Hi, I don't post much, but decided to come out of lurking to see if anyone has any tips to help a co-worker's dog.
My co-worker adopted her pit-bull, Brodie, about a year ago. He's 3-4 years old, a neutered male. She never really left him alone or taught him to accept a crate during the first few months she had him, and now is suffering the consequences.
Brodie cannot be crated or confined to one room when his owner is gone. He does fine if left run of the house, but because of room-mate situations, that's not always possible. He's fine in a crate or confined to a room if the owner is right there with him, but the second she leaves he panics. And it goes on and on and on.
Even when she brings him to work (vet clinic) he cries and tries to dig out of his cage if she's not there. He's too stressed to enjoy any of the toys (raw bones, stuffed kongs, food puzzles) that she leaves in there for him.
He also aggresses at people or other dogs while in his cage at the clinic, if the owner isn't there. If she's there, he's fine. If he's out of his cage, he's fine, loves everybody, even if the owner isn't there. He also does this if left alone (even for a quick run to the gas station) in the car. If the owner is there, he's great, but if she leaves, he will aggress at people/animals passing by the car.
She's attempted to gradually get him used to being confined by leaving for short bits of time, but he starts panicking the second she leaves the room and won't stop for hours.
She's read "I'll be Home Soon" by Patricia McConnell, but is looking for more information.
Any insight/tips would be appreciated. Thanks!