apologize for length: Need advice on acclimating 5yr old rescue to crate. It is the only option as she is very destructive when left alone...Otherwise a real couch potato and follows me around room to room. (typical separation anxiety) I've read all the internet advice on crating, problem is we were not able to acclimate her to her new home like the pro's suggest. We took her in "as is" and she was undergoing heartworm treatment. When all is clear,she will go in crate to retrieve treats and leaves to eat them. She ignore goodies left in crate whilst we are gone for the short times, then goes and gets as soon as free to come and go. I have to lift her feet into crate to get her in. Teeth were already worn so know was a chewer and worried will break teeth chewing on plastic vents. Crate is positioned in family room by a window looking outside...I make no tadoo about leaving, stay matter of fact. She cries and starts chewing immediately after house door closes... :(
need advice for sep.anx. w/new rescue
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jesterbong
Guest
teach old dog new tricks!
Theres a will theres a way,, Try your sweatshirt, your old tenni shoe, and try to have the crate close to your bedroom so she gets use to the crate. And I have an open wire crate, maybe she is affraid of small closed in dark places! I know I am,. I bought one at pet supply for 56.00, and Jeremiah has enough room to lay down, and to stand up. ???? I am just guessing and trying to help!:rolleyes: I always heard you can teach an old dog new tricks! GOOD LUCK!
Kimmi
Theres a will theres a way,, Try your sweatshirt, your old tenni shoe, and try to have the crate close to your bedroom so she gets use to the crate. And I have an open wire crate, maybe she is affraid of small closed in dark places! I know I am,. I bought one at pet supply for 56.00, and Jeremiah has enough room to lay down, and to stand up. ???? I am just guessing and trying to help!:rolleyes: I always heard you can teach an old dog new tricks! GOOD LUCK!
Kimmi
Beth, I think it's great you are taking such time to help her missing you so! I'm no expert but I have relied on the old "tire them out until they drop!" routine. We did this when Bingo was a puppy and had to leave him in his crate when we were away. We chased him, played ball with him, walked him, made him stay awake and not have his naps! We wore him out so when we left, he only felt like sleeping. Not sure if this will work with separation anxiety but I thought I'd offer it anyways. I also agree with an old t-shirt of yours or something that has your smell. Maybe a tv on? Good Luck! I'm sure you'll get many more great tips!!!
Aimee
Boxer Insane
Hi Beth. You may want to do a search on seperation anxiety as we have discussed it indepth in the past. I worked with a behavioral therapist with Lexi and also had her on Clomicalm for 6 months due to severe seperation anxiety. She's now a well adjusted almost 4 year old! If you don't get the answers to your questions in the previous threads feel free to email me with specific questions and I can try and help you out. 
karens
Boxer Insane
My brother has a Boxer with sep anxiety. I keep telling him to try Chlomicalm, based on Aimee's success with the program. He has done a lot of conditioning with the crate, I am not sure if you have tried any of these, but it has helped Mia along:
For one, he holds a treat (something she might eat right away, small bit of cheese, liver sausage, etc., not anything she can carry out) through the top of the cage near the back, when she goes in, he closes the door, praise, and treat. She no longer gets crazy when in the crate and he is around.
He also puts her in the crate and leaves for just a few moments, out different doors.
He stuffs and freezes Kongs with nummies.
Once when he was in town, he was doing conditioning (it did not matter that I was sitting in the room) once she heard the garage door, she snapped so to speak. If you have someone to watch her when you leave, to see exactly what the trigger is, you may be able to modify your leaving so as not to trigger her anxiety.
My rescue used to "scream" when we left. It actually sounded like a child screaming, it is horrible. He has come to know this is his home, and only will scream under very unusual circumstances. (like when he is in trouble and has to go to his "house" :rolleyes: )
There is quite a bit of information out there on seperation anxiety. Hopefully I have not bored you with things you are already doing.
For one, he holds a treat (something she might eat right away, small bit of cheese, liver sausage, etc., not anything she can carry out) through the top of the cage near the back, when she goes in, he closes the door, praise, and treat. She no longer gets crazy when in the crate and he is around.
