Dog help ASAP

[turtledove]

I apologize in advance that this is so long...

My dog (mixed Austrailian shepherd/Golden??) is almost 10 years old. He is crate trained and has been since he was a puppy. He is a bit high strung and always has been. We are unable to leave him out when we are out of the house because he destroys things (hence the crate training as a puppy). Even if we are in the front yard and he can see us, he will start yelping like a puppy and get extremely stressed out. We literally cannot leave him out alone for any length of time - for example I walked over to my neighbor's house for about tweny minutes (he saw us walking) and when I came back, he had chewed my wood blinds. Periodically over the years we have tried leaving him out (hoping he had mellowed a bit) with bad results every time- chewed trough a door, chewed molding, remote, phone, papers, blinds, etc). Strangely, if we leave him out with another dog, he is fine (my sister or SIL's dog). I think he has some sort of anxiety about being left alone that he has never gotten over and we got him at 6 weeks old.

He has never minded being in his crate. In fact, when he sees us get out a treat and water cup (to fill the bowl in the crate) he will run and get into the crate and wait. I am a SAHM now and the crate time is fairly minimal - running errands, playgroup, picking DD up from preschool. Usually from 20 minutes to a couple of hours. If I know he is going to be put up for more than a couple of hours, I will take him for a walk before hand. I always take him out to pee before he gets put up.

Yesterday, the family went out for about four hours. When we got back home, the dog's crate pan was slid out from the crate and had some vomit on it, the crate pad was all balled up, and several of the wires of our very heavy duty crate were bent. He had obviously gotten upset about something, but we didn't know if it was a squirrel in the yard (he likes to chase those and his crate can see out the back door), or if he just freaked out for some reason (doorbell rang, saw someone in our backyard). It was obvious that he was desperately trying to get out. Fast forward to today, I have to drop DD off at preschool, and take one of our cats to the vet (he has thyroid issues and periodically needs bloodwork done). I was gone less than an hour. When I go to the crate, once again, the pan is halfway out, the mat is balled up, the water bowl (heavy duty plastic) has been chewed so the crate is all wet, and the crate is even more bent and a wire has been completly removed. The crate is destroyed - I didn't think I would be able to get it open and let him out.

I am at a loss for what to do. We NEED another crate. I don't know if any of the ones at PetSmart or Petco are strong enough to stand up to what he has done the past few days. Most of all, what in the world is going on here!! I am so mad!! I have to pick DD up from preschool in an hour and have nothing in which to shut up (safely) the dog. He is fine when he is around people, but I cannot stay home all the time with the dog. He is not ill, he has no loss of appetite, energy level is normal, stools and urination are normal. When we are home, he is acting fine. When we leave, something is happening.

Any suggestions on what to do, look for/at, or what kind of crate to buy? I so don't need this right now!

TIA!!

[larig]

Our 13 year old 60 pound boxer-ridgeback mix sounds like your pup. He has escaped from a couple of different crates wire. My dad and DH had to engineer a solution. It kind of sucks. Here's what they did.

To prevent the tray sliding, we got a big board (the kind that have formica on the top or melamine or whatever that stuff is called) from the local lowes/home depot and had it cut to size (or we bought one the right size--can't remember). Then used that instead of the tray. It's heavier, and our dog is a digger and actually pawed his way through a plastic tray (he's done serious damage to wood gates and trim too). Then to prevent him from being able to move the board like he could with the tray we used electrical wire to prevent the board from being able to slide out forward.

We also had to reinforce the crate in other ways too. It folded, and somehow pup found he could manage to collapse and escape (he's crazy), so we had to wire all of the places where you have to bend the crate slightly to get it to collapse. We just made it non-collapsable. We used electrical wire for this too. we used the coated wire, so it wouldn't hurt the pup.

We've never been able to put water in with the dog, and just assume that any blanket that goes in will be shredded.

good luck.

eta: maybe cover his crate too.

[elephantmeg]

I'd start with your vet for a check up and suggestions

[BabyMine]

We put a huge blanket over Bear's crate so it resembles a cave. He can't be left out alone or with our other dog so he is always crated when we leave. I also put a raw bone (from the butcher) in it so he can chew something to reduce his anxiety. He now looks forward to us leaving.

