I have a 7 month old puppy (rescue). He is a very good dog, no real problems. He is happy to sleep in his crate, he takes his meals in his crate. But, if I try to leave him in there for let’s say an hour, he cries the whole time (I videoed him). I have tried doing 10 minutes each hour for several days in a row, not giving him any special attention when I let him out and only letting him out if he is quiet. I put a kong with peanut butter in there and he doesn't touch it - he seem too upset to eat. We have run upto 3 miles together before going into the crate....nothing seems to help.
I really want for him to have a safe/comfortable place in the house when he is alone, but the crate problems don't seem to go away and I am not really sure why he needs to go in the crate at this point - he is 100% potty trained. I am also worried if he continues to have bad experiences in there, he will stop going in there at night.
Is it important to understand why he hates his crate during the day? I think he doesn't like to be alone. I have just ordered him a gate to try leaving him in the kitchen, however if the issue is not being alone, I could be setting him up for failure? That said, when we are home together in the house - he just does his own thing like I am not even there, hangs in the yard, on the couch. He is fine being left alone in the car too. Could it be the confined space of the crate he doesn't like? I also know when I have boarded him overnight, he stays in a 6' X 4' pen, and reportedly - he doesn't enjoy that either.
Any idea on pin pointing a cause so I can help him get comfortable at home alone? If he is sensitive to being left alone, any exercises or training that can help with this?
The only destructive behavior he has shown, has been towards the blankets in his crate!
I really want for him to have a safe/comfortable place in the house when he is alone, but the crate problems don't seem to go away and I am not really sure why he needs to go in the crate at this point - he is 100% potty trained. I am also worried if he continues to have bad experiences in there, he will stop going in there at night.
Is it important to understand why he hates his crate during the day? I think he doesn't like to be alone. I have just ordered him a gate to try leaving him in the kitchen, however if the issue is not being alone, I could be setting him up for failure? That said, when we are home together in the house - he just does his own thing like I am not even there, hangs in the yard, on the couch. He is fine being left alone in the car too. Could it be the confined space of the crate he doesn't like? I also know when I have boarded him overnight, he stays in a 6' X 4' pen, and reportedly - he doesn't enjoy that either.
Any idea on pin pointing a cause so I can help him get comfortable at home alone? If he is sensitive to being left alone, any exercises or training that can help with this?
The only destructive behavior he has shown, has been towards the blankets in his crate!