Dog Community

Crate Help!!

Posted : 6/1/2014 8:48:57 PM

Hello I'm new here so this might be a very common question but I need some help. One of our male Aussies who is 1 & 1/2 yrs old and neutered has a problem with going pee in his crate. His crate is in his and his brothers own room. He stays in the crate while his brother has the rest of the room ,since he is better behaved, and i close they door so they are confined. I havent tried keeping them locked up seperate bc they cant stand being in a different room. A while back he would poo and pee and get it all over him until we took the plastic removable bottom out and he stopped for a while. Now he's back to peeing. He is fully potty trained and never has accidents unless he is in his crate. It seems like to me it's separation anxiety. 3 days out of the week he gets kenneled from 7:30-4. Generally the accidents happen before lunch bc I used to come home on lunch and let him out but the accidents had already happened. It also doesn't matter what is in his kennel (I.e. blankets, toys, bones, or nothing) he will pee. He is well exercised and always goes to the bathroom before he gets locked up. I also have no problem with getting him in the crate. As soon as I let him inside after going potty he goes straight in it and lays down, he doesn't bark or whine he knows the drill, I even give him a little treat. This is the only time he spends in his cage. I have tried leaving him out since he seems to hate it and he doesn't pee ever HOWEVER he chews on my walls. No matter what toys or bones I leave him with including his brother he destroys all he can. When I do leave him out I leave the kennel in the room and open and he lays in it like nothing is wrong and doesn't pee in it, I guess since the door is open. I don't know what to do, let him chew the walls up, or pee all over. Any suggestions would be great!

JackieG

Posted : 6/3/2014 8:51:08 AM

It sounds like you've got littermates. The fact that one is very dependent on the other dog for his sense of safety and comfort is a red flag. Littermate syndrome is something many people don't know about until they start having behavior problems.

Do more individual training with each dog. They need to learn to be separated but this will take gradual steps.

There's a book called I'll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell. It's good and it will give you some help on the separation anxiety. You may want to consult with a behaviorist because some dogs with severe SA need anti anxiety medications while the counter conditioning and desensitization is being done. There is no quick fix to SA. Here's a few articles that might help.

www.whole-dog-journal.com/.../Canine-Separation-Anxiety_16044-1.html

www.whole-dog-journal.com/.../seven-separation-anxiety-myths_20800-1.html

astdog

Posted : 6/3/2014 9:28:34 AM

The Thunder shirt www.dog.com/.../498976 also is a great help if it is separation anxiety for the chewing/destructive behavior.

My first thought when you said the peeing in the crate was had you had him to the vet but as I was reading he is clean when left alone out of the crate, just destructive so he can hold it.

I'm more of the mind set that it could be separation anxiety and boredom. When in the crate he can't destroy, when out of the crate and left to his own devises he can get himself in trouble.

I have found with my dogs the more I work them out/play them out the better behaved they are. You have a very active breed there in both mind and body. Aussies need a job for sure. They are worker bees if bored they find their own "work"

Maybe try tiring this boy out, it make may for earlier mornings for you to do this but the results could be a great benefit too.

Puzzle games are a great outlet that you might use while getting your daily routine going that your dog could occupy himself and not use up your morning time... I know I value my last minutes of sleep :-)

Lacie Renea Griffin

Posted : 6/4/2014 8:08:05 AM

JackieG- I know they aren't litter mates I got them a year apart as pups and I really should have phrased that better. They have no problem being apart when out and about but when one is in one room and one is in another and they can hear each other all they do (well mainly my problem child, koda the one that pees) is whine. I can take on for a walk without the other or leave one outside to finish his business and it's not a big deal. Koda also passed his SA part of his CGC no problem, granted it's only 3 minutes but he didn't have me or his brother and was great. Thanks for the info:)

Astdog- lol I do value my last seconds of sleep but I think a morning walk/bike will need to start. Have you tried any puzzle games? If so what ones do your like/were successful? Thanks for responding!