Separation Anxiety?

[Quincy's Slave]

We've only crated him for 30 minutes maximum so it's not like he's had a bad experience with being in a crate for hours. Ideally I would like to get him used to 2-3 hours in his crate while were are working as right now, it's impossible to work with him. I'd like to know he's safe and not dismantling the furniture so I can concentrate on my job. He spends most of his day in our family room which is where my hubby works.

[TheGreatDane]

You cannot leave an 11 week old puppy outside while you are gone. There are far too many things that can hurt or kill your puppy. Essentially you are leaving your baby in a crib because it pooped or peed! You cannot expect an 11 week old puppy to be 100% potty trained. Leaving a puppy outside by itself is plain irresponsible!!! If you want yard art, get a bird bath!

I'm sorry I don't recall asking for your opinion. I'm not gonna leave my dog in the crate for him to sh*t all over himself and everything else everytime I leave. He loves being out in the back yard and it is working out for us. Last time I checked there were not any bears or other creatures in my back yard to kill him and there is certainly not any hazards for him to kill himself with. He's not back there for long periods because someone is usually home with him. I don't put him back there because of him not being potty trained it's because he gets so stressed out he has diarea everywhere. This in no way is anything like leaving a baby in a crib and you saying that is just ignorent. I love my dogs and everything but they will never be on the same level as my children. Have a nice day and get a life.

[BigLittleSmall]

This in no way is anything like leaving a baby in a crib and you saying that is just ignorent. I love my dogs and everything but they will never be on the same level as my children. Have a nice day and get a life.

Yes it is akin to the same thing. Puppies are baby dogs .. they chew on things they shouldn't, people can and do drive by and see them and steal them, they can and will dig out from under the fence (and those huge paws move a lot of dirt REALLY quickly .. one of my 3 dug a 2' deep x 2' wide hole in about 5 minutes the other day trying to catch a mole), other aggressive dogs can and will jump INTO your fence (unless it's over 6' high) and do damage to your puppy .. because a puppy doesn't know not to charge at them through the fence, and God forbid someone have left a gate either open or not latched properly and your puppy investigate, leave the yard and get run over or lost.

Don't say it can't happen because it can .. that's how people know to warn you about it .. because it's happened to people before.

Saying it can't or won't happen is just as ignorant as you thought it was for someone saying it could. You need to open your mind to some constructive critisism and not be so pig headed about things you obviously havent' given much consideration.

Pot, meet kettle, except in this case the Kettle is correct and you are sorely mistaken.

[TheGreatDane]

Yes it is akin to the same thing. Puppies are baby dogs .. they chew on things they shouldn't, people can and do drive by and see them and steal them, they can and will dig out from under the fence (and those huge paws move a lot of dirt REALLY quickly .. one of my 3 dug a 2' deep x 2' wide hole in about 5 minutes the other day trying to catch a mole), other aggressive dogs can and will jump INTO your fence (unless it's over 6' high) and do damage to your puppy .. because a puppy doesn't know not to charge at them through the fence, and God forbid someone have left a gate either open or not latched properly and your puppy investigate, leave the yard and get run over or lost.

Don't say it can't happen because it can .. that's how people know to warn you about it .. because it's happened to people before.

Saying it can't or won't happen is just as ignorant as you thought it was for someone saying it could. You need to open your mind to some constructive critisism and not be so pig headed about things you obviously havent' given much consideration.

Pot, meet kettle, except in this case the Kettle is correct and you are sorely mistaken.

I have a 6 foot privacy fence so unless someone decides to come look over my fence they are not going to see him. I have given it plenty of consideration. I am completely capable of taking care of my dog and untill I ask for anyones opinion Im not going to give a shit just as much as the last time. Every dog is different and just because I don't have the same views as you doesn't mean I have to listen to you. I will do what works for me, my family, and my dog. You worry about you and your dogs.

[BigLittleSmall]

untill I ask for anyones opinion Im not going to give a shit just as much as the last time.

