Help dog owners

[audie]

one thing our breeder told us about crates is that you don't want to use it for punishment like locking a dog in there when it has been bad. if they associate negative thoughts with it, it will be a struggle to get the dog in. since dory is a perfect little angel and never does anything wrong this was not a problem for us. here i am lying on a sunday !

 

[Miss Kitty]

Tom Cruise would suggest a little Prozac for what ails your pup. Honestly, I have heard of dogs being put on drugs to deal with separation problems. I would definitely try the crate though. Cork, I really feel for you. Being a dog lover and owner has so many rewards...but when they suffer, I think we suffer even more! Keep us posted.

 

[Cork On the Ocean]

I can't tell you how much this has helped me with the crate decision. Not knowing her background, I've been so apprehensive because she could have been a puppy mill dog that had been crated 24/7 for her whole life but the fact that she's quite well housetrained makes me think not. I do have a crate that I got for my cat so that will work fine. It's roomy enough for her and seems like the best chance of protecting her right now. I have some good ideas of what to put inside of it. She really hasn't attached to anything but my lap :rofl: but she does lay in her little bed sometimes that has a removable pillow that will fit. I think I'll position it so she can look out the doors because she's always sitting at the door when I get home. (She jumps off the window sill apparently and runs to the doors when she sees the car.) Is that a good or bad idea? . I'll cut up this big fleece blanket that a friend gave her and put a piece inside to keep her warm and some stinky piece of my clothing . Did I miss anything? I'll let you guys know how it goes with a Monday trial. The neighbor the other night is a builder that's building his own home so he's there all day long and he said they make more noice with their pounding. He said her screaming was just breaking his heart. I'll ask him to do a test with me monday and see how it goes.

If this doesn't work, I will consider another pet for her (probably a crested because they are so low-maintenence) but I've had the dog "pack" before and being single, all the extra work falls on me. Also, if my lifestyle ever does change , I'd hate to bring a crew into the picture.

:funn: :funn: She somehow got inside the duvet cover and was snoring and a minute ago, the whole comforter just fell off the bed onto the floor :funn:She brings me so much laughter

Thanks so much guys you've really put my mind at ease about this crate thing. Will keep you posted!

 

[Sheila]

I can't tell you how much this has helped me with the crate decision. Not knowing her background, I've been so apprehensive because she could have been a puppy mill dog that had been crated 24/7 for her whole life but the fact that she's quite well housetrained makes me think not. I do have a crate that I got for my cat so that will work fine. It's roomy enough for her and seems like the best chance of protecting her right now. I have some good ideas of what to put inside of it. She really hasn't attached to anything but my lap :rofl: but she does lay in her little bed sometimes that has a removable pillow that will fit. I think I'll position it so she can look out the doors because she's always sitting at the door when I get home. (She jumps off the window sill apparently and runs to the doors when she sees the car.) Is that a good or bad idea? . I'll cut up this big fleece blanket that a friend gave her and put a piece inside to keep her warm and some stinky piece of my clothing . Did I miss anything? I'll let you guys know how it goes with a Monday trial. The neighbor the other night is a builder that's building his own home so he's there all day long and he said they make more noice with their pounding. He said her screaming was just breaking his heart. I'll ask him to do a test with me monday and see how it goes.

If this doesn't work, I will consider another pet for her (probably a crested because they are so low-maintenence) but I've had the dog "pack" before and being single, all the extra work falls on me. Also, if my lifestyle ever does change , I'd hate to bring a crew into the picture.

:funn: :funn: She somehow got inside the duvet cover and was snoring and a minute ago, the whole comforter just fell off the bed onto the floor :funn:She brings me so much laughter

Thanks so much guys you've really put my mind at ease about this crate thing. Will keep you posted!

Our 2 babies have been crated since day 1. We learned from our first 2 that the crate actually made them feel more secure if we weren't at home. We also try and put an old t shirt one of us has had on. That way they actually feel like their pack leaders are close at hand. GTTBD travels alot. I have actually caught our little Bailey dragging something of "Dad's" into her crate if he's been gone for a while.

I know how heartbreaking it can be. I hope some of these ideas really help!

 

[Paula]

Cork: How about giving her the comforter cover that she was inside and putting it or part of it in the crate. She may associate it more with you (as well as the fleece blanket). Maybe they should call these "crates" indoor dog houses -- the label "crate" sounds so negative and cold. I'd have fun decorating it.

 

[Cork On the Ocean]

GTTBD travels alot. I have actually caught our little Bailey dragging something of "Dad's" into her crate if he's been gone for a while.

How cute is that ? Paula, that's a great idea but I had hoped that I could do it a little cheaper than sacrificing my DKNY comforter . She does sleep on it everynight though so if I have to, it's history. Maybe throw it over the crate. Then I have to drag it down 3 floors every time I go out :funn:. What we do for our kids! :roll:

 

[audie]

Our 2 babies have been crated since day 1. We learned from our first 2 that the crate actually made them feel more secure if we weren't at home. We also try and put an old t shirt one of us has had on. That way they actually feel like their pack leaders are close at hand. GTTBD travels alot. I have actually caught our little Bailey dragging something of "Dad's" into her crate if he's been gone for a while.

I know how heartbreaking it can be. I hope some of these ideas really help!

that is so cute - dory does the exact same thing. when mr audie switched jobs a few years ago he had training in indianapolis, for 3 days so he just stayed up there overnight for 2 nights. dory was absolutely miserable and she got ahold of a pair of his undies while i was doing laundry and took them to her crate and laid on them. they became her panties and are probably still buried back in the bedroom somewhere.

 

[audie]

cork, i think you will find the crate thing will give you peace of mind, you won't have to worry about sunshine getting hurt while you are gone. i may be rough at first, but stick with it, you will be glad in the end ! i hope to meet sunshine while we are down there !

 

[Rudyjohn]

I haven't had time to read this whole thread so I may be repeating some things but, our 2 dogs love their crates too. They're sitting in one end of our kitchen. They're like their little "dens." I'm home most of the day because I can do my work from home, but we do crate them sometimes. Just be sure to remove the dog collar or the choker (if she wears one ? ) because dogs can get caught somehow on the side of the crate or on the door latch, become twisted and strangle themselves. (Know that's not a positive thought right now, but I had to mention it.)
Gotta go.

 

[Cork On the Ocean]

Thanks guys, got a question. I was going to use a travel crate that i have that';s plastic. It's for medium size dogs and she's very tiny but John and others have indicated that she might want to use it in the daytime while I'm here so will that be adequate. I hate to have one of the big metal things in my living room. She now does quite nicely in her carry bag when we go out which is about 1/3 the size of the crate I have in mind. How much room does she need in there? I think she could stand up in it.

Audie, I think that this crate thing will give me peace of mind if it works and maybe someday I can leave the choice of going into her crate up to her. I'm sure we'll be walking around or if we put that sowal hunt together, sunshine can sniff them out