He also puts her in the crate and leaves for just a few moments, out different doors.
He stuffs and freezes Kongs with nummies.
Once when he was in town, he was doing conditioning (it did not matter that I was sitting in the room) once she heard the garage door, she snapped so to speak. If you have someone to watch her when you leave, to see exactly what the trigger is, you may be able to modify your leaving so as not to trigger her anxiety.
My rescue used to "scream" when we left. It actually sounded like a child screaming, it is horrible. He has come to know this is his home, and only will scream under very unusual circumstances. (like when he is in trouble and has to go to his "house" :rolleyes: )
There is quite a bit of information out there on seperation anxiety. Hopefully I have not bored you with things you are already doing.
it'll take patience...thanks
NEVER bored with any advice, thanks for all suggestions! Visit with vet today determined all of Dakota's teeth still intact but she is wearing the front gums pretty bad. We've decided she'll just need time to develop the trust with me. I'll spend the weekend doing the out dif. doors thing. the garage door is a dead giveaway though...I can work with it. As far as treats, she'll save them until I return and then go get later... I've started giving them to her randomly through the day so she won't associate goodies with the crate. Earlier today I noticed her "panicking" to find me even though house was full of kids and activity. She ran from room to room in a full trot. So sad that she's so fearfull of being left.
I have read many sites on the separation issues and crate training, even old dogs. They are such sensitive dogs, it will just take time and patience. I was hoping for a quickie, tried and true but alas, don't we all ?
Really really good news,
Dakota is heartworm free now and has gained 5 lbs this month . She a gorgeous brindle with a figure to envy!!! thanks for the replies!
NEVER bored with any advice, thanks for all suggestions! Visit with vet today determined all of Dakota's teeth still intact but she is wearing the front gums pretty bad. We've decided she'll just need time to develop the trust with me. I'll spend the weekend doing the out dif. doors thing. the garage door is a dead giveaway though...I can work with it. As far as treats, she'll save them until I return and then go get later... I've started giving them to her randomly through the day so she won't associate goodies with the crate. Earlier today I noticed her "panicking" to find me even though house was full of kids and activity. She ran from room to room in a full trot. So sad that she's so fearfull of being left.
I have read many sites on the separation issues and crate training, even old dogs. They are such sensitive dogs, it will just take time and patience. I was hoping for a quickie, tried and true but alas, don't we all ?
Really really good news,
Dakota is heartworm free now and has gained 5 lbs this month . She a gorgeous brindle with a figure to envy!!! thanks for the replies!Don't worry, it gets better!
Hi Beth,
That's awesome you went to rescue to get your new puppy! I love hearing about owners that take the time to work with their dogs...it always pays off. I'm a foster home for a local boxer rescue organization and have had a few dogs with separation anxiety. It takes patience and consistent working with the dog, but things always get better. There's lots of information on this site that is really useful. The way that worked for me is to get the dog used to you not being there a little at a time. Leave the house for 5 seconds and then come back. Once he's comfortable with that, leave for 10 seconds and so forth. Multiple short sessions(maybe 5 or 10 minutes) like this throughout the day are better than one long session. This process will take awhile, but it really helped for me. Good luck with your new puppy!
Tim
Hi Beth,
That's awesome you went to rescue to get your new puppy! I love hearing about owners that take the time to work with their dogs...it always pays off. I'm a foster home for a local boxer rescue organization and have had a few dogs with separation anxiety. It takes patience and consistent working with the dog, but things always get better. There's lots of information on this site that is really useful. The way that worked for me is to get the dog used to you not being there a little at a time. Leave the house for 5 seconds and then come back. Once he's comfortable with that, leave for 10 seconds and so forth. Multiple short sessions(maybe 5 or 10 minutes) like this throughout the day are better than one long session. This process will take awhile, but it really helped for me. Good luck with your new puppy!
