Separation Anxiety

[Freedom]

Another thought.

Does he have to be let IN the kennel? What if you block off one area of the kitchen for him. Put his bed, water bowl, toys, chew sticks. At the start, cover the area with pee pads. Over time, you should be able to put the pads in one section, far from his bed.

[dab_20]

We haven't tried working with him in steps like that. I will have to let my brother know and try it. Unfortunately, he's an hour away from me and my mom now, and they're is no one to leave him with every day.

Well... my brother could definitely try it. He doesn't have any problems with pottying in the house... he's just VERYY destructive when left alone. He is bound to fine something to chew up that is more 'interesting' than his toys lol. I could talk to him about totally puppy proofing a small area somewhere in the house.

[king2005]

How big is his kennel?

Digi use to be bad like that too. She would go INSANE!! Get your brother to leave rock music on, or the radio (loud, but not so loud that it'll upset neighbours).. I used Metal (music) to desensitize Digi from noises. I still leave music playing when I'm not home.

Digi's kennel can fit 3 more Digi's in it as its HUGE. The kennel recommended for her size is so tiny I find it cruel. I use it for traveling as she's not in it very long (only at night, or for a few mins if we go out to get food) as her day kennel is far too large to lug around on a trip & it doesn't fit in my sisters tiny place.

I also have kept her in the bathroom when I have to leave her for long periods of time when traveling. I keep the light off & the bathroom fan ON. Sure the fan is annoying, but if I don't leave the fan on she gets upset with it being too quiet, but the dark also helps keep her calm as it helps her to fall asleep. Not once has she destroyed my sisters bathroom. BUT if I let her loose at home, she'll find something to shred (mostly my mail), or she'll just trash the house (pull plants onto the floor, spread my stuffies all over the house without damaging them, but if she finds plastic she'll chew on it).

Shes nothing like she use to be, & I can leave her for 30 mins & she'll just lay on the floor (as long as I don't lock the door) not too far from the door waiting for me. I've had her since about 6 weeks old (she was abused & neglected before she was thrown at me at 6 weeks of age). She will be 3 Aug 1st.

[dab_20]

We also got a kennel that was supposed to be the size for boxers, but Springen got so tall when he stood up his head would hit the top! So we got a kennel for like double his size and it's nice and roomy for him. Yeah, my brother has music on all the time when he is home so that would help if he left it on!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

That is far too long for him to be in a kennel. Is there anyway that a run of some sort could be attached so he has some sense of being able to go in and out of it during the day?

[bckrazy]

Can your brother afford to take Springen to dog daycare or something of that sort while he SLOWLY works on desensitizing him? Our daycare is less than $20/day. The issue with desensitizing Springen... while having to crate him for 8 hours a day... is that he's still going into that freak-out mode. The goal is to never push him to that point, to very gradually work on kenneling him without him showing any stress signals at all before you start building on the time he's in the crate.

[king2005]

One thing that I have learned about dogs is that their own barking can make them worse.

My ex-friends rottie was NUTS, crazy & aggressive... He was a totally new dog when muzzled. His own barking use to make him madder & madder, but when he couldn't bark, he chilled out.. a lot. THen after several months he didn't need the muzzle.. but for safety we kept it on him during walks, as he could never be fully trusted.

It wouldn't hurt to give it a try. Try to find one that wont allow him to bark, but STILL drink! Also try to find one that wont come off with ease.

Get your brother to put it on him & give him lots of loving. Take it off & give him a treat. Do that for a few days until he sees the muzzle as a happy fun thing. Then get him to leave the house for 5 mins & come back. then 10, 15, 20 & so on (if possible).

Hopefully within the first week, the muzzle will be on him while your brother is at work. Also becuase of the muzzle not allowing him to open his mouth wide, it'll help keep the house in order...

Yes the dog is going to be bored during the day, but it wont be a forever thing. & at least he can run around the house & chase a ball on the floor (leave some balls out).

Hope that helps