We have a 10 week old female boxer named KAYA, she is a very lovable bright little pup that we absolutely adore. She has mastered the stairs, potty training(we have a bell on the door she hits when duty calls), and a hand full of basic tricks. We have been religiously training her using the crate, it is located in our master bedroom. At night she is wonderful but during the day when we leave for work she screams and crys like we are the worst parents in the world. We have some of her favorite toys and chew things in the crate for her to pass the time while we are gone but she seems to ignore them. Any thoughts or tricks?
Crate training......
- Thread starter hallz
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clara's parents
Completely Boxer Crazy
I'm sure you'll get help here from someone with a little more experience than me, but here's my 2 cent analysis. The pup sounds like it has separation anxiety when you are away. That's why she cries when you are gone. My clara does the same thing. How long are you gone when she's in her crate? Try shortening the length of time you're away and she's in her crate and once she starts getting used to you being away, lengthen the time she's in there. Do you have a kong? That's a chew toy that you stuff with their favorite treats and it's very entertaining to have in their crate. Hope that helped some. And WELCOME TO BW!!!!!!!!!
Tulsa-Dan
Your Friendly Moderator
I too recommend making the crate more fun for the dog. The critical time for separation anxiety issues is the first 15 to 20 minutes that you are gone. If you can keep the dog occupied and busy with something for that period of time (not really very long), then they tend to forget about you and will whine some, but will quickly settle and go back to the "fun" you left them in the crate.
I suggest a goodie bag. A paper bag with a toy, some treats, a cube or two of cheese and good smelling to the dog, perhaps a small kong with p-nut butter in it, all wrapped in the paper. Give it to the dog when she gets into the crate before you are leaving and then just leave. Don't say anything or acknowledge the dog. Just go. Make it a non-event when you leave.
This way the dog has something to "get into" and can tear up the paper bag (brown paper bag, lunch type bag), and get the goodies inside and remain occupied for the first 20 minutes or so that you are gong.
Give it a try and good luck.
I suggest a goodie bag. A paper bag with a toy, some treats, a cube or two of cheese and good smelling to the dog, perhaps a small kong with p-nut butter in it, all wrapped in the paper. Give it to the dog when she gets into the crate before you are leaving and then just leave. Don't say anything or acknowledge the dog. Just go. Make it a non-event when you leave.
This way the dog has something to "get into" and can tear up the paper bag (brown paper bag, lunch type bag), and get the goodies inside and remain occupied for the first 20 minutes or so that you are gong.
Give it a try and good luck.
oh I can relate
Oh I have the same problem. Thor screams and howls like it is the end of the world that he is in his crate. I have his brothers ( a 6 year old min pin) right next to him. Since we got Thor my husband and my hours of work is where someone is home all the time. That will change in 5 weeks when we will both be working same hours. Do you think that he will be use to crate by then ?
Betsy
Oh I have the same problem. Thor screams and howls like it is the end of the world that he is in his crate. I have his brothers ( a 6 year old min pin) right next to him. Since we got Thor my husband and my hours of work is where someone is home all the time. That will change in 5 weeks when we will both be working same hours. Do you think that he will be use to crate by then ?
Betsy
Gunner chewed a metal cage
I can totally relate, I have a male boxer named Gunner that is 5 and a half months old. I live in an apartment, so his seperation anxiety has become a HUGE problem for all of my neighbors. He got so bad at one point that he actually broke through a metal cage. I thought I was going to lose my mind!!! :confused: I was so worried that he would hurt himself while I was gone. I went out and bought him a plastic sided traveling crate. Everytime he goes in I give him a kong full of peanut butter, and it has been a BLESSING!!! He loves it, and now he will even go in his cage when I ask him too. As hard as it may be, it does get better, you just have to work on it VERY VERY HARD!!!!
I can totally relate, I have a male boxer named Gunner that is 5 and a half months old. I live in an apartment, so his seperation anxiety has become a HUGE problem for all of my neighbors. He got so bad at one point that he actually broke through a metal cage. I thought I was going to lose my mind!!! :confused: I was so worried that he would hurt himself while I was gone. I went out and bought him a plastic sided traveling crate. Everytime he goes in I give him a kong full of peanut butter, and it has been a BLESSING!!! He loves it, and now he will even go in his cage when I ask him too. As hard as it may be, it does get better, you just have to work on it VERY VERY HARD!!!!
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