Separation Anxiety?

[fets]

If he's tearing up the sheets and pooing/peeing on them, take the blankets out of the crates. It sucks to leave them alone in a crate on just the bed-pan, but it works. Once you think he's calmed down, do a test run with a crappy blanket. If he rips it up, take it away again. I wouldn't leave any toys or bully sticks in there now either. I don't leave toys at all, because I'm terrified he'll choke and I won't be there. Although, a mega frozen kong might be a good idea for your guy. Also, if your pup is not full grown, I cannot stress the crate divider enough! My main point is, he can't destroy anything if there isn't anything to destroy. I do leave the TV on for him (ESPN, b/c I rarely see dog commercials, Animal Planet would be a bad idea LOL) or you can leave a radio on so they have some mental stimulation.

I also think it's a good idea to cover the crate w/blankets, make it like a den. I actually use two big body towels on each side, and a blackout curtain on the back. I overlay them FLAT and tape them together on the top side, then lay a heavy sports blanket on top to weigh them down. Then I weigh it down with some of my crap. The towels are thicker, so they block out light better than sheets, and they are less likely to get ripped up (it's difficult for a dog to grab them through the crate). Macho has never gotten his. Obviously be there with him when he gets used to it. Then it's his cozy place, and there are less distractions for him to get upset about while you are out.

If you don't crate while you're at home, start crating while you're home. If not they associate the crate with your leaving!

When you come home don't let them out of the crate right away. Go put your groceries away or something. Don't celebrate them getting out of the crate and your being home. Then calmly let them out and go for a walk to let them use the bathroom and get out the energy. Now that I leave him out of the crate more, I will say hi, but continue to walk into the next room to put my things down, then sit on the couch and invite him next to me. I was bad and did not do this at first. It's hard for me not to celebrate seeing him, because I miss him as much as he misses me (I show his picture to everyone, including other dogs). Plus, it's so fun to have them come greet you! However, your emotions influence their emotions. His party celebrating my return became a problem. I changed my behavior and that party has decreased significantly! Now, after I pet him on the couch, he will run to get a toy and do his impressing dance, but that's about it.

Macho is also a shadow while I'm at home. He'll be dead asleep and then get up and follow me. Dude, I was just grabbing a stapler, I didn't want to wake you up!

If I leave and I leave Macho OUT of the crate (even if other people are home), he howls like a wolf! I have NEVER seen him howl except for on camera. He'll bark when I leave, but he is much calmer if I leave and he's in his crate. If I walk out of the house, especially on foot (like to go for a run), Macho goes nuts. He doesn't rip up anything, but he roos and howls. LoveMyJax, I really like your advice and am going to try that by walking out and hiding behind my car. I will also tell my parents if he gets upset when I leave to ignore him until he quiets down, then give some loving. Reinforcement!

[thisiscyndi]

My point is...in my opinion, which some may not agree with, I believe that we often contribute to the potential for separation anxiety. If you work from home and are constantly with your pup, gradually get some time apart. Send him to doggy daycare. Leave him in the crate while you go for a walk or dinner. Find things for him to entertain himself so that he isn't always under your feet, needing to be entertained. You have to get him used to time away from you now, or you may have a really hard time later on. Of course we all want our pups to love us, follow us around, be sad to see us go and excited to see us back; but, I really think a dog needs some independence to be happy and well rounded. The will be happier, we will be happier, and we will have a better relationship. JMO

I agree with this 100%. We sometimes create seperation anxiety where there wasnt any or make it worse by our actions.
And those that are crate training puppies - if you are going the tough love route you absolutely must not let them out when they are crying no matter what. You are only contributing to the problem. They must learn that they will be let out when they are quiet and calm. You have a very small window before the pup becomes big enough to seriously injure themselves and develop really bad seperation anxiety if this is not handled correctly. If you cant handle that, then you should be crate training with the slow desensitizing method instead.

On the other note -- leaving an 11 week old puppy outside unsupervised because you cant handle them crapping inside? You shouldnt have gotten a puppy then.

[LoveMyJax]

I totally agree with the slow crate training and crating while you're home. I didn't have any real issues with crate training, but over a couple of days, I gradually trained Jax.

I'd suggest putting him in his crate, with a high value treat, and shutting to door. Do not leave him, stay in sight. If he cries, let him. The MOMENT he stops crying / barking (even if to just take a breath) open the door and let him out. When you start to make progress, work towards a little longer without crying, and then let him out. Then try leaving him in the crate, walk out of room for a very short time, come back in...when he stops crying, let him out. Work towards leaving the room and only entering the room when he gets quiet. If he cries, let him. The moment he's quiet, enter the room, let him out. Extend the time you are out of the room, then walk out front door, then take a short walk, then run an errand...I think you get my idea.

It is a process with a lot of little steps, and it may take you a little while since you are already dealing with issues. but it may work. and like cyndi says, don't let him out when he's crying...be prepared, and wait for the 1 second of quiet and go from there...

ETA: It's also important to not acknowledge the pup when he's crying / barking. Not even an "it's ok" or "quiet" or "shhhh." Any response from you is positive reinforcement to his crying. It's ok to say "good boy" when he's quiet and you let him out...but nothing until he's quiet.

