I have tried crate training her, but she absolutely hates it... Busted the front door off of two of them. Not to mention the fact that we would come home and she would be sitting on the couch and her crate would still be locked up like we left it!!!!! HOUDINI!! I don't know her past and how she was ever introduced to a crate, but she shakes when when we would put her in it. From the condition we found her in, I feel that whoever had her before would just lock her in it all the time!!

We do close off all of the rooms, except for the kitchen, dining room and living room, due to the fact that she would destroy the mattresses in the bedrooms if we didn't. I have read alot on this and do get mixed opinions on crating a dog with SA. Some feel that it is good while others feel that a dog that was abused with SA, truly can not see past the bars of the crate. They will do anything they can to get out. I read horror stories of extreme cases where the dog would actually severly injure themselves, just to get out of the crate. Considering the fact that she busted the doors of the two that we bought, I think this might be something to be concerned about with her.

I like the idea of slowly leaving her for awhile. When we leave now, they each get a rawhide chip in their bed and I leave. However, when we come home, she is literally bouncing off the walls with joy to see us. I do make a big deal about coming home, especially if she was good and didn't destroy anything!

The trials and tribulations of motherhood!!!