We rescued a GSD pup believed to be about 9 months old one month ago. The probelm we have is with seperation anxiety and crying. We have done all the normal things such as making the crate her safe place, a toy and or frozen kong, marrow bone and quiet calm.

She has no trouble going into the crate on verbal command and staying there. As long as someone is around where she can see, she is fine. At night of course, she is alone and in less than 3 minutes she crys & wimpers.

I don't want to use a shock collar and she doesn't bark so bark collar won't work. We tried a spray collar (useless device) ticking clock and everything else we can think of. I'm about ready to use drugs either on the dog or myself.

I'm sure a lot has to do with her past but that's another story for anti puppy mills, people that think puppies stay small and GSDs don't chase running kids around the house.

Any suggestions for non drug therapy.

It's only been four weeks.

Stay the course, and be more stubborn than the dog.

She'll give up eventually.

The wife or the dog?

I spoke to my vet who has suggested PROZAC. Anyone have experience with that?

I hoping that since she has such a high drive, we can do a lot with her. I don't want to break her but the family won't tolerate the dog's crying.

Our 4 year old male GSD is strictly low drive conformation dog.

Why not put the crate in a family member's bedroom?

What you're witnessing is what dog behaviorists call an 'extinction surge'. Extinction surges come when you're trying to extinguish a behavior and the dog will offer up any and all behaviors in order to get his way, or out of the crate in this case. If you give in to any of these behaviors, you will have reinforced it, and the behavior will only get worse the next time. Any attention you give the puppy at all could be a reinforcer, so be careful what you do. The best thing you can do is move the crate to a place where the puppy causes your family the least amount of discomfort and ignore him. The puppy will accept the crate eventually.

Have you tried increasing her exercise? Have you tried a treadmill? I have a super high energy male gsd who is now 26 months old....he is a therapy dog, demos at 9 obedience classes a week and so far he has 2 legs on his CD title...but he can be quite a handfull at times!!! Last week before our hospital visit he was full of it and I thought "oh great--crazy Elye!" so on the treadmill and a changed dog.
It's difficult sometimes with dogs that have separation anxiety and it can be quite trying at times. Be patient and consistent...help her to succeed and build her confidence.
As long as she is ok health wise exercise her....nice long walks, swimming, treadmill, etc...
My friend rescued a 2 1/2 yr old male GSD 17 months ago who went through severe seperation anxiety ie: chewing through a vari-kennel and a metal crate. He has improved 110%, but she did finally wind up using medicine. He had some horrible emotional baggage he brought with him...abused for sure and was found by a rescue dragging a logging chain that he had chewed through to get away....oh how I would LOVE to meet those people---if you can call them people. He is now an awesome therapy dog. Loves people....hard to phathom when they've been through so much.
My point being give her some time...be patient it's only been a month. Remember don't let her out when she's whining...make her sit before you open the door.
You may also try having the crate in your bedroom so she can see you AND you can get some sleep. As she gets more confidence she will improve.
PS: I wouldn't use a shock collar..I think that's alittle much for right now. If it came down to it I would use a spritz bottle with water in it....but shock collar no way.

 Quote: Al Young

She has no trouble going into the crate on verbal command and staying there.

This is really good! Nice work.

 Quote: Al Young

As long as someone is around where she can see, she is fine. At night of course, she is alone and in less than 3 minutes she crys & wimpers.

This is not an unexpected response. And it doesn't sound insurmountable. What you have going for you, is that she is giving you the right behavior even if it is only for two minutes before the whimpering begins.

I have a few questions to understand your situation better. Does she cry at night whether or not someone is in the room with her? Are you against having her in a room with you at night while you work on this? Have you done any marker training with her? Can you leave the room during the day when she is in the crate without her crying?

BTW I'd stear clear of the drugs or bark collar for now and give her some more time to settle in; with that being said I think Prozac would be a little much for you too; but a couple glasses of wine may just fit the bill .

At 9 - 10 months old I don't see any problem with a bark collar. She's boundless energy at this point and the collar will give her some direction on what she should be doing in her crate ie sleeping. I highly suggest the tritronics bark collar. it's a Great device.

The best tools though for crate training a dog are a really sturdy crate, earplugs and an I pod... great tool that I pod. Shortly after that a kong filled with frozen dog food is also a nice trick to take the edge off.

Best of luck and stand tall. Just stick with it and the pup will come around.

Melissa

I'd go with what Kurt said and put the crate in the car out in the garage.

 Quote: Kurt Smith

The best thing you can do is move the crate to a place where the puppy causes your family the least amount of discomfort and ignore him.

 Quote: steve strom

I'd go with what Kurt said and put the crate in the car out in the garage.

Third.

Its not annoying at all if you can't hear it.:smile:

Although, I would be a little leery about in the car. Just in case the dog had an accident or something.