funny to me, but I'm willing to try anything to see what sticks.

Stephanie- He's on the tramadol mainly just for pain relief after the neuter since I had to go back to work.

Karen- Last week he was out of the crate before the neuter and seemed perfectly fine, much better than being in the crate. I figure I will keep it out and during weekends/at night do a lot more crate games in there and hopefully he'll eventually tolerate the crate. I have no problems leaving him out though, even though people have told me it's 'unsafe'.

I do so wish he was reliably crate trained. I think it's my fault from the beginning since I had the crate in my bedroom and not in my living room from the start.

[Stephanie and Ragley]

I know, but the sedative effect could help keep him calmer and aid in helping him realize the crate isn't as stressful as he might think

[Jess & Stewart]

When I'm home each night this week, I'm going to do more crate time while I'm home. I think you're right though & I'm just going to go slow with the training. I'm going to do a lot more training once the cone is off. His stitches get removed on Saturday. I'm hoping he gets the go ahead to play more & with other dogs.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't think it is "unsafe" as long as you do a good job of dog-proofing. My dogs were always left gated in one area from the time they were very young, and later with the run of the house, and there was never an issue. If all food and clothing items are put away out of reach, trash emptied or behind closed doors, no collars (can catch on things), not much can happen. I suppose some dogs might chew through electrical cords if they got crazy enough, but even that can be avoided with gating. 

[Jess & Stewart]

I don't think it is unsafe at all-I think many people are just uneducated on crate training or think all dogs will be destructive if they are left out.

[Deborah Brown]

If you are going to keep Stew out of the crate, I'd make sure you are totally dog proofed.  I'd also strongly suggest using some gates to keep him confined in a "harmless" area.  Make sure there are no exposed electrical cords or loose items he can swallow.  I'd think hard about letting him be near your furniture.  Just because he's never chewed it before, doesn't mean it can't happen.  If there is a strange noise or something that frightens him, he could destroy a couch cushion as easily as he did your towels.

Good luck and I hope he is feeling better soon.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Jenn, Finn hated his crate.  Except for crating him for naps when he was very young or putting him in the crate for a brief "time out" to calm down, we dispensed with the crate.  He was happier being gated in the kitchen and calmer when I came home so you might be on to something.  But be sure to unplug cords, be sure your tv is secure and puppy proof just as you would with a baby. Make sure he can't get into cabinets, etc. You might want to remove his collar too if there's anything you think it might catch on.  I tried short periods of time at first.  I love that you were playing "Through a Dog's Ear" for him on your iPad.  You are such a good mom :)

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Jess - you know Stew best, and I agree with the trainer's advice - it sounds like he'd be fine out of the crate.  My personal thought is if he were going to be destructive, it already would have started the times you've left him out of the crate.  (I could be wrong!  But sounds like he's a doodle that does not love his crate.)  I think everyone's covered the puppy-proofing already but I'll mention one thing just in case...also put the little plastic outlet covers in electrical sockets.  I'm 99% certain Eloise stuck her tongue in one, "exploring" one day, when I was in another room just for a minute.  I hadn't gotten around to putting them in all the sockets, and she generally didn't have freedom to be in that particular room.  She was okay - but that was the one and only time I've ever heard this dog yelp - and it was a big, hurt yelp. :(