Barking when alone
 

Hello, I have a yorkie girl (Kee Kee) and she is about 14months old. She barks when we leave her in her crate when we leave. As soon as she hears the door close she starts. I don't know how to get this under control. She has her favorite blanket with her. I don't know why she does this. She has done it ever since I got her. Are there any suggestions on how to get her to stop or is it too late?

Try leaving a radio or the tv on for her, my daughter had a similar problem and that is how we deal with it, she leaves the radio playing soothing music or the tv on animal planet..LOL

It is not too late to help her love her crate. Couple of questions first. 1. When is she in the crate ? I mean do you only put her in there when you are leaving or not at home ? 2. Is she pottie trained ? 3. Does she play with toys ? 4. Does she have a Kong or treat holding type toy ? After I know the answers to these questions I can help you with some training lessons that will help.

Barking when alone
 

Teresa,
We put her in her crate when we leave to go to school or work or when we are not going to be home. She is not crated when we are home. Yes, she is potty trained. She does have toys but she will not play by herself. I don't have a treat hiding toy or a Kong.

OK. Here is Lesson # 1. It is good to let her spend a little time in the crate when you are home. You must make the crate a good place. It should be in the room where the family is. First give her a really good treat like tiny piece of boiled chicken. Then put a second treat inside her crate and close the door. That way she can see and smell it but, can not get it. If she paws the crate, barks or tries to get the treat open the door and let her get it. Don't close the door on her. Repeat a few times for two or three days. Also EVERY day feed her, her most favorite treat in the crate. Tell her' Get Safe' and put her in the crate reward with the yummy treat. I Set the timer for 10 minuets. Then let her out. Do not let her out if she is barking. Say Quiet and when she is quiet let her out. Feed her the evening meal, in the crate. Make her crate a very special place where she finds treats and fun chew toys and surprizes.
# 2 BIGGER CRATE, Exercise Pen, or Safe Room.
Since she is pottie trained you can get a larger crate or perhaps use a safe room with a gate. A safe room should still have her crate. ( I forgot to ask how big her crate is sorry. Does she sleep in her crate ?) She may not like being in a small sleeping size crate. That is very boring for most Yorkies. She needs room to play if she is crated more than 4 hours. Is it possible to exercise her really hard, before crating her ? Maybe a brisk walk or 15 minuets of playing fetch ? If she is sleepy the crate will seem like a cozy napping place.
#3 Playing Classical music on the radio may really help. In studies, classical and easy listening music is soothing to animals and babies.
#4 Dogs are very social animals. It is not natural for them to be alone. If she can not have a live companion, she might do less barking if she is busy with some dog safe toys and treats to find when you are gone.
It would be great if she could go to doggie day care or to work with you but, that is rarely a real option. I hope this helps . Best Wishes Teresa

When Cody was little, he was crate trained and slept in his crate every night without complaining. About 7 months, he started sleeping with us and wasn't in his crate as much. At that time, it became more difficult to keep him happy in his crate. At about 1 yr, we started leaving him along without crating. He's been really good (as long as I puppy proof -- Cody has a thing for paper, i.e. kleenex, napkins - doesn't bother anything else). He is now 20 months old and the only time we use the crate is if we have to leave him with our daughter (when my husband had surgery) and he was just fine.

P.S. when he was little, I was a big believer in the Kong. Fill it with kibble and he was a happy camper.