I feel like a bad mommy

[SkooterIsMe]

I'm not sure why Harley does the things that he does, but I think it might be separation anxiety. I recently got a crate for him, because he was tearing up my shoes when left alone in the house. I live with my dad right now, and he demanded that I either leave Harley outside, or get a crate. It's way too cold outside to leave him! So the crate is our ONLY option.

When I get a house (sometime around April probably) then it will be okay. I know it's bad, but I'm okay with Harley tearing up my old shoes that I dont wear anymore. Before I got the crate, I would just put anything I didnt want him getting into out of his reach. He only tears up my stuff, never my dad's (is he mad at me for leaving him?)

When he's in the crate, he's miserable. He tore up the 2 blankets I put in there as bedding for him. This is what the blankets look like now.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/SkooterIsMe/Harley/whatsleftoftheblankets.jpg

He also spills his water, and when my dad or I get home to let him out, he'll drink atleast 3 full bowls of water in a row as fast as he can, and sometimes throws up. We superglued a plastic bowl to the bottom of the crate, thinking that he couldnt knock it over. The bowl is no longer in the crate. It's in about ten pieces in the trash.

I bought an expensive bowl at petsmart that screws onto the bars of the door of the crate. It seemed really strong and I was sure it would work. the bowl slides into the metal holder, and the holder is welded to another piece of metal. This goes on the inside of the crate. Another piece of metal goes on the outside, and screws go through holes in the metal and attach the pieces. Kinda hard to explain, but it seemed great.

It was okay for 2 days, then I came home one day to find that the bowl had fallen and spilled. Upon closer inspection, I saw that the part that was welded was no longer welded. Harley broke it.

I'm at a loss. He chews at the crate, and a couple times there has been blood on it. Where the blood came from, I dont know, because he appears perfectly fine once he's out, and he never has blood on him. But I hate the idea of him hurting himself! And of not having water for hours at a time!

I've tried "Calm Down", which I got from a small pet store, but I've seen it other places, like petsmart and petco, too. It's 13% alcohol, and it's supposed to make dogs calm, especially in crates. It has no effect on Harley whatsoever. I've also tried Rescue Remedy. Also no effect. A friend's vet said that benedryl (allergy medicine) is okay for dogs (my friends dog is afraid of big noises, like storms, fireworks, etc.) So I think I'll try that next, but I'm doubtful that anything will work.

Any other ideas?? I feel horrible about putting him in his crate, no matter how many toys and treats I put in there with him!

 

[kayboxer]

The thing is, if Harley chews up items when he is out, although you may not mind, he may eat something that could cause some serious harm. So, although the crate may seem cruel, it is also to protect him. You would feel really bad if he got ahold of a cord or an object that gets stuck in his throat or causes a blockage. It does sound like seperation anxiety. When he is in the crate at least you know where he is and that he isn't into something that could be life threatening. I would do some research on SA disorder or call my vet and ask them if they have any resources that you could use or consider for help. Good luck and don't be so hard on yourself!

 

[entelekia]

Has Harley ever been crated before? If not, going from never being in a crate to being in a crate for the duration of a work day is not gonna be an easy transition. You have to work up the hours and get him used to it slowly.

You need to start crate training at the very beginning. Associating good things with the crate (feeding him meals in it, etc) and the start leaving him in there for 30 minutes increments while you are home and praising for being quiet. Then slowly work up the time that he needs to be in there.

 

[SkooterIsMe]

I know I should have gotten a crate way earlier, but in the summer, we just put him in our garage with toys and blankets. There's nothing in there he could get into. But it's winter now and the garage is way too cold. We cant take the risk of putting a portable heater in there, because it could start a fire. I had hoped that Harley would be okay to leave in the house alone (without the crate). If I leave him for no more than an hour, he's fine and wont chew up anything. But any longer than that, he goes wild. I think that for the first little while, he thinks I'll be right back, and when he realizes I'm not coming right back, he gets upset.

My dad and I both work full time, so I cant exactly start him out being in there for less time. On my days off, I do put him in there and leave for a shorter time, but that's only two days a week. When I work, he has to be in his crate for several hours. I've got no choice. :(

 

[Indy's mom]

Does Harley get any exercise? Daily exercise can help a lot. As well as positive conditioning towards the crate. You do want him to realize that the crate is a positive place to be, not a punishment. I would get up early in the morning, make sure that he gets a good long walk, play time with some active training before he is put into that crate. When he is put into the crate, also put in a frozen kong, that will give him something to do for a while. Hopefully, he will be tired enough to also take a nap.

Exercise, training and conditioning all will make it easier for him to accept his crate. If he is not in obedience training I would look into a class for him immediately. Good for him and for you.

Good luck!.

 

[caruse]

Poor Harley!! Have you thought of classes with a trainer or maybe puppy kindergarten/day care...or even someone to come, check on him, feed him and take him for a walk halfway during your work time so he is not alone the whole day??? I'm sorry for you too, cause this has to be upsetting to you as well....Barbara

 

[SILLY6PAK]

some ideas
Maybe a slightly larger area like a bathroom.
Make sure you take Harley on a long walk/run before leaving
leave the tv or radio on
ask the vet for some medication to help with his seperation anxiety
hire a pet walker to let him out half way through the day.
look into day care 1-2 times a week.

 

[Goodgirl]

IME (and yours it seems) medicines do not work very well. I tried rescue remedy and some "stress calm" chew sticks which had no effect on Delilah, who had separation anxiety and crate issues. Benadryl didn't work for Felix when recommended by the vet to keep him calm when he was on crate rest for an injury.
what he really needs is to learn that the crate isn't a bad thing, and that you WILL be coming back. to do this you can start giving him his meals in the crate.

To teach him you will come back, go through the motions of leaving the house, put him in the crate but only go outside for a few seconds and come back in. Do this over and over all the while gradually increasing the amount of time you are away. this process could take days or weeks depending on your pup. Whenever he seems upset with the time you were away, take a step back and leave for a shorter time again until he is comfortable with it.
Ditto the extra exercise.
Like others have said- give him kongs with frozen peanut butter, fat free plain yogurt, or canned dog food inside. Other safe toys to leave him alone with like nylabones. No bedding or towels since he might eat them.
How old is he? How many hours at a time is he in the crate?
He doesn't need water while he is in the crate. In fact if he is young it will make it harder for him to hold it to go to the bathroom until you get home. If you don't think he is having issues with holding it, and it sounds like he is getting dehydrated from panting from the separation anxiety you could try getting a water bottle (like for rabbits) to attach to the outside of the crate.
I got Felix one when he was on crate rest, and left it in over the summer since it was stuffy in the house.
Good luck!

 

[SkooterIsMe]

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

Harley does get plenty of exercise. We go on walks every day and play a lot, too. He does need water in his crate, so the idea about one that attaches on the outside is good. I do leave the tv on for him.

When I'm home, he'll walk in and out of the crate on his own several times. I think it's being left alone that he hates, more than the crate itself. His kong is always in there, along with 4 or 5 other toys, and two handfuls of treats.

And like I said before, I try to gradually increase the time he's left in there, but I work full time and have no other real alternative to leaving him in there for sometimes 8 hours. I can't afford doggy daycare or anything like that.