#1
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crate: feeling guilty - should I?
Hi all,
Looking for some insight into my dog's psyche and his feelings about his crate. When we first got Leo (3 weeks ago) I was able to leave him home alone for a few hours at a time, not locked in his crate. However, abut a week and a half ago, he started to poop and pee in the house. I attributed this to separation anxiety and the anxiety of settling into a new home (Leo is a rescue dog, who likely spent the vast majority of his time in an outdoor wire kennel, evidenced by the fact that his front teeth are worn down to tiny stumps, presumably because he was chewing at his kennel to escape it - I digress). Anyway, I started putting him in his crate while I went to work (I work part time, so I didn't feel too guilty crating him for a few hours here and there) and it worked beautifully. No poop or pee in the house, and a seemingly calmer dog when he's free in the afternoons/evenings. But, now he's taken to peeing inside during the night (we let him roam free during the night, but close our bedroom door so as not to wake up with a drooly coonhound in our bed). So, the obvious solution is to crate him at night, right? Well, I'm just feeling guilty about crating my dog for such a large percentage of his life. He seems to be fine in his crate, and I always give him a Kong stuffed with delicious treats to occupy him. I guess in theory, the crate is the obvious answer to solving both our problems (his anxiety at being alone and my stained carpets) but in practice, keeping him crated is making me feel like a bad dog owner! What are people's thoughts on this? Oh, and Leo gets 2-3 walks a day - morning, when I get home from work at 2 and an after dinner walk, so he IS getting exercise while out of the crate. Sorry this is a long post - thanks for reading! -Lauren & Leo (The Crate Dilemma) |
#2
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Leo is absolutely fine in his crate at night, he needs to learn how to hold his business... Dogs are like wolves and are quite fine in a den like environment. He also needs to get accustomed to your sleep and work patterns. Don't feel guilty he is just fine aslong as he gets plenty of love and exercise when not in his crate.
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#3
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We crated our Lucky at night when we first brought him home as he peed all over the place too . It only took a week or so for him to learn that outside only was for peeing. Is he neutered by any chance. Lucky wasn't so we attributed his peeing to marking as well.
Maybe if you brought his crate into your room, you'd feel a bit better about it?
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant |
#4
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Yep, I agree.
I only crate trained one of my dogs (the second one) which turned out to be a blessing when he had his operation. I really wish I had crate trained the first one now. |
#5
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Leo is being neutered tomorrow, actually, luckpenny - that could be part of it, too.
Thanks, all, for your input. I'm already feeling better. Seems crating a dog is harder on the human than it is the dog! **As I type, Leo is asleep at my feet, snoring and farting. It's so cute, albeit a little stinky. |
#6
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Quote:
Hope the neutering goes well. |
#7
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Great, now that we made you feel better about it, we're expecting lots more pictures in appreciation .
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant |
#8
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ohoh lp wait til you see him, he's soooo cute
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#9
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I'm with the others too, so long as you only use the crate in a positive manner he won't mind it at all. And probably after a short settle in time he'll get the hang of it and be trustworthy to hold his bladder through the night even if left out. And yes, it's definitely harder on us than them. Good luck with it, and thank you for rescuing your pupper.
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#10
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pics
Here are some pics of my floppy, drooly pup...
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#11
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Ok, I take back what I said....he will never be clean in the house :sad:.
Please PM me your address and I'll gladly take him off your hands as we only have concrete floors and furniture and drains in each room. I'll...I mean...he'll be in good hands . He's so freakin beautiful!!!!!!!!
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant |
#12
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Oh, more pics please .
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant |
#13
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Omg, look at those ears , I can't stop coming back to look at him .
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant |
#14
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told you so....
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#15
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can I hug him too......
where's the rest of the pictures??
__________________
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts." |
#16
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Yes, he's handsome, isn't he? Here he is on the 4th of July, in his Uncle Sam hat, and later, having a snooze in his crate.
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#17
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Oops - here is Uncle Sam...
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#18
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ummm nice hat..
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