Kennel crazy

[Amgene15]

.. any suggestions?? My almost 4 month old Yorkie sleeps with us at night.. but during the day while we are at work she goes in her kennel.. (ranging in 4-6 hours ).. she goes CRAZY .. barking.. crying.. knocking her water and dog food all over the place.. ( we even put the food and water holders that click on the kennel but she just chews them off or knocks them off.. (my boyfriend said when he puts her in he thinks she is going to knock the thing over she is going so crazy).. I absolutly hate it ... I feel terrible thats why i cant do it .. i have to leave before him!! (we have tried leaving the tv on for her.. putting bones.. chew toys.. everything she loves in there but nothing works..) .. It really scares me that she is going to give make her self really sick..(heart attack.. sugar problems idk)?? ... We have broke down and gave her free range.. but she went potty on the kitchen floor .. she doesnt make a mess just sleeps on the couch really.. But it just scares me ..What should i do.. >????

[samsonsmomdana]

That's great she's good in the house when you are gone. I tried to leave Samson out and he chewed my living room rug!
What about gating her in the kitchen only? Put potty pads or paper down for her and something soft for her to lay on. She may not knock over the food and water if she has a bigger area to "roam" in. Good luck!

[SweetViolet]

The score at the end of the first scrimmage stands Yorkie 1 Amgene 0

Seriously, though, you are letting her win. And the more she wins, the more convinced she will be that she has every right to be out when you are gone.

This puts me in mind of my youngest skinkid...at about age 2-3, he used to have falling-down hysterics when I left him at daycare. It traumatized me to see how he reacted to being left by me! Sometimes I would even cry on the way to work

Then one day I had to park around the corner and walk to the daycare. Then I got back to my car, I realized I had left my car keys on the reception desk. I walked back to get them, expecting to see my hysterical child still prostrate on the floor near the door. Nope...he was in one of the playrooms laughing and playing with another child.

I learned a lesson that day...he was hysterical only as long as there was a chance I might change my mind and give him what he wanted. Once I stopped feeling guilty and validating him by saying things like "Oh, I'm sorry my baby, but I have to go to work..." (implying there is another option), his attitude improved too.

What I am getting at here is that you have given in to her and she remembers. The behaviour that got you to give in was for her to get hysterical and have a screaming mimi of a temper tantrum. She had a tantrum, you gave her what she wanted. The only way to stop that is to stop giving in. As long as she has food and water and something to entertain herself, she will be fine...

A caveat here---I have a rescue dog who came to us with a severe case of separation anxiety. He'd been bounced from foster home to foster home and, unknown to us, separated from his littermate with whom he had lived for 6 years. He would howl from the time we left the house until we returned...non-stop.

The solution was a playmate. We got another little dog and once they got over their initial antipathy towards each other, they are inseparable. And he has not howled once since she arrived. If your pup is a rescue, it may have some trauma in its previous life you know nothing about...but if it is not, then she's just found a way to push your buttons to get what she wants from you. Just like a two-legged kid!

[Amgene15]

I just hope she gets used to it soon!! I just bought her a smaller crate thats on the way.. because the one i have for her is HUGE.. and everyone I have talked to said they should have a little one .. that way she will not have accidents.. (because every once in a while she will go potty in there).. It is just really hard to hear her like that.. I am thinking about putting my camera up and recording her so i can see how she acts when we are out of the house .. because maybe your right .. She isjust like a kid and as soon as we are gone she is fine!!! Thanks..

[MollysMum54]

Originally Posted by samsonsmomdana

What about gating her in the kitchen only? Put potty pads or paper down for her and something soft for her to lay on. She may not knock over the food and water if she has a bigger area to "roam" in. Good luck!

That sounds like a good plan...its quite a long time for her to be shut in a kennel.

[Potter]

Smaller crate??? Is that a better answer? Personally, I don't agree sorry. How about getting a playpen? Or just gate the kitchen coz you can clean tiles easily if accidents happen.

They are happier when they are not crated as long as you know they don't chew on cords etc but even if they do, use a playpen. You can have peepads, water, toys, food in there and you don't have to feel bad. You are happy and she is happy, a win-win situation for both.

[LuvmyYorkies2]

If you are gone 5 hours or more without letting her out to potty, I think gating in a larger area is what you should try. That is too long for a puppy to be locked in such a small area, especially if you're gettng ready to get her an even smaller size kennel. I gated mine in the kitchen, kept a couple of pads in there, some toys, a bed & blanket and little food & water. She still potty trained with no problem.

Good Luck.