Tips for Weaning Puppy Out of Crate When We Go Out?

[Robin & Josie]

Hi all:

Miss Josie is now 19+ months old, and she does not care for it when we leave her home alone. Her trainer, who also boards her, thought she was ready months ago, because she leaves her. At her house, however, there are other dogs too. Not so at our house - and we will not be acquiring a sibling for her.

She seems to be Ok if we're outside and she knows we're around the yard. We tried once to leave her out of the crate, about a month ago. We were gone for about 45 minutes, and when we got back, she was on top of our mudroom counter, had eaten a square of chocolate that she found - otherwise not too much mayhem - but she was so excited to see us that her entire body was wagging. She was not relaxed. At all.

It seemed clear that she didn't think we were ever coming back, and she was crazy happy that we did.

The other day, I left her gated in our bedroom for about 40 minutes - no crate - and she had rearranged some slippers and sneakers, but no chewing or any other mischief.

I desperately want to be able to give her the usual run of the house when we go out and have her be able to relax in one of her favorite spots, but I need some advice on how to get her there.

Now, when we go out, we put a Thundershirt on her and leave her in the crate. She won't play with any toys in there, or chew on her bullystick. She will only do these things when we are home. I'm sure there's some psychology to this, but I'm not sure what it is. She has always been like this, but she's not anxious or afraid of anything or anybody, any other time. She rarely even barks at people outside the window. We were thinking of trying to leave her in the Thundershirt, outside the crate, to help calm her. It seems odd that she's only anxious when she's alone, but I guess she's pretty attached to us.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions :)

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

If you usually have tv or radio on would that help?

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

 : )  Dog has good taste.

[Robin & Josie]

We always leave the TV on for her. Lately, it's been on the classical music station...

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

The thundershirt may be the ticket. I bought my girl the anxiety wrap (same but a little different, no Velcro) and when she's in it she as still as a board, too calm. My girls only have full access to one room and the backyard. Try thundeshirt only for a while, it's all a learning process.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Start by leaving her for very short times. 10 minutes and build up time. You can even come into the house from outside to assure her and leave again. Pick up shoes, pillows, etc...anything that will set her up for failure. Make sure she has age appropriate toys and chews to keep her busy. I've been leaving Enzo, with full access to the house, since she was 6 months. Thankfully, she has never chewed or done any damage at all.

[Robin & Josie]

Thank you. Great suggestions. I think we'll try the Thundershirt and also the very short times with reassurance. I actually picked up some shoes before leaving her last week, but neglected the two pairs she was playing with. She knows she's not supposed to touch those. It's creepy how smart they are sometimes, isn't it?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

If she does well in the crate then I would continue crating her.  Many dogs use their crates their whole lives.

[Robin & Josie]

Really? I thought leaving them in the crate forever was not a good thing. Don't most dogs get to roam around the house? Get to their water bowl? Feel like they own the place? 

I've been feeling like a failure....

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

It really depends on the dog. Our past Goldens lloved their crates. We eventually took the doors off of the crates, and they would go in for a snooze when the urge hit them. They often slept in them. Enzo is indifferent to her crate, and when I saw she rarely went in, I removed it.

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Are you sure she is actually anxious when you are gone? In my mind, rearranging some slippers and being happy to see you aren't necessarily anxiety. It means, "Oh- those smell like Robin, and boy I'm happy to see her again!"  :-)  Symptoms of anxiety would be incessant barking, tearing things apart, licking compulsively, pottying, etc.

Winnie has had run of the house since she was 7 months old. The few times she got into mischief it was because we had accidently left tempting things (like napkins in an open drawer!) in plain sight. I think she mostly naps while we are gone as usually her toys and bones are left untouched.

I think the key is to make our comings and goings absolutely no big deal. When we leave, we simply say "be good" and then go. No coddling or hugging. Same when we get home- a very casual "good to see you" and then ignore her for a few minutes. Yes, she is dancing and jumping around with joy, but we just ignore her like it is no big deal to come and go. We turn music on for her before we leave. BUT, she soon learned that Music On= They are leaving. So, I now turn the music on more often when I am home so that she doesn't make that association. They are so darn smart! I have to wonder if maybe putting the Thundershirt on her is signaling her that you are leaving?  

[Robin & Josie]

The time I left her gated in the bedroom, I wouldn't characterize as anxiety. I agree - rearranging slippers is not a sign of an issue, other than that she wasn't relaxing. I read that dogs generally get comfy and sleep when we are gone, but Josie is running around getting into things. 

Yes - the Thundercoat and the music, 100% signal that we are leaving and she is going in the crate. The odd thing is that she stands perfectly still while I put it on her. Not the case when I try to put a coat on her , or a harness, or for anything else she doesn't like.

So maybe she's ok with the crate and it's just us that think she should have the run of the house.

We had a Wheaton Terrier that lived to be 15 and a half and never got the run of the house. She never chose to go to her crate, but she was never upset in there either. When she wasn't in the crate and we would leave, she did the incessant barking, drooling etc. Then again, we didn't try that often to wean her out of the crate, because she was never completely housebroken.

At the time, it was hard to get consistency with our kids, and we were complete failures on the housebreaking. Now the kids don't live with us, and Josie has basically been trained since she was six months old. 

I think we should keep trying and see how it goes. Truthfully, I'm torn. I like knowing she's safe in the crate, but I feel like a bad mother locking her in there.

This should be our biggest problem in life....

[Susan & Randy's Kate]

I have a strange pugge with separation  anxiety from our labradoodle..  Our puggle Finn was always with his two brothers until we adopted at 11 weeks.  He then bonded with our 11 year old boxer.  He was a relentless puppy.  He ignored us but finally, after 2.5 weeks, he came up to me and wanted to be petted.  After a few months we had to put the boxer down.  Izzy had a bad back and would fall several times before reaching the door.  He was depressed so we adopted our lovely Kate, labradoodle.  The problem is she is ok being away from him but he hates being away from her.  He cries as if his heart is breaking.  Even though we have a granddog dachshund he doesn't care.  I am at lost what to do about that.  Currently Kate had to have a second spaying surgery and I have to let them out one at a time.  He is afraid we are going to take her away.