Keoki's separation anxiety..

[sharronhurlbut]

My friend puts a whole roll of papertowels in the crate.
Minus the plastic wrap..
The dogs makes pieces of the roll and then have a soft place to sleep.
Eating the roll has not been a problem…so
maybe this will work for you?

[JazzysMom]

@sharronhurlbut:

My friend puts a whole roll of papertowels in the crate.
Minus the plastic wrap..
The dogs makes pieces of the roll and then have a soft place to sleep.
Eating the roll has not been a problem…so
maybe this will work for you?

I do put a pile of paper towels in the crate, but haven't put the whole roll in.
Hmmm, I may have the kids try that next week when I'm gone. Might be a new strategy. It's bound to keep him busy for a little while anyway!

Thanks!

[jessi76]

have you tried to desensitize him to the closed (latched) crate? Start by not leaving at all, simply latch the crate. for ANY calm behavior, reward w/ a special, one of a kind, high value treat. use something that will only be used for this purpose (i.e. liver biscotti pieces). try to leave the room, for only seconds to start,, slowly working up to minutes… all the while reward ANY calm behavior. eventually you can work up to stepping outside, then eventually leaving. this will take plenty of time, treats, patience, but it may save you some money on dog beds/mats/paper products.

have you already tried things such as a Kong (black one)?

[BasenjiDiva]

@JazzysMom:

Do they not tear up the pads? I mean, there is NOTHING that Keoki won't destroy, and he has an incredible knack for getting at things I was sure were safe. :rolleyes:

The ex-pen I have has a removal black tray on the bottom. They can't see the rubber bath mat because of the tray.

Pat

[JazzysMom]

@jessi76:

have you tried to desensitize him to the closed (latched) crate? Start by not leaving at all, simply latch the crate. for ANY calm behavior, reward w/ a special, one of a kind, high value treat. use something that will only be used for this purpose (i.e. liver biscotti pieces). try to leave the room, for only seconds to start,, slowly working up to minutes… all the while reward ANY calm behavior. eventually you can work up to stepping outside, then eventually leaving. this will take plenty of time, treats, patience, but it may save you some money on dog beds/mats/paper products.

have you already tried things such as a Kong (black one)?

Oh Jessi, yes. This has been a year long process, including working with a behaviorist and even a brief stint with medications!
I spent the first 7 mos that we had him sleeping in the spare bedroom where the dog crates were kept so that I could work with him all night. Dh was just thrilled with that plan {NOT}.

He started out not even taking treats while in the crate and We'd worked him up to being able to sleep in the closed kennel as long as it was not latched and was inside the ex-pen. In May he started letting us latch the crate and I was able to remove the ex-pen entirely for a few weeks, then he suddenly decided to flip out again.
Now we are back to him sleeping soundly at night in the closed but not latched crate inside an ex-pen. Eventually I am confident he will allow me to latch the crate again at night.

The real problem is not so much the crate or pen themselves, but HIM when we leave the house.

When we leave the house he flips out to the point where treats are useless – KONGS don't work, tendons don't work, even raw marrow bones with beautiful bloody meat bits on them are ignored until we get home again. He will, however, tear bedding, chew up the crate, and pull anything within reach of the pen into the pen and destroy it. It's definitely a stress behavior.
The dragging the pen across the room to get to things to chew is a new behavior.
And again... only present when we leave the house; it does not happen if we are home.

So, yeah, we've "been there, done that" with the desensitization training, and it is still an on-going process. He's a special boy when it comes to us leaving the house, even though he's never EVER been left alone with out the two other dogs.

[sharronhurlbut]

Oh, that is so tough.
You have done all the "right" things.
I do have a friend who has worked (often over the net) with dogs with issues.
If you e-mail me privately brescue@wavecable.com
I can put you in touch with her.

[jessi76]

wow, sounds like you've certainly tried all you can! at least you've made the great progress you have! I hope, in time, it eases up a bit, it must be very stressful for you, your family, and especially the dog. good luck!!

[snorky998]

I went through 6 dog beds in one year with Katie. I found one in a magazine that for me has been indestructible for 5 years!!!!

Removable cover is washable and is holding up really well–only and ink stain from a chewed up pen--

I cover it with baby blankets purchased at the local salvation army resale store only because the b's like to get under the blankets.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/andmore_home/andmore_dogstuff/98787.aspx?feature=Product_2

[rnasto]

You have probably tried this already but its worth suggesting. Have you tried taking one of his stuffed toys and sleeping with it for a while maybe a week or so, and then putting it in his kennel while you are gone. When we went and got Indi we rubbed a toy all over his family members and then took a towel we had slept with and put both in the crate it seemed to soothe him. Pretty soon all we needed was something with out scent and he was ok. Now he just hangs out in the crate whenever he wants to be alone.

Thats the other thing, he always comes out of the crate on his own we NEVER go in there when he is there. Its his special spot.

Like I said you have probably already tried this but it's all I have to offer.

[Rivermoon]

Poor boy. I've never had to deal with that…it sounds like you've done just about everything you can.

I wonder if taping your voices or making video of yourselves doing everyday things and playing it while you're gone would ease his anxiety a little? It's a just a thought.....