Anxiety

[jodysh]

So, I introduced Malcolm to his crate starting the night we came home and he got comfortable with it and settled in for naps during the day while I went about doing other things and sleeping in it at night just fine and staying in it while I went out to run errands, etc. The longest he's ever been left alone in it has been about 3 hours.

The last few days, however when he goes into the crate and I shut it and leave the room to do whatever he starts crying and carrying on like he's getting beat. But he's fine as long as I'm sitting right by the crate.

BUT...it's not being in the crate - I don't think. Because I let him into the bathroom while I took a shower. I figured he'd be fine since we're in the same room together and there's nothing that he can get to to tear up or get hurt. No, he still had a fit because I guess he couldn't see me. When I peeked out the curtain he stopped crying.

Any thoughts on what could have happened? Is he just going through a stage? Not sure what to do

OH and he still sleeps in the crate at night just fine, no problems...

[lindamarie]

My apologies first as I cannot recall Malcolm's age or how long you have had him?
But, in general, yes........any dog might go through separation anxiety to this degree. Whether you just got him or even sometimes when a pup realizes.....HEY! I'M ALONE HERE!

With us, we went through it immediately as soon as Bogart got home and for quite a few weeks. He was 9 weeks old.
It is always difficult because it's soooo NOISY for one thing, plus, we don't want our baby to feel sad and lonely so it rips at your heart strings aside from your ears AND may I mention for us, sleep deprivation!

We got Bogart at a time when my dad was very ill and I was practically living at the hospital. My brother would spend some nights in the guest room right next to the bedroom Bogart was in. (The hospital was closer to us than to my brother.....but he decided he needed to go home and sleep and drive the extra miles than listen to that all night.)

I know this isn't an answer to your situation at night, but it is an indication of how some pups respond to crates and being along and having to actually SEE you.

I think you're going to have to give Malcolm more "alone" time while you are home and even in the crate by leaving for awhile.
When you're home, periodically, put him in the crate and go do some laundry and chores. Don't peek in at him, if at all possible, avoid the area where he is. Let him know he can can feel secure just being alone. And whatever you do, never give in and take him out when he is acting out.
Dear, sweet Malcolm,
We are about to start something new here!
And no faking a beating OR screeching your brains out will work.
When you quiet down, we will take you out at our discretion.
We love you very much, but we're on our way to making you the BEST doodle and we will always make sure you are safe.
Love you very much.

Kinda corny, but that's it in a nutshell.

[jodysh]

LOL I love the speech

He's 11 weeks old now. He's been here for 2 weeks as of this weekend...somehow it seems like it's been longer

I guess I should have him take all of his naps in the crate. I don't always because the crate is in the bedroom upstairs and we're usually downstairs when he crashes.

[Cazkiwi]

Also, maybe a radio or tv on in the room he's in, or a loud ticking clock, so he can still hear human voices (or a heartbeat).....

When I first got Darla, I tried shutting her in one room but she never stopped crying and ripping at the door. After a week, I kinda of gave in, and gave her the whole run of the house with the TV on in the lounge, and she was perfect. She sleeps on the bed ALL day at the other end of the house, not a peep out of her (I spied on her with my computer camera!!), and she has so many toys, she has never ripped or killed anything in the house... she just doesn't like ONE room! She's been fine ever since....

My uncle's baby however, was fine for 5 weeks in the garage with his Daddy dog, but he has had to crate in the last 5 weeks now as he was just too naughty.....

All dogs are different.... dunno if that's any help tho, haha!

[Riverkatie]

Ruff hates being left, he wails the place down, but only if I go out. He knows if I am in the house!

I don't have a solution, but I can tell you what our trainer said last night. Go out, come right back in. Do it again, and again, 10 times a day. When he is Ok with that, go out, wait 1 minute, come right back in.....

boring, but probably necessary! I work from home, so he is not left all day, and I shall start this as soon as school is back next week, and there are not other people about all day.

Our wonderful doodles are such people dogs, they just love to be with us!

[jodysh]

Thanks for all the ideas I'll give it a try.

Something new he's started is not wanting to come out of the crate when I open the door and invite him out or call him to me. He'll go to the back of the crate. I'm not sure what this is about but I find it troubling. It's like he's afraid of me or something which I just don't understand. I've never hit him or anything and when he's NOT in the crate he's always under my feet and at my heels wherever I go in the house. The only way I can get him out is to reach in and pull him out (gently) or by going to another room and then he'll come out and follow me.

:-/ OY. Maybe I should not physically get him out?

To be clear - he's doing this even when I know he's crying because he is ready to get up and go potty, have breakfast, etc. And these are the times I physically get him out of the crate. Any other time I leave the room and wait for him to follow. But still he won't come out if I call him out even if I have a treat in my hand.

[Riverkatie]

I doubt he is scared of you, just learnt something you did not expect.

I would not pull him out however gently, as we do not want him to learn this is how we exit a crate! I would dance excitedly across the room towards the door, singing cheerfully "lets go pup!"

I would also play crate games at a quiet time, in crate on command, click and treat, out crate on command, click and treat, make it fun, fun ,fun!

Good luck.