Crate - Seperation anxiety & fear - my fault - YorkieTalk.com Forums

jennlynch87 · 05-11-2009, 04:00 AM

I got my little yorkie recently, Oliver. He is SUCH a good dog, luckily he's already potty trained and does very, very well. He was crate trained also, as the first and second night he had absolutely no problems. He didn't cry and he barely wimpered. Unfortently, Sunday afternoon I went to my parents for a family dinner. We kept him on the porch while we ate (we were with him out there prior for a few hours). I think he was sad becuase we went inside (either that or he smelled the food) and he started scrathing the glass door so I immediatly jumped up and put him in his crate (I yeeled a bit too - not mean though). I know that was a huge mistake - now he freaks out when I put him in the crate. Last night he screamed (and boy I mean that). I eventually put him in the closet with a blanket over him and that seemed to stop him. But I know Oliver has a bit of anxiety over it now - this morning everytime I would walk to where he could no longer see me while in the create, he cried. I'm not sure how to get his trust back... I even have his toys, blankets, treats in there with him. I really want him to like his crate.... Any ideas?

QuickSilver · 05-11-2009, 08:48 AM

Don't beat yourself up over it too much. We all make mistakes. How old is Oliver?

How much do you keep him in the crate during the day? Is the issue that you want him to sleep in the crate at night, or that you want him in the crate during the day, or both?

I suggest leaving the crate door open for now so that he can go in and out freely. You can also put a nice treat in there that is a crate-only treat, like kong with peanut butter.

If he is already potty trained, you might consider letting him follow you around the house. Yorkies like to be with you all the time. OR, put the crate somewhere where it's easier for him to see you.

jennlynch87 · 05-11-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

Don't beat yourself up over it too much. We all make mistakes. How old is Oliver?

How much do you keep him in the crate during the day? Is the issue that you want him to sleep in the crate at night, or that you want him in the crate during the day, or both?

I suggest leaving the crate door open for now so that he can go in and out freely. You can also put a nice treat in there that is a crate-only treat, like kong with peanut butter.

If he is already potty trained, you might consider letting him follow you around the house. Yorkies like to be with you all the time. OR, put the crate somewhere where it's easier for him to see you.

Thanks

Oliver is 9 months old, thank goodness he was potty trained when I bought him. I like the treat for crates only idea. I want him to be crated while I sleep, and I plan to crate him for a few weeks while I am at work/school (I work 7-4 and come home for lunch and go to school two days a week for 3 hrs both nights). I'm doing this mostly so that he likes his crate - mostly for what if situations (airplanes, urgent car rides, etc.). At night, I tried to keep him in the crate facing me, but he cried and wimpered. But when I am leaving for work, he mostly wimpers only when he can no longer see me, so I'm getting mixed signals.

QuickSilver · 05-11-2009, 10:35 AM

I think that's a lot of time to be in a crate. Can you get an xpen, or give him one room of your place while you are away?

I think to get him used to the crate, you just need to leave it out for him to use, like his own personal cave. It makes sense that he would resist it more at night, when he would like to sleep with you. If it's only been a few nights, he will get used to it. Or, just let him sleep with you

. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about crating him so much. He'll get used to the crate if he sleeps in it at night, or even if he takes naps in it during the day. People usually only crate their dogs that much when they are potty training them.

jennlynch87 · 05-11-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QuickSilver

I think that's a lot of time to be in a crate. Can you get an xpen, or give him one room of your place while you are away?

I think to get him used to the crate, you just need to leave it out for him to use, like his own personal cave. It makes sense that he would resist it more at night, when he would like to sleep with you. If it's only been a few nights, he will get used to it. Or, just let him sleep with you

. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about crating him so much. He'll get used to the crate if he sleeps in it at night, or even if he takes naps in it during the day. People usually only crate their dogs that much when they are potty training them.

Okay, I was wondering If maybe he was in there too long during the day... maybe I'll let him roam free while I'm in class, and once I know for sure he is potty trained ( I think they say four weeks with no mistake is golden) then I'll let him out while I'm at work,too. I have a safe room - my bedroom is puppyproofed, so he will be okay. Does this sound better? That way he'll only be in there for 8 hours with a fourty minute break, and at night (7 hours). Or is this still too much?

QuickSilver · 05-11-2009, 01:21 PM

So he'll be in the crate for 15 hours / day during potty training, and then 7 hours when he's finished? That should be fine.

jennlynch87 · 05-12-2009, 04:00 AM

Oliver did so much better last night/this morning! I bought him a cushion made for crates, I think that may have helped. Towels are too bunchy I think. Maybe it's just one of those things they'll get used to over time?

I'm so proud

QuickSilver · 05-12-2009, 09:15 AM

Way to go, both of you.

05-11-2009, 04:00 AM	#1
jennlynch87 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2009 Location: daytona Posts: 46	Crate - Seperation anxiety & fear - my fault I got my little yorkie recently, Oliver. He is SUCH a good dog, luckily he's already potty trained and does very, very well. He was crate trained also, as the first and second night he had absolutely no problems. He didn't cry and he barely wimpered. Unfortently, Sunday afternoon I went to my parents for a family dinner. We kept him on the porch while we ate (we were with him out there prior for a few hours). I think he was sad becuase we went inside (either that or he smelled the food) and he started scrathing the glass door so I immediatly jumped up and put him in his crate (I yeeled a bit too - not mean though). I know that was a huge mistake - now he freaks out when I put him in the crate. Last night he screamed (and boy I mean that). I eventually put him in the closet with a blanket over him and that seemed to stop him. But I know Oliver has a bit of anxiety over it now - this morning everytime I would walk to where he could no longer see me while in the create, he cried. I'm not sure how to get his trust back... I even have his toys, blankets, treats in there with him. I really want him to like his crate.... Any ideas? __________________ = Oliver

05-11-2009, 08:48 AM	#2
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Don't beat yourself up over it too much. We all make mistakes. How old is Oliver? How much do you keep him in the crate during the day? Is the issue that you want him to sleep in the crate at night, or that you want him in the crate during the day, or both? I suggest leaving the crate door open for now so that he can go in and out freely. You can also put a nice treat in there that is a crate-only treat, like kong with peanut butter. If he is already potty trained, you might consider letting him follow you around the house. Yorkies like to be with you all the time. OR, put the crate somewhere where it's easier for him to see you. __________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger.

05-11-2009, 10:35 AM	#4
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	I think that's a lot of time to be in a crate. Can you get an xpen, or give him one room of your place while you are away? I think to get him used to the crate, you just need to leave it out for him to use, like his own personal cave. It makes sense that he would resist it more at night, when he would like to sleep with you. If it's only been a few nights, he will get used to it. Or, just let him sleep with you . Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about crating him so much. He'll get used to the crate if he sleeps in it at night, or even if he takes naps in it during the day. People usually only crate their dogs that much when they are potty training them. __________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger.

05-11-2009, 01:21 PM	#6
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	So he'll be in the crate for 15 hours / day during potty training, and then 7 hours when he's finished? That should be fine. __________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger.

05-12-2009, 04:00 AM	#7
jennlynch87 Yorkie Yakker Join Date: May 2009 Location: daytona Posts: 46	Oliver did so much better last night/this morning! I bought him a cushion made for crates, I think that may have helped. Towels are too bunchy I think. Maybe it's just one of those things they'll get used to over time? I'm so proud __________________ = Oliver

05-12-2009, 09:15 AM	#8
QuickSilver Thor's Human Donating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 5,929 Blog Entries: 31	Way to go, both of you. __________________ If you love something, set it free. Unless it's an angry tiger.