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

Behavioral Issues

  • 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 .


  • 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.


  • 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!!!!


  • 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 :(


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


  • 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!!


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


  • @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!

Suggested Topics

  • Severe Biting Problem

    Behavioral Issues
    10
    0 Votes
    10 Posts
    9k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    Sometimes… when you are replying to an OLD POST, it helps to click on the person's name. Many people post once or twice and never return. Yep.. Drew Join Date 01-18-2015 Last Activity 04-16-2015 09:06 AM
  • Crate Problem

    Behavioral Issues
    13
    0 Votes
    13 Posts
    7k Views
    S
    Yesterday it was three poops on the morning walk :-)
  • Problem with Crating !!!!

    Behavioral Issues
    6
    0 Votes
    6 Posts
    3k Views
    Chealsie508C
    It's true, I've never had to even think about crating until I got Oakley. All previous breeds were no problem staying loose in the house, oak is very house destructive so that was a no go, we also went through crate phobia but at 16 months he tolerates it better than I ever imagined
  • Problems with other dogs

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    3k Views
    DebraDownSouthD
    djaan, how about removing your spam link… then people might think your posts are serious.
  • Major Crate Training Problems

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    7k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    As some of you may recall, I had HORRIBLE problems getting Keoki to crate – took me until he was 9 mos old {and three crates!!} before he would sleep at night at all w/out screaming and shredding his bedding. For him, the issue was NOT crating, but separation. I could put him in the crate and while wasn't crazy about it, he would lie down and go to sleep as long as I was in the room w/him. As soon as I moved to leave, he would go absolutely insane. X-pen didn't work either as he tore his nose up while moving the pen across the floor. I finally bought a large crate {-a great dane could be comfy in our current crate} and we crate Keoki and Jazz together. Jazz would prefer to be alone, but she has always been a dog that rolls with the punches, so she does fine. Keoki now runs to his crate if I just say, "Go to bed". They go to bed at 10 PM and although I open the crate door at 5:30 AM, the seldom come out before 9 AM. I can crate them when guests are over if necessary {Jazz gets uncomfortable if too many people are over}, when we go out, and all night w/no complaints. {I am home all day, most days}. My family says he still whines at the window for a few minutes any time I leave the house, which is funny to me because he doesn't seem to be particularly attached to me when we're all home together although both dogs seem to know that I am THE MAMA and they behave best and listen most to me. I wonder how often the dog's anxious behavior in crates is like Keoki - not a crating problem, but a separation anxiety issue.
  • Crate Training

    Behavioral Issues
    11
    0 Votes
    11 Posts
    4k Views
    dmcartyD
    hard to say if crating was a big negative in her puppy place for her that could account for her behavior now? Have you called her breeder to ask her/him? They sometimes can give you wonderful ideas that can help faster than the rest of us because they know their puppy.