Do I Call the Vet?

[Mel]

Or what?

Stella is my 6 mos old Great Dane puppy. She's been crate trained since she was 6 wks old. When I went on vacation, I left her with my oldest friend - who was apparently not a friend at all, since he left Stella in her crate most of the week I was gone and rarely, if ever, fed her. My "friend" left a 5 mos old puppy locked up for over 16 hrs a day, maybe let her out once a day. And might have fed her once, instead of the 3 times a day for 7 days. You could see her spine and hip bones when I got back.

Now, needless to say, she did NOT want to go back in the crate after this. But its been a month now, and she got used to it again in less than a week. She's been fine for more than three weeks.

Except last night, she freaked. She's edgy, cries for hours, can't sleep, barks, scratches, flails... but as soon as she's out of the crate, she's fine. I washed her bedding, and she'll go in willingly to eat... but after she's done, she freaks. What I don't get is why she was okay for so long and now...not. She wasn't this bad when I first got back!

I thought I could just let her cry for a little while, and she'd go to sleep - since she started this at quarter of 3 - AM. She finally went to sleep in the laundry room. She cannot calm down in the crate.

She's okay as long as I'm standing RIGHT there. I've tried door closed, door open, light on, light off, toys in, toys out... but as soon as I walk away - she's boo hooing. She's the most pitiful she's ever been. I can't stand listening to her!

Help?

[LuvMeTrue]

sounds like she may have been emotionally scared and is dependent on you to feel secure, after that esperience. maybe she feels if you are out of site she is going to be left in the crate for hours on end. You can call a vet and see what they tell you. I have no idea what to say since i have never cate trained an animal. i really hope that things settle down and she gets use to it again. I wish i could help you since that has got to be heart breaking to hear.

[HappyDancer]

that happend with my yorkie...she was so amazing for 6 years in her crate, then when I went to DisneyLand my grandparents were worried about her being outside and since they have 2 dogs who are unfriendly they kept her in a crate pretty much all day except to go out and potty...after that whenever we put her in the crate she flipped out...it took almost a year to get her back to feeling secure again...we had to sleep with the crate in our room uncovered so she could see us and never put her in it during the day...I am so sorry this happend to you and your puppy...if you feel it warrants going to the vet then you should always do what you need to to insure their safety...keep us updated on how she does...

[Mel]

I'm feeling like this is more she feels yucky than she's got problems with the crate. She was fine in it for so long after the ordeal, and she was fine until last night...and she acts like she feels crummy.

I'd just put her in the laundry room, but she ate through the wall yesterday, and there's insulation in there. :/

I went and laid down with her in the floor, and she was okay, but couldnt get comfy. She wiggled and squirmed, and then she got up... and stepped on my face. I'll have a good shiner tomorrow. *sigh*

[LuvMeTrue]

ouch that sounds painful. insulation + pets = lots of money especially if they end up ingesting it. I have a friend that had to bring her cat to the vet becuase it was sick and they couldn't figure out why, they thought that maybe it had eatten a nail or something come to find out it has been eating insulation. They managed to figure out where the cat was getting the insulation from blooked it off the cat actually ropped off the boards that they had nailed there to stop it from eating. Long story short it cost them heaps of money and no matter what they do the cat keeps eating it. I hope all calms down soon for you mel

[mulder]

wow, maybe take her to the vet, if she's so anxious that she can't settle down? she's definitley scarred and may never be crateable again. all i can suggest is get a different crate, like a metal mesh instead of a plastic caarrier. try to give her her "special spot" that she loves and wouuld do anything for, like our pup loves the top of the stairs so she can be in the middle of what or whomever comes or goes.

[animal-lover]

what in creation is wrong with that person who suppossedly was suppose to be pet sitting. is she crazy for treating a puppy so cruelly. i can't believe that there are people walking this earth that could be so cruel.
trish

[Mel]

For some reason...she just got better. *shrug* I'm hoping she'll stay okay. Fed her some veggies - maybe that made her tummy feel better?

She didn't actually EAT any insulation, just scared me.

Last night she slept thru a sonic boom that moved her crate about a foot - so I think we'll make it!

Thanks everyone for the help!

[mulder]

hahaha she sleeps like me!!! atta girl!

[Bulloxers]

Hi,

It's a question of what your friend did to your Dane while she was in the crate. Crates usually become the dogs home and it's where they feel the most secure. If she is not liking her crate after staying with your friend, then most likely she experienced a bad situation while in the crate. And, since you were away when ever this situation happened, it has caused her to have a severe case of separation anxiety.

You will have to show her that the crate is still a good thing and create a positive environment for her while she is in the crate. I would start it out with feeding her in there and letting her out as soon as she is done eating before she cries. Put her in it a few times throughout the day with a treat and leave her for a few minutes and let her out before she cries and praise her while she is in the crate. If you have to sit in the crate with her and play games, anything that is fun and she can learn to associate good things while in the crate. She is not scared of the crate, she is scared of whatever happened to her while she was in the crate, which you will have to correct with positive re-constructive training and the same will have to be with the separation anxiety. It takes time but she can come out of it. You will need allot of patience and love with her, the main thing is not to get upset with her because its going to make the situation worse.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mel Or what? Stella is my 6 mos old Great Dane puppy. She's been crate trained since she was 6 wks old. When I went on vacation, I left her with my oldest friend - who was apparently not a friend at all, since he left Stella in her crate most of the week I was gone and rarely, if ever, fed her. My "friend" left a 5 mos old puppy locked up for over 16 hrs a day, maybe let her out once a day. And might have fed her once, instead of the 3 times a day for 7 days. You could see her spine and hip bones when I got back. Now, needless to say, she did NOT want to go back in the crate after this. But its been a month now, and she got used to it again in less than a week. She's been fine for more than three weeks. Except last night, she freaked. She's edgy, cries for hours, can't sleep, barks, scratches, flails... but as soon as she's out of the crate, she's fine. I washed her bedding, and she'll go in willingly to eat... but after she's done, she freaks. What I don't get is why she was okay for so long and now...not. She wasn't this bad when I first got back! I thought I could just let her cry for a little while, and she'd go to sleep - since she started this at quarter of 3 - AM. She finally went to sleep in the laundry room. She cannot calm down in the crate. She's okay as long as I'm standing RIGHT there. I've tried door closed, door open, light on, light off, toys in, toys out... but as soon as I walk away - she's boo hooing. She's the most pitiful she's ever been. I can't stand listening to her! Help?

[Nikko]

This thread is old.