PLEASED HELP!!!
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| If he has never been crated before you may have a difficult time starting now. But it can be done.
You need to start with very short periods in the crate, maybe even just 5 or 10 minutes. Gradually increase the time. Try to leave a tv or radio on for noise and company. Some people swear by Bach Rescue Remedy, I've never used it. Have you stood outside and listened to see if he keeps barking or if he eventually settles down? Are you in a place where the barking is a problem. If he is just barking and not doing anything else (trying to dig his way out of the crate or getting really hysterical), you may need to just let him bark for a while. |
| Check out the crate training section of the forum for some advice.
I would very highly recommend this book: Before & After Getting Your Puppy: The Positive Approach to Raising a Happy, Healthy & Well-Behaved Dog (Hardcover), by Ian Dunbar It is an excellent book with lots of information on crate-training, socialization, obedience training, house training, etc. We found it to be extremely helpful. You might need to take some time off work to work on this. It will take time, but your pup will get there. He's new to your house, so part of his separation anxiety may be because he's still adjuting to the change in home. Stuffed kongs work very well too. When I leave for work, Barkley is so occupied with working on his kong, he doesn't even notice me leave. An everlasting treat ball might work too. |
| So is the problem that he is barking or that he's messing in the crate? At 4 months old, he's really just a baby. He's not used to being alone-- it hasn't been that long that he had his littermates with him 24-7. You've only had him for a week so this is all new to him. He's in a strange place, and when the only people he now knows leave, he's scared. He's really acting very normal.
If he's stressed out and upset that you're leaving, there won't be any quick fix. You'll have to get him used to being by himself in short increments of time before you can work up to a long time. You can start by putting him in his crate, doing what you're doing with praise and treats, then try leaving for like 15 minutes and come back. When you come back and let him out of the crate, don't make a big deal about it. Gradually increase the amount of time you leave as he adjusts. It'll get better but it takes time--- and sometimes a lot of time. You just have to be patient and consistent. |
| The only thing I can add to the previous posts is try using a Kong filled with peanut-butter or cheese whiz mixed with kibbles and other goodies mixed in. I freeze them so they're not so messy and last longer. Put this in the crate with him, go outside and see how long it takes him to settle down. |
| well as hard as this sounds - Ollie barked non stop and I thought, well I can't keep coming to you each time, you need to get used to it. So like Butterscotch suggests, leaving him for longer periods - I used to go in another room, I timed Ollie once, he barked for 20 mins solid, not anxiety or crying barks - I just had to let him get on with it though, otherwise they will rule your life, and thats fine by the way when they are older - bless em xx |
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