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  3. He just hates his crate. Anyone else with this problem?

He just hates his crate. Anyone else with this problem?

Behavioral Issues
  • gbroxonG

    @JazzysMom:

    Crate training, especially after a dog hates his crate, is a time-consuming, >>multi-step process.

    WHAT??? There's no magic bullet? No simple trick that makes the panic attacks simply disappear? ARGH!!! ;-) I am so tired.
    …

    I know what'cha mean! After months of trying to get Magnum comfortable in his crate when alone, I gave up and confined him to a bigger area (where he could work off some of his anxiety at being alone). We then built him a nice indoor-outdoor kennel where he feels pretty much "at home" when he's alone.

    I do believe eventually crate training would have worked for Magnum, as I had been able to work up to crating him comfortably when I was home, but in a different room. We just could never seem to get past the SA when he was crated.

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  • C

    Bonnie responded very well to ComfortZone spray with DAP when she was puppy. It calmed her right down and eased the transition to our house. It doesn't seem to be the case with Smitty. I've used the plug in defuser for 4 months now… of course now I'm affraid to stop using it of fear of how make it worse! Maybe I need to squirt the stuff up his nose ;)

    When ever we start to leave he runs upstairs and plops on his dog bed in the office as if to say "see, I'll be good right here and you guys can leave... really"

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  • gbroxonG

    @JazzysMom:

    Crate training, especially after a dog hates his crate, is a time-consuming, >>multi-step process.

    WHAT??? There's no magic bullet? No simple trick that makes the panic attacks simply disappear? ARGH!!! ;-) I am so tired.
    …

    I know what'cha mean! After months of trying to get Magnum comfortable in his crate when alone, I gave up and confined him to a bigger area (where he could work off some of his anxiety at being alone). We then built him a nice indoor-outdoor kennel where he feels pretty much "at home" when he's alone.

    I do believe eventually crate training would have worked for Magnum, as I had been able to work up to crating him comfortably when I was home, but in a different room. We just could never seem to get past the SA when he was crated.

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  • jys1011J

    When ever we start to leave he runs upstairs and plops on his dog bed in the office as if to say "see, I'll be good right here and you guys can leave… really"

    Aaawwww poor thing. Is there any way to enclose him in this area like with an expen or something??

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • JazzysMomJ

    @cmd:

    Bonnie responded very well to ComfortZone spray with DAP when she was puppy. It calmed her right down and eased the transition to our house. It doesn't seem to be the case with Smitty. I've used the plug in defuser for 4 months now… of course now I'm affraid to stop using it of fear of how make it worse! Maybe I need to squirt the stuff up his nose ;)
    QUOTE]

    Keoki is 4.5 mos old now and, as I've said in another post, STILL won't crate alone w/out screaming, shredding, and peeing -- I can't even put the KONG or anything in there as he won't chew it once the door latches; he'll just pee on it.

    So, my question is about ComfortZone: Did you use the diffuser or the spray? And did you spray it on her bedding?
    I have a feeling I have another Smitty here, but am willing to try almost anything. Jazzy needs space.

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  • JazzysMomJ

    Eek! I just looked at petsmart.com and the spray is $42/bottle???
    And the only review from a customer said it didn't work.

    Anybody else with positive experience?

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  • C

    I TOTALLY understand. Smitty STILL today peed in his crate and just last week he pooped (first time in months but he's 1 1/2!). In fact, just last week I bought the spray in addition to the defuser. Dog.com has it for $28 with free shipping over $50. I called the manufacture and they said you can use both at the same time. Just squirt 6-10 pumps on the inside of the crate…. as much as the stuff calms Bonnie down, being near by is going to knock her out! I've tried it for a couple days and so far it doesn't seem to do much for him. I'll set up the video camera again and see. I think maybe it just works on some and not others. To me it was worth a try. With Bonnie we sprayed it on a bandana and that's all it took.

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  • jys1011J

    I use the DAP diffuser & I think it's helped us out quite a bit. Topaz stopped peeing & pooping in her crate. I won't stop using it now for fear that she may go back to soiling her crate.

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • jys1011J

    I'm going to try using the spray for car trips as they both get very anxious on car rides.

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • JazzysMomJ

    Hmmm, I just noticed that I have some amitriptyline left over from last year when our cat was exhibiting odd behavior {ie, peeing every BUT the litter box even though her health check was fine}. The stuff worked great and she almost immediately started using the litter box again.

    I think I'm going to call my vet and ask about trying it on Keoki. {It doesn't expire until Sept. 07}. He just saw Keoki a couple of weeks ago, so I'm hoping he doesn't insist on seeing him again. . .

    I wonder how safe I'd be in just giving it to him. I don't think it's a prescription item as it can be ordered on petmeds.com .

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  • JazzysMomJ

    LOL so I went to PetCo today and bought new bedding for Keoki's crate – one blanket-type pad and actually a very cushy cat bed that I figured would give him a cozy, cuddly feeling.

    He can't get near the crate. Jazzy is curled up inside and growls like a Tasmanian Devil any time Keoki gets near the door. LOL

    Great. Right effect, wrong dog.

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  • youngandtiredY

    Would it be possible that the new puppy smells Jazzy in the crate and is afraid. After all Jazzy does not like her to get near the crate, maybe she is nerveous about it b/c of Jazzy's reaction when she gets near. Just wondering!!!!

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  • QuercusQ

    I would try using an X-pen, possible with a cover. And retrain him to the crate. A big PIA for sure. But he is defintiely crate phobic at this point. You have to take teeny tiny baby steps. Put some kind of treat in there that he loves outside the crate, like a stuffed bone or raw bone. Lock it in there, and let him see it…talk it up. Let him in and get chewing on it. Close the door. Hopefully he will be busy chewing on it; count to 10 and open the door. Call him out with a treat. Take the chew away. Do many short training sessions per day. Have another place to put him when he needs to be confined (xpen). Once he is comfortable with the count to ten, start extending the time. Once he is comfortable with a minute or two walk out of the room, come back let him out. You get the idea....baby steps....never let him out if he starts screaming, but try to let him out while he still wants to be in with the chewie.

    Good luck...and sorry...I know how bad this situation feels :(

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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  • nomrbddgsN

    I've also had to use a bigger crate/cage to retrain dogs. It does work, but takes a bit of time.

    Arlene, the Basenji Brats with the Boxenji![](images/smilies/biggrin.png "Big Grin")

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  • JazzysMomJ

    Dare I hope?

    Last night I put Keoki into his crate all by himself, with the new bedding – a fake fleece crate pad and the cat bed pillow -- and he went right in, went to sleep, and slept quietly until 6 AM!! He didn't even fuss when I got up, but waited with waggly tail until I opened the door!

    I'm afraid to get too excited, lest this be a cruel fluke, but wow~ it's exciting!!

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  • jys1011J

    OOOOHHH I'm keeping our paws & fingers crossed for you & keoki :)

    Basenji Mom of C3PO & TOPAZ

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  • QuercusQ

    @JazzysMom:

    Dare I hope?

    Last night I put Keoki into his crate all by himself, with the new bedding – a fake fleece crate pad and the cat bed pillow -- and he went right in, went to sleep, and slept quietly until 6 AM!! He didn't even fuss when I got up, but waited with waggly tail until I opened the door!

    I'm afraid to get too excited, lest this be a cruel fluke, but wow~ it's exciting!!

    That would be great! Here's hoping!

    Andrea Walters

    Quercus Basenjis

    NW Ohio

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