Whenever we leave Elsa in her crate for the shortest time she cry's like we are torturing her. My wife and I both work from the house but often times we have to leave. How long will it take Elsa to get used to being alone in the crate. I'm new to the forum and am finding it very helpful. I love it thank you all for the help.
Sincerely an overprotective new father.
Jeff
I posted this as answer to your question in Basenji Talk. Please don't post the same question in multiple sections - we'll answer you with one post, I promise! :D;)
You may need to go back to the beginning on crate training and try only short times away so that she gets used to you leaving - then work up to longer times.
One thing I made sure I did with my pup, was leave interactive treats in her crate - something she would have to work at to get the food out of - that way she concentrated on that instead of me leaving.
I used a toy called a squirrel dude and stuffed it with her kibble. Her first version of it I cut most of the prongs away. As soon as she was able to clean it out 100%, I bought another and only partially cut one prong away. I also stuffed kongs with her kibble and topped them with cream cheese, yogurt or peanut butter and froze them - so it would take longer for her to get thru her treat. The kibble that I used was in place of full meals - I'd give her a smaller regular meal and then the treats would complete the amount of food she would get.
One key thing I had in her crate was a stuffed animal called a snugglepuppy. You heat up a bag of rice in the microwave - and it gives out warmth, just like a littermate. There is also a heart element that emits a heartbeat sound when you turn it on.
In your other thread, I wrote about the setup I used with an xpen, litter box and crate. It worked well in my house as my pup made the choice to sleep in her crate but then had extra room to move around and an area to pee. I also left a radio on to keep her company. When the time came that I took away the xpen (and the litterbox), she was fully crate trained and to this day she is actually eager to go to her crate as there is always a treat or 2 waiting.
I agree. Restart your crate training using small increments of time but also work on this while you are home. That way she doesn't equate the crate with your leaving.
The crate/kennel should be a place she wants to go to - feed her in there, put her there with her favorite toy while you are in the room doing something else, give her her treats in there, etc. In fact, give her a treat (or lots of praise) every time she goes in there on her own. Bring the crate into your bedroom at night (even if she doesn't sleepo in it. She should not feel it is a place of punishment but a place of safety and comfort.
