 Barking in Crate During Day
Our 15 week old Yorkie, Bronco, is doing great on most accounts. He has picked up on potty training very well, sleeps in his crate soundly through the nite, and will even eagerly go into his crate when we tell him to "get in his bed" (likely because he expects a treat).
The main problem that we are having is barking in his crate during the day. Sometimes when we do an activity that prevents us from giving him full watch, (cleaning the house, the occasional puppy-less dinner, going out on a quick errand) we will put him in his crate. He is mostly fine if we are in the same room (mild whimpering), but not all the time. If we are out of the room he will bark his little head off.
Just today we were cleaning our guest room and we had him in his crate, in the same room, and he barked, whined, and even peed twice in his crate within a half hour span (and he had been out to pee a little over an hour before).
I know that many people will likely attribute this to separation anxiety, but sometimes I think the term is overrused. I sometimes think that he pees in the crate because he knows we will come over to clean up the crate and he will get out momentarily (and get attention).
Most of what I have read says to ignore the barking and that they will eventually learn that this does not work and will give it up, but in my experience this has not been the case. He seems to respond better to scolding than being completely ignored.
Has anyone been in this situation? My girlfriend and I are at the end of our collective rope.
P.S. We are starting puppy training classes in about a month and I am hoping that will help. |