My 5month old pup has suffered from separation anxiety since we brought him home, we tried everything from taking him on extra long walks, leaving him with a kong, putting up baby gates + leaving him for a couple of mins and treating him when he stays quite...so far nothing has worked so we invested in a crate!

He seemed interested so we left open the door, putting a few treats in there with his blanket and a chew toy + he kept on wondering in there so when he looked comfortable we closed the door but he started to wine...we left him for a few minutes and eventually he laid down and went to sleep, he is laid asleep as i type...are we going about things the right way so far??? whats the next step to take when he wakes up etc ??? Help, i really need good thorougher information, as im a total novice at all this and i want best for my pooch, myself, my family + my neighbors :/

Oh he woke up, :/ so i let him out b4 he started to cry + left the door open, he just keeps wondering in and out ..... jeez i really duno whether im doin right or not ..... heloooooo HELP

I think the best advice I can offer is take baby steps throw treats in there when he isn't looking so he discovers them, feed him in there, and I wouldn't even close the door until he is totally comfortable with it, it may take you a few days, but if you rush it you will just make him wary of it. If he ever goes in there by himself treat and praise him, if he lays down in It give him a treat, he will get used to thinking its where nice things happen! Once he is totally comfortable with it, when he is laid in there close the door but open it straight away and give him a treat, repeat this several times until he doesnt bat an eyelid at it, then increase the time the door is closed, but only by 10 seconds or so at first, if you go too quickly you will undo all your hard work as for the separation anxiety try putting your shoes on at random times, not just when yr going out, pick your handbag up etc etc so he doesn't get any panic triggers that you are going out, and don't make a fuss when you go out or come back in, act like you haven't been anywhere. Sorry for the ramble but hope some of it helps

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yes we will try all that but the problem is, it isnt just when we leave the house, its if i have a bath or go to the bathroom, on a night when we go to bed, if we put him in the garden. Its getting to be a nightmare with the scratching n the crying, im getting depressed and im 7months pregnant

Aaaw don't let it depress you you just have to get him used to you going in and out, and that its no big deal, there is a great thread here How to help a dog with Separation Anxiety. all about dealing with separation anxiety, maybe something in there can help you out a bit more. But I would of thought if you are anxious he can sense it and that will make him anxious, start from scratch with a clean slate and see how you get on

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It will get better you just have to work with him. I agree with not closing the crate door for a good while yet. If he feels comfortable in there he'll get to like it more and more so just let him wander in and out as he pleases. Even my Flynn liked the crate and he never had one til he was two and a half for post op recovery. Kali and Marty tried to steal it many times too but none were made to stay in with the door closed until they were completely used to it.

I would get a couple of kongs and put some raw minced chicken in it and freeze it then give it to him frozen to nibble when you are going out, you can freeze wet dog food or yogurt and fruit in them too.

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Flynn - Kali - Britches - Bruce - T-Bo - Marty



"For the strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Thats a real good idea, freezing things in the kong, ill try that for sure. Last night i left the crate in the kitchen with the door open for him to wonder in and out and iv done lots of short training with him today, it was going well until i had to go out....wich isn't very often :/ i decided to see how he went in the crate, when i came home he had broke the crate and was just chilling on the sofa wagging his tale to greet me as i walked through the door

So i left it a while and then put him in the crate again while i sat in the other room and he was fine for 45mins, then i went in and rewarded him + let him out again. We did this twice tonight!

Hes just so confusing cos one minute were doing so well + making lots of progress, its like he forgets for a while + then he remembers and goes straight back to the beginning, aye dear

It sounds to me like his issues maybe aren't with the crate, but being left alone? I would personally work on that first? Obviously carry on with the crate training but incorporate leaving and coming straight back in, putting shoes on, picking up bag etc while he is in his crate and relaxed, but not actually go anywhere. As I said don't make an issue of going out and coming back, no goodbyes or hellos etc, read through the separation anxiety sticky. But it sounds like you are both making a great start, stick with it and well done

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