Hi everyone,

I adopted a 4yr old, 10-lb neutered male chihuahua mix about 4 months ago (Chip). He has moderate separation anxiety and did not take to the crate at all. I have seen a behaviorist, who recommended that I forcibly crate him until the time when our desensitization and counter-conditioning procedures had worked. Well, he started hiding where I can't reach him in order to avoid the crate, but when I left him out a few times he barked and tore up the rug, dog bed, etc.

I started doing "groundwork" with him about 3 days ago out of sheer frustration with the whole situation. Since then Chip has spent most of his time in the crate (including overnight) and he has whimpered/whined/grunted at least 50% of the time. We are both unhappy and in need of sleep!

How long do I need to keep this up?
How can I tell when he's doing better?
Any suggestions?

I feel like a prisoner in my own home because of the separation issues, but being home is awful because of the noise! Thanks in advance!

Editing to add - thus far, I have been totally ignoring his cries. Should I be correcting? I was worried that would be more like a reward to him, because it's attention.

Do you have a garage?

Put dog in crate...crate in garage, turn up the music, enjoy a glass of wine (or kool aid) and take a nice long nap.

Really, it works and does not hurt the dog at all.

Make the dog drag a 10 ft lightweight line behind him everywhere he goes, and he won't be able to get out of reach. Try purchasing something lightweight like clothesline.


Ignore when he makes noise in the crate.
The SECOND he is quiet, praise the bejeezus out of him and let him out of the crate for some fun play.

He'll learn that the only productive behavior is quiet.

BTW, I'd say this dog has bad nerves, and may never get 100% past these issues, but you are definitely to be commended for doing the best you can.

Even a 50% improvement would be a blessing to the little guy.

I agree with this too. However, dogs that continue to be noisy can be placed out of hearing range in order to "have at it" until they realize noise will not get them what they want, as well as not being tempting to the handler to say "oh, just this time I will let them out".

Thanks everyone!! To follow up:

Unfortunately, I'm in an apartment so the noise is a problem both for me and my neighbors. I definitely cannot put him on the patio as it is over 100 degrees out. New people just moved in below me today and I explained the situation to them. I don't think I'll get evicted or anything, but I feel badly about it.

I'll get a light line, for now I've just been keeping him on a leash. Do you think it's safe for him to wear a harness (not collar) in the crate? I would let him out more to reward quiet behavior if I didn't have to grab him and pull the harness on every time before he hides under the bed.

As for rewarding his quiet behavior - sometimes I want to do this without letting him out of the crate, like at bedtime, but as soon as I approach the crate to give a treat he starts up again. As a result, I've just been ignoring him both when he's quiet and loud for fear of rewarding the wrong thing.

Also, are there some dogs that this just doesn't work for? I can't tell if he's truly crate phobic or just unhappy. He salivates and makes noise but does not try to escape the crate. Is there a point at which I should give up? It's only been 3 days and I plan to stick with it for now, just wondering.

Thanks again!!

I think it would be okay for him to wear the harness in the crate as long as you are home and keep an eye on it. Would remove it if you have to leave or at night though.

What kind of crate and how big?

I know that the crate should fit the dog, but I have seen some dogs to better in a larger crate (as long as house training is not an issue) or in a wire crate, where they can see more rather than an enclosed airline type crate.

Keep in mind that this does not work for all, but does work.

He is in a 23" plastic airline style carrier. He can turn around and stand but I don't think he can put his head all the way up standing. I don't leave anything in the crate because he tears it up, whether it's fabric or a nylabone. I got the plastic crate because I had heard horror stories of dogs getting their heads caught in wire crate doors they had bent outwards. I was actually thinking about getting him a larger wire crate but wasn't sure it was worth trying. Now, I think I will give it a shot ASAP - he is excellent on house training and doesn't even make messes when I leave him alone outside of the crate.

Thanks!

 Quote: Alyssa Myracle

BTW, I'd say this dog has bad nerves, and may never get 100% past these issues, but you are definitely to be commended for doing the best you can.

Even a 50% improvement would be a blessing to the little guy.

I agree, Alyssa. My goal for him is basically just to get to the point where I can come and go normally and he is not having full blown panic attacks on a daily basis. I think we can get there, but I see now it will take a significant amount of work on both our parts.

 Quote: Pamela Wilson

As for rewarding his quiet behavior - sometimes I want to do this without letting him out of the crate, like at bedtime, but as soon as I approach the crate to give a treat he starts up again. As a result, I've just been ignoring him both when he's quiet and loud for fear of rewarding the wrong thing.

You can stop dead and stand there like a statue until there's silence again.

Rewarding the behavior you want is crucial, I think, in this situation.

 Quote: Pamela Wilson

Also, are there some dogs that this just doesn't work for? I can't tell if he's truly crate phobic or just unhappy. He salivates and makes noise but does not try to escape the crate. Is there a point at which I should give up? It's only been 3 days and I plan to stick with it for now, just wondering.

Thanks again!!

Not everyone will agree, but, IME, this will work with most dogs as long as you are consistent and as long as there is never any aversive use of the crate.

I think that you will start to see improvement in a matter of days if you watch carefully for wanted behavior to mark. I'd use very high-value rewards, too. I'd probably cook up a chicken breast and dice it into M&M-size pieces.