Bodie has been home nearly 2 weeks now and during the night he's quite happy to go to sleep in his crate....

However during the day he hates it - I can put him in when he's quite sleepy, walk away and then he follows me and sits under my legs. If I close the door on it then he goes crazy and poops himself?!?!? I still walk out the room and wait for 5 seconds of quiet before letting him out but he's clearly stressing out?

Any advice please? Am I doing too much too soon?

Ta in advance

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If you have only had him 2 weeks then I assume he might not be able to go out for walks yet? If he can then you could try getting him to rest after a walk, a tired pup who has got rid of excess energy are more likely to settle, so to get him used to it you could try putting him in then. If he cant go out yet, then you could try doing some training sessions, with a bit of play mixed in getting him to run and chase toys, this usually wears them out mentally and physically so you could do that then try.

I would just leave the crate with the door open, try getting to view it as a place with positive associations, Feed him his meals in there if he doesnt have them in there already. I would also maybe get some new chews,toys and things and keep them for the crate. Kongs are good, solid hard rubber so quite safe but they are hollow so you can stuff with wet and dry food from his allowance and add a few extras, like coating the inside with peanut butter or cheese spread, adding a bit of chicken. You pack them solid you can even put a small buiscuit like a gravy bone wedged in there to stop the food coming out so easy. Treat balls are good to, filled with kibble and set to distribute a piece here and there as he plays. Get a good slection of other safe chews and toys too. Dont leave them all out all the time, you can rotate different ones. To get him running in and out of it, you can occasionally throw in a couple of odd treats in there so he goes in to get them. Also hide really smelly treats in and under the bedding and in the corners for him to find. Putting an old t-shirt or jumper you have worn in there can help as your smell can reassure them and help them settle. Soft toys can help as in the litter pups lay touching and some on top of each other (T shirt and soft toys subject to him not being the sort to rip and ingest fabric of course) If you make it enticing enough then hopefully he shold want to go in and settle.

Start by shutting it for a few minutes when he goes in and settles, opening it if you can, before stress starts. Then gradually increase it a minute or two at a time. Just walk up and shut it without fuss and open it the same way.

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Hey Sled Dog,

many thanks for all the great advice! He has chew toys in there and a treat ball but he doesn't seem that interested - maybe he's bored with these and as you suggest I need to rotate them.

I like the idea of the old T-Shirt - will get an old one and wear it for a day before putting it in there.

He's currently fed in the kitchen but I'll start doing it in his crate - just missed lunch today but will do so for dinner.

Really hope he can learn to settle in there as want him to have his own "safe" place to retreat too....

Will let you know how we get on.

Again thanks for the advice - appreciate you taking the time!

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Great advice already

Is the crate coverred ?

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

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Your welcolme, sometimes if you are going out the room, a radio on low on a talking station can help as a bit of background noise rather than silence. So maybe something else worth a try nowt to loose as they say.

Some also like it made like a Den, by putting it against a wall and covering the sides and top with a blanket of throw, some do some dont, but might be worth a try. Obviously if he freaks immediately or more, then whip it off quick.

DAP diffusers can help, They emit an artificial version of the pheromone that mum emits to calm and soothe pups, you dust leave them plugged in life an air freshener. I still usse them for times of stress and fireworks, you can get it in collar form too, looks like a think "rubber" collar similar to the old fashioned flea collars. However if you want him in a crate could be dangerous if he is going to be left and it got caught. Good for when you take them out first though and car journeys. Vet-Medic - the same medicines as your vet at consistently low prices. is where I get mine, one of the cheapest prices I have found but there could be others, just in case you want to explore the possibility.

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Yeah it's got a big throw over it - quite tempted to use it myself if he won't!

Haha

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Aha - I'll look into those too!

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lol My youngest daughter used to love napping in Oscars crate, some days i used to think it would be easier to crate the kids and let the dog have the house

Sled Dogs advice is spot on Worth remembering that GSD can be buggers for Seperation Anxiety so it's important to do the ground work very early on with this

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"I am not perfect and i don't have to be, before you start pointing fingers, make sure your hands are clean" - Bob Marley

https://sites.google.com/site/blisschalet/

That's exactly what I'm worried about - I want to start work again eventually (only part time) and unless I or the OH can find a job where he can come with he needs to be alone for hours or so... Or we book him into doggy day care, but if that cancels out my wages then there's not much point!!

I've just loaded his treat ball up and thrown a few treats in there which he chased after - and put new chew stuff in which he then grabbed one and brought it out and is now lying under my feet munching on it. Hopefully he'll steal my flip flop that I've left deliberately lying around (wouldn't normally of course) in the hope he'll trot off to his "den" with his prize!

Slowly slowly we'll get there.....

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Ok so he stole the flip flop - ran to his crate, and then stopped just short of going in.... Great progress me thinks - at least he is "thinking" about it being his den - hopefully a little work each day and he will eventually steal all my shoes and nip in there with them! Would be worth all the flip flops in the world!

Thanks for the help guys!

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