Hello, I am just trying to get some advice on how to get my dog more comfortable with being crated.
I currently have a 7 month old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. He originally was crate trained for house breaking so being crated is not foreign to him. He also will not bark when crated at night, albeit we cage him now and not crate him.
The problem is he barks constantly and anxiously pants when crated whenever my wife and I go out for awhile. Sometimes he stops and sometimes he doesn't. I live in a close neighborhood and am in a duplex, so this situation is untenable. I have contemplated buying a bark collar but I would rather rectify the behavioral issues before going that route.
Currently I am on summer vacation (professional student) so I am here nearly 24/7 and can help fix this problem.
The puppy is very very needy. He does not like to spend any time independtly away from us and will whine even if put in a different room. Moreover, he makes a lot of eye contact (non agressive) and appears to always be watching where we are at all times.
Usually before he is crated he has had his energy drained, but the anxiety while in the crate stops him from going to sleep (initially). Today I came home and he was wet from panting (I was only away 2 hours). He also did not eat his bully stick which is very alarming as he usually gobbles those down in no time. He also doesn't seem to be stimulated that much by toys, he needs human interaction.
In the morning, since my wife leaves for work she crates him while I sleep, but he just whines and barks, I have been going downstairs and not letting him out until his fits subside but he continues usually for about 1 hour, and he never settles for more than a minute.
I should also mention that he is not a destructive dog at all, when uncrated he just chills next to us or naps, he doesn't roam and get in trouble that way. Also he doesn't frantically try to escape his crate, he is not hurting himself. And lastly, he will go into it on command no problem so he isn't scared to go into it.
I don't know what to do, I know some literature says take baby steps, leave him alone 5 mins come back, show him that I am not leaving forever. BUt if i put him in he will start barking or whining , then I will have to wait hours for him to calm down because I can't simply let him out 5 minutes later.
Advice please? Or should I just go to a bark collar.
Our "Oscar" is a very loving puppy and a very happy but so we hate to deal with this.
Thanks.
I currently have a 7 month old Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. He originally was crate trained for house breaking so being crated is not foreign to him. He also will not bark when crated at night, albeit we cage him now and not crate him.
The problem is he barks constantly and anxiously pants when crated whenever my wife and I go out for awhile. Sometimes he stops and sometimes he doesn't. I live in a close neighborhood and am in a duplex, so this situation is untenable. I have contemplated buying a bark collar but I would rather rectify the behavioral issues before going that route.
Currently I am on summer vacation (professional student) so I am here nearly 24/7 and can help fix this problem.
The puppy is very very needy. He does not like to spend any time independtly away from us and will whine even if put in a different room. Moreover, he makes a lot of eye contact (non agressive) and appears to always be watching where we are at all times.
Usually before he is crated he has had his energy drained, but the anxiety while in the crate stops him from going to sleep (initially). Today I came home and he was wet from panting (I was only away 2 hours). He also did not eat his bully stick which is very alarming as he usually gobbles those down in no time. He also doesn't seem to be stimulated that much by toys, he needs human interaction.
In the morning, since my wife leaves for work she crates him while I sleep, but he just whines and barks, I have been going downstairs and not letting him out until his fits subside but he continues usually for about 1 hour, and he never settles for more than a minute.
I should also mention that he is not a destructive dog at all, when uncrated he just chills next to us or naps, he doesn't roam and get in trouble that way. Also he doesn't frantically try to escape his crate, he is not hurting himself. And lastly, he will go into it on command no problem so he isn't scared to go into it.
I don't know what to do, I know some literature says take baby steps, leave him alone 5 mins come back, show him that I am not leaving forever. BUt if i put him in he will start barking or whining , then I will have to wait hours for him to calm down because I can't simply let him out 5 minutes later.
Advice please? Or should I just go to a bark collar.
Our "Oscar" is a very loving puppy and a very happy but so we hate to deal with this.
Thanks.