Well, if the dog is that bad, she needs to be medicated. I wouldn't normally suggest that, but if its a severe case, they really need to see a vet.
The thing is she needs to get the dog used to the crate VERY SLOWLY. Reece had BAD seperation anxiety when I adopted him. Crating helped immensely, but I didn't just throw him in there. I started with crates around the house with the doors propped open all the time. I moved all the dog beds and pillows into them so that the only comfortable place to sleep was the crates. I also put stuffed kongs, stuffed hollow bones, and string cheese (his favorite treat) in them all. He eventually learned that REALLY good stuff came from the crate and he started lingering in there longer and longer. Then I started shutting the door on him for short periods while I sat near the crate. I'd calmly let him out if he was calm. (Never treat a dog when they come OUT of the crate, only when they go IN). Then I started covering the crate with a sheet. That way he couldn't tell when I left. The first time I left him alone was maybe for 10 minutes and I kept gradually extending the time.
After a couple months of crating, he overcame a lot of the anxiety. Then I adopted Lolly and that really helped.
I know of a lot of other techniques, but the dog has it so bad that I doubt they'll work I think seeing a vet or behaviorist is the first step.
Alyson
Shiloh, Reece, Lolly, Skylar
and fosters Snickers, Missy, Magic, Merlin, Maya
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