[Quincy's Slave]

Thanks everyone. We are still trying. We've done the slow boat method and can build him up to playing and eating etc in his crate. If we close the door and sit in the room, he loses it. Leaving the room is something else again! The biggest problem is after he has his little meltdown, we have to start all over again with the crate and getting him comfortable in it. He's not destructive at all so there's no problem with him ripping up things. Kongs are of no interest to him. I've tried applesauce, peanut butter, hot dogs, little cheese bits, squished liver and he just doesn't care. He's a bit lazy and doesn't like to work for things

We start puppy kindergarten on Saturday and we're going to talk to the trainer about putting him into 1/2 day daycare immediately and build him up from there. We need a break and he needs to learn we will come back!

We are having good success with his basic commands and that's exciting for us!

[thisiscyndi]

Thanks everyone. We are still trying. We've done the slow boat method and can build him up to playing and eating etc in his crate. If we close the door and sit in the room, he loses it. Leaving the room is something else again! The biggest problem is after he has his little meltdown, we have to start all over again with the crate and getting him comfortable in it. He's not destructive at all so there's no problem with him ripping up things. Kongs are of no interest to him. I've tried applesauce, peanut butter, hot dogs, little cheese bits, squished liver and he just doesn't care. He's a bit lazy and doesn't like to work for things

We start puppy kindergarten on Saturday and we're going to talk to the trainer about putting him into 1/2 day daycare immediately and build him up from there. We need a break and he needs to learn we will come back!

We are having good success with his basic commands and that's exciting for us!

We did not go the slow route with Emma. She was 4 months old.

The first time we left her in the crate with a raw knuckle bone and went upstairs out of sight - she had a complete meltdown like she was being murdered for 40 minutes straight. When she was quiet for 1 minute I appeared and released her without any fuss.

The second time she threw a fit for 30 minutes.
The 3rd, 4th and 5th time were about 20 minutes.
Then it dropped to 10 minutes. Then nothing.

This was accomplished in 4 days total.
She now runs happily to her crate and doesnt make a sound whether we are there or not. She is almost 10 months old.

[jrturk]

I think it sounds like you need to implement a little tough love. He's learning that if he has a "meltdown", he doesn't need to stay in his crate with the door closed. And if you're stressed out about the process, he's going to pick up on that and think it's the end of the world when you leave.

When Lola was younger, we put her in the crate a few minutes before leaving and ignored her completely. Then we ignored her again for a few minutes when we came home. We acted like our coming and going was nothing to worry about, and after a week or so she believed that too.

Of course it sucks to listen to a puppy meltdown and you feel bad for them, but it really will be better in the long run. They're like toddlers, you can't give in to every little temper tantrum.

[Quincy's Slave]

The crying we can handle, the diarrhea we can't and it happens every time If he was only crying, he'd still be sitting in there now but when he and then gets it all over himself, the crate, walls and floor we have to intervene.

[LoveMyJax]

what happens if you close the door and sit right next to him? I'm sure he cries, but does he get the stomach issues?

[Anna N' Hamish]

I think it may be dog dependant. I'm not sure if the breed has the issue more that others. Just lake every other thing with our danes...big dog = bigger issues.

In my case, our pup handles us being gone pretty well. At night she's crated and during the day she gets gated into our kitchen breakfast area if we're at work/school. She's of course happy to see us when we return, but she doesn't go nuts while we gone.

One thing we have seen is when she can't be with us when we are home. If I am in the front yard and she's in back and can see me, or when some family members are upstairs in the "dog free zone" she'll whine, groan, or bark a couple times to express her displeasure at being seperated. After saying her peace, she'll lay at the nearest entry point (stairs/fence gate) and wait to ambush us with loving when we return.

Hamish does this. He is absolutely fine when I leave for work during the day, he is also fine if he can't see me but if he can see me but doesn't have access to me, he will make his displeasure known before settling down to stare intently at me with disapproving eyes.

[Greenmagick]

How long is he in there before he gets diarrhea? Is it from the stress? If so, I dont think "tough love" is going to cut it in this case...it may be much more severe.

[Quincy's Slave]

If we sit in the room with him, there's lots of howling and whining but no He has had diarrhea in as short as 10 minutes, the longest we've had him in was 30 minutes and we had no choice but to leave him as we both had appointments that he couldn't come to.

[Mohitto]

Normally I'm all about tough love, with dogs and skin kids.. But with te issue, I don't think that's the route to go..that sounds like sever anxiety. IMO.

[Quincy's Slave]

Normally I'm all about tough love, with dogs and skin kids.. But with te issue, I don't think that's the route to go..that sounds like sever anxiety. IMO.

Yeah, if it wasn't for that, we'd just let him work it out. We've given him lots of opportunity to get used to it. We're going to talk to our trainer on Saturday and hopefully she has some tips.

[jrturk]

Sorry, I didn't know the was a recurring thing when he's in the crate. Lola had explosive diarrhea once while we were gone, and she was understandably stressed and trying to escape her crate. It was from something she ate though, not stress-related.

[wouldluv2haveadane]

How long is he being crated throughout the day? You mention you and your hubby both work. A pup that goes from a comfortable environment constantly surrounded by mom, littermates and people is going to be understandably stressed going into a crate alone for several hours a day. The need for social interraction and potty time is especially essential at this age. So much so I know breeders who will not sell a pup to someone who will keep it crated all day, for this very reason.

I'm not really sure how you are going to correct this, hopefully the people knowledgeable in training will know. To me it seems the pup is going to have to unlearn the fear of lengthy confinement by having it regularly taken out of the crate and played with during the day, to reverse the negative experience it has associated with crate confinement. JMO.