 Thank you all sooooo much!!
Buddy is now less anxiety ridden because I read all your responses (which were invaluable!) and I also spoke with my breeder. What I did was go and buy some baby food chicken sticks (looks like vienna sausages) as per suggestion of the breeder (Buddy wouldn't eat any of the puppy-store bought treats I bought). He loves these and I only pinch off about a bb size for him. I give him that when I put him in there and then another little pinch when I shut the door. He wines but has stopped flinging himself against the sides of the crate (plastic crate/car carrier) after only a few minutes. When I come to let him out I have another little pinch ready, and then we do our potty thing outside and he gets another little pinch. He really seems sharp and the positive reinforcement with the treat seemed to do the trick. They really are like little babies at this age, aren't they? He still makes sucking sounds when he sleeps. Anyway, I can't tell you all how happy I am to have such a wonderful resource as this forum. I think I would have maybe caved in to him because I felt so guilty, even though intellectually I know it would have bad consesquences. Thank you all again ever so much! Bye for now. |