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.

[Julie, Eloise & Beasley]

Oh, and glad to hear you had a happier day today and that he's recovering well! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Some dogs are just so unhappy with crate confinement that it is not worth it.  Perhaps they are claustrophobic like some people are.

[Oliver & Elizabeth]

Jess, you're doing great--steady progress is great--Stew is really a very young dog!

I wouldn't stress about the crate, do what works best for you guys (with the blessing of a trainer). Oliver hated being left in his crate for more than an hour or so. However, when left alone in a smaller room (with a window to look out), he does perfectly. Like Stew, he's not much of a chewer or destructive--his only weakness is nibbling the sides of flip flops...

We used a combination or gates and puppy exercise pens to section off a safe room for Oliver. The crate can be really helpful for proving a space with limited chewing options, house training, and quiet time. If you're not having issues in those areas, it might not hurt to relax the crate training. I know we're a much happier house all around without the crate. If you do stop the crate just make sure to keep training him on short crate training. Good luck and don't stress too much.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I agree about the whole crate thing. Every dog is different. Crates don't work for all of them. You are doing a great job!