[twowhat?]

It sounds like he has pretty severe separation anxiety. You can actually work with a dog on this - but it takes time and energy to see results - something you probably don't have!

As PP mentioned, make sure crate is in a quiet space. Drape a blanket or large towel over it to make it feel more den-like. Make sure he has something to do inside the crate to work off energy from his anxiety. Peanut butter frozen inside a Kong will last awhile, esp if you give him more than one.

You might be able to make time to try to work with him by doing simple things each day since you're a SAHM (I'm not saying that you have time "because" you're a SAHM, but by virtue of being home, you might be able to try a few things). Put him in his crate with something to do for a short time here and there throughout the day EVEN when you are home. Make sure you walk into and out of the room that his crate is in, and act like it's no big deal. Start with just 30 seconds. Work up to several minutes. The idea is to teach him that the crate isn't associated with you actually leaving.

When you do leave, try changing something in your routine each time you leave. If you always get your keys before you put him in, try getting your keys, then going into the kitchen for a drink, trip to the bathroom, maybe even put your shoes on outside after you've locked up the house. Each time, try to change something. Similar idea - you want him to not really have the time to build up an anxiety around your leaving, and to get used to the fact that routines will change and that there is nothing to worry about. You can even do silly things like 1) get your purse as if you are leaving but then sit on the floor and check email. 2) put on your coat but then take it off, 3) put your shoes on but then stay in the house. 4) Enter/exit the house for seconds at a time for no reason. Things like that.

As far as the crate - I'm not sure they make super strong crates for dogs with separation anxiety Get the sturdiest one you can find and yeah, you might have to somehow rig it...

[mackmama]

It sounds like separation anxiety. I'm so sorry both you and the dog are going through this - it sounds very stressful for everyone. I would suggest hiring a dog trainer to help you with this as it's obviously causing the dog (and you) a lot of stress. It also sounds like the crate no longer feels like a safe place for your dog, so I'm not sure about reinforcing the crate or getting a new one. A trainer could definitely help you figure this out more. You could also talk to your vet about getting some anxiety meds for your dog. Cesar Milan also has some helpful information on his website for separation anxiety.

[KLD313]

I would get a trainer. I know you didn't mention reinforcing the crate but if this is something you are considering please be really careful. I know of a dog that was able to push through enough to get his neck stuck but not get out all the way and ended up dying.

[mmsmom]

Sounds like separation anxiety. It can develop suddenly for seemingly no reason (or a reason that only the dog knows). If not separation anxiety is there something new he is hearing? Thunderstorm, rain, construction nearby? There are many treatments for separation anxiety... Homeopathic, training & drugs. I would talk to your vet about where to start.

[rlu]

Can't help with the crate but nth the separation anxiety issue.

Can you take the dog with you when you run errands? Generally I advise leaving a dog home instead of riding in a car as safer, but in this situation it seems better to take him if you can. Do talk to the vet about meds at least short-term for when you need to be away for longer lengths of time while training.

LGD did experience separation anxiety when separated from BBD (littermates) but it wasn't a huge issue for us as they were generally always together. We did get "puppy prozac" for BBD who was terrified by fireworks for those holidays and used it for LGD for her vet appts. It made them woozy and act drunk. Not sure you would use that strength in OP case though, so maybe the effects aren't as strong.

[chays]

Our 11 year old aussie has gradually gotten more and more neurotic. She was constantly whining to out then to come back in - she couldn't just lay down or relax. Ever. She peed when the vaccum was being used or there was a loud noise. NOW, she takes 50 mg of Clomipramine every morning (the vet perscibed it 2x/day, but we have found just the morning is sufficient) and it has settled her down temendously.

When it thunderstorms, she FREAKS out. It is better on the meds, but we also give her 1mg Alprazolam before a thunderstorm and she relaxes and takes a nap.

She is SUCH a happier dog! The Clomipramine has not changed her personality, just calmed her nerves. The Alprazolam knocks her out.

Good luck!