You won't last long here then .. because no one here gives a if you like our advice or not when we feel like a dog isn't being looked after properly .. it's the internet and the DOL way .. get used to it. *shrugs*

[oubball14]

I haven't read through all of the posts yet, but have you tried a babygate to keep the puppy in a bathroom or somewhere that if he has an accident he can do it on one side of the room and still get away from it? Or maybe an ex-pen that you can slowly make smaller until it's the size of his crate to ease him into it? I don't think leaving him outside is the answer either...mine like being out there just as much as any other dog, but if it is truely separation anxiety then he will go just as crazy out there, you just don't have the poop on the crate to prove it. He will try to get out and may succeed, or some stupid idiot may throw something over the fence to him. Don't get me wrong, I got a magnetic screen door so mine can go in and out all day when I'm home. Keebler loves sunning on the deck while I'm getting ready for work in the morning...but I would NEVER leave him out there while I'm gone...he too suffers from severe SA and I know he would try to get out. Plus I have trust issues and have had too many friends whose dogs have ingested pills, etc that have been thrown over their fence. You can control your inside environment easier than you can control the outside, IMO.

[Amly]

It isn't just getting over or under a fence. There are so many things that could go wrong. Plants that are hazardous or toxic....a stick that could get lodged somewhere...puppies get into and chew on everything and just like having a baby or a toddler...everything is a potential hazard. But if just throwing them outside because of accidents is the direction that you're going...then potty training has been pretty much thrown out withe the puppy. I think that this cycle is what contributes to so many "backyard dogs" and while people are very passionate about great danes on this forum...they are absolutely not a backyard breed. I learned early on that anytime you post something you open yourself to criticism advice or just flat out opinionated comments. I don't agree with any dogs being outside dogs...and they usually start out as inside puppies.

[fets]

Troll?

Now back to Quincy's Slave's problem....

I would try making sure he poops a good amount before putting him in the crate. Like maybe next time you go for a walk and he poops a few times, then try putting him in the crate for 15-30 minutes when you get back. Take him out once he stops crying. It might be worth a shot?

Another good SA book is, 'Don't Leave Me.' I've only read part of it, because the 'Game of Thrones' book set came in and I kinda got distracted.

[BigLittleSmall]

Troll?

I'm thinking more along the lines of a know it all who can't stand it when someone suggests/says that what they are doing isn't perfection.

I mean, how dare we even hint at the fact that throwing a puppy out back alone be a bad idea .. pish posh

[TMedic37]

I'm thinking more along the lines of a know it all who can't stand it when someone suggests/says that what they are doing isn't perfection.

I mean, how dare we even hint at the fact that throwing a puppy out back alone be a bad idea .. pish posh

Certainly not the first and won't be the last either....

You know, things were just going smoothly in here for a while there.... I guess we were due.

[TheGreatDane]

First of all I don't throw my dog in the back yard, I let him out and he plays while I have things to do for an hour or two at the most. I don't sit here and talk bad about yall locking your dog in cages all the time like they are in an animal shelter or something. Atleast my dog is happy and not sitting there all miserable like hes in jail. Anyhow yall can go on with you sad little lifes and keep playing in your little fantasy world since you have nothing better to do with your life.

[TMedic37]

First of all I don't throw my dog in the back yard, I let him out and he plays while I have things to do for an hour or two at the most. I don't sit here and talk bad about yall locking your dog in cages all the time like they are in an animal shelter or something. Atleast my dog is happy and not sitting there all miserable like hes in jail. Anyhow yall can go on with you sad little lifes and keep playing in your little fantasy world since you have nothing better to do with your life.

.... says the person who keeps coming back to post....

[Tucker's Mom]

I'm sorry I don't recall asking for your opinion.

Then apparently you shouldn't post on a forum! Now can we get back to the OP's original question!

[KarenO]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this. I had a dog with severe SA/crate anxiety and until we were able to trust her enough to give her free roam, I bathed her any time I left the house. Even doing the backing off the driveway and going back in the house a zillion times to frozen Kongs to an abundance of exercise before leaving, confidence building agility and obedience classes and altering her feeding schedule, I tired it all.

There is a really interesting article in last months Whole Dog Journal about Separation Anxiety. It actually made me cry remembering what I went through. My situation was a while ago and dog training and information becomes more abundant year after year. My girl is no longer with me, but I'll never forget what I went through. She was a large breed dog and I was so afraid of the destruction she could cause. It took about a year, but we made it through.

I would get in touch with a trainer that specializes in SA as soon as possible. Giving yourself a break with doggy daycare is a good idea as well.

I wish you the best. I know first hand how mentally trying it can be. Keep us posted on his progress.

[Quincy's Slave]

Thank you, I'll have to see if I can find that article. Oliver gets his 2nd shots this afternoon and we start puppy kindergarten on Saturday so I hope he will get better once we get to play with other dogs! We're also going to hopefully get him into day care as early as next week!