Tim
Kathleen
Boxer Booster
Hi Beth,
We've had Sega for a little over 3 months now and he was a rescue with separation anxiety. He's 2-4yrs old and he did the same thing yours is doing.....chewing, drooling, trembling in his crate. We did resort to using Colmicalm because I truly believe that they are having an actual "anxiety attack" at the thought of being alone. If this were a human being having an anxiety attack, people would not think twice to using medication to help them. I see my dog as the same way, if there is something that I can do to make his life easier, then I will try my best.
Anyway, we used Colmicalm in conjunction with training and obedience training and it took about six weeks to where we were able to leave Sega alone for about an hour at a time with no problems. Don't get me wrong, this was ALOT of work, persisitence and patience to get him there.
One thing I DID notice was that his crate seemed to make his anxiety more intense - I'm not sure if the actual confinement or maybe claustrophobia contributed to this. When we were training, we would confine him to a room to desensitize him from his dependency. This seemed to help alot and we did notice a significant difference when using the Colmicalm. One note is that the Colmicalm takes three weeks to actually start working - on the fourth week, Sega was actually able to go into another room of the house and go to sleep without being "velcro-ed" to us. This was the point where we knew he was getting better.
We've had Sega for a little over 3 months now and he was a rescue with separation anxiety. He's 2-4yrs old and he did the same thing yours is doing.....chewing, drooling, trembling in his crate. We did resort to using Colmicalm because I truly believe that they are having an actual "anxiety attack" at the thought of being alone. If this were a human being having an anxiety attack, people would not think twice to using medication to help them. I see my dog as the same way, if there is something that I can do to make his life easier, then I will try my best.
Anyway, we used Colmicalm in conjunction with training and obedience training and it took about six weeks to where we were able to leave Sega alone for about an hour at a time with no problems. Don't get me wrong, this was ALOT of work, persisitence and patience to get him there.
One thing I DID notice was that his crate seemed to make his anxiety more intense - I'm not sure if the actual confinement or maybe claustrophobia contributed to this. When we were training, we would confine him to a room to desensitize him from his dependency. This seemed to help alot and we did notice a significant difference when using the Colmicalm. One note is that the Colmicalm takes three weeks to actually start working - on the fourth week, Sega was actually able to go into another room of the house and go to sleep without being "velcro-ed" to us. This was the point where we knew he was getting better.
improvements
Thank you Kathleen. We have lots of improvements! I was preparing for medication, but she seems to be accepting the kennal is only for small bits of time and has become less detructive to her gums. I also used (still use) the bitter herb creme on interior areas she was chewing/pushing on. Cheese is the only treat Dakota will eat under stress so I toss a couple squares in the kennal for an immediate reward for going in (still lifting). I leave the tv on a happy channel so she can't hear us go and lastly, I put her in well before we leave so she can acclimate before I go. She still cries, but seems to have quit chewing so much...
All in all I am very happy with her adjustments. You mentioned Sega sleeping elsewhere and I grin. The first weeks she would not venture away from us at night but now she has realized the creature comforts of her special deluxe bed in the family room. The kennal bed in our bedroom is soft but she has decided for now, NOT to sleep there when other options exist. Comfort beats company in her book!! She is getting accustomed to my quick pace around the house also buts keeps one eye on the doors at all times!
Thanks boxer board friends for all the input and suggestions, they are working!!!
Thank you Kathleen. We have lots of improvements! I was preparing for medication, but she seems to be accepting the kennal is only for small bits of time and has become less detructive to her gums. I also used (still use) the bitter herb creme on interior areas she was chewing/pushing on. Cheese is the only treat Dakota will eat under stress so I toss a couple squares in the kennal for an immediate reward for going in (still lifting). I leave the tv on a happy channel so she can't hear us go and lastly, I put her in well before we leave so she can acclimate before I go. She still cries, but seems to have quit chewing so much...
All in all I am very happy with her adjustments. You mentioned Sega sleeping elsewhere and I grin. The first weeks she would not venture away from us at night but now she has realized the creature comforts of her special deluxe bed in the family room. The kennal bed in our bedroom is soft but she has decided for now, NOT to sleep there when other options exist. Comfort beats company in her book!! She is getting accustomed to my quick pace around the house also buts keeps one eye on the doors at all times!
Thanks boxer board friends for all the input and suggestions, they are working!!!
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