Seperation Issues...Did I do the wrong thing?

[Jade'sMommie]

Hello everyone! I have a question that I really need some advice on. We've had Jade (5 mos) for a little over 2 months now and she's great! She adapted to the crate right away and at night she had no problem going to bed in her own space. A few weeks ago we went away to Disney World for a week (holy expensive by the way!) and a good friend of ours babysat her while we were away. Unfortunately this friend works long hours so she was in her crate more than she was used to.

Ever since we've come back she absolutely loses her mind when we put her in the crate at night. She whines, howls, and barks (she never barks!) for hours until she finally cries herself to sleep. Hearing her freak out like that broke my heart, so I went and got another bed for her for our bedroom to sleep in and the past two nights she's slept with us (in her bed) and she's been fine. Did I do the right thing by doing that or did give into her bad behavior? I know us leaving for a week affected her, and I just want her to feel safe again. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[harley03]

I don't think it's so bad to leave her out of her crate at night, as long as you continue to put her in the crate during the day for short periods of time with toys and treats. Harley used to sleep in his crate at night, but now he sleeps in bed with me for most of the night. He still stays in his kennel during the day while I'm at work.

 

[apollosdad]

i don't think what you did was necessarily bad. i would still try and get her back into her old routine of doing things the way she did before you went on vacation. getting her used to the crate that she was originally in will help get her accustomed to her old ways again. essentially what you have done is "replace" a stimulis for a more favored one. in retrospect, you never did solve the problem as to why she acted the way she did when you returned from vacation. however, if this present situation is not a problem for you, then that is all that matters.

 

[Jade'sMommie]

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the info! I don't mind having her upstairs with us at all. I do want to actually get to the point where we trust her to patrol the house w/o having fear of her using the bathroom in the house or tearing up everything! Of course I realize not every baby can be trusted to be by themselves and it just depends on the dog's personality. I can say however, that I haven't totally given into her by letting her sleep in the bed with us, she does have to sleep in her own bed and she's doing well. No more tantrums, however, I still wake up in the middle of the night to make sure she didn't go potty in the bedroom. All in all, I guess its just a continued process. Again, thanks for all the support & advice!

 

[renielou]

Logan has not been in his crate at night for abour two to three months now. I just make sure all my pups learn to tie at the side of the bed so they can't wander at night. Now he's not even tied any longer and he's 6.5 months now. The door stays shut of course, we don't want cats in there too. But my old collie is even back on her tie after years off of it. She will not ask to go out in the middle of the night if she doesn't feel good. About three time cleaning up that in the middle of the night put an end to her loose time. Anyway,I've never had it be a problem, they all learn to do it.