Have we messed up?

[Mpup]

Hi.

When we leave Molly alone (either in her crate or in her gated play area) she yelps, cries, barks when we leave. I don't know how long this goes on for as all is quiet when we return. I don't give in and take her out when she yelps nor do I take her out of the crate when she whines (usually), but we are about to move from a house into an apartment and I would like to get her to a point where she doesn't cry and yelp so loudly when we leave. I had her in our new place briefly last weekend and put her in her crate and left to grab a coffee - but when I stepped into the hall the yelping was so awful I went back as I didn't want to disturb the neighbors. It's that pitiful crying yelp - sounds like she is in agony! She has kongs, hidden treats, bully sticks, but nothing distracts her from our leaving.

So, now I fear because I didn't do much to stop this early on (she is 10 months now) that I won't be able to correct this behaviour. I also have done some reading from a book we received from our puppy class and it specifically says that if we have developed too tight of a bond with the dog that she basically can't cope when we leave i.e. separation anxiety?? Is this true?

Advice? I don't want to be "that" neighbor with the noisy dog.

[French lady]

Yes, French Bulldogs love to be with people. But they are also quiet dogs, not barky. It would be my guess that she quiets down very quickly when she knows you are really gone. Another dog may help, as she would have company, but that is also another problem. She will outgrow the crying. At 10 months, she is still a baby. Have you tried a cover on the crate?

[Martina]

My Gigi used to cry a lot when she was left alone when she was younger - oh it was horrible! I got something called "Comfort Zone" from Petsmart that secretes a 'calming pheremone.' Now, I can't claim that Comfort Zone cured Gigi. What I do know is that, empericially, she did stop whining and carrying on as much as before and the only thing that changed was that I put in the Comfort Zone atomizer. I went through about 3mos with Comfort Zone and have never had that problem since. And remember, Gigi had Lola so she wasn't alone. Also, I don't think Gigi's problem was seperation anxiety. Gigi has always been more 'high strung' than the rest of my dogs. I think it was more a personality trait with her.

Good Luck!!

[Deanna67]

Hi.

When we leave Molly alone (either in her crate or in her gated play area) she yelps, cries, barks when we leave. I don't know how long this goes on for as all is quiet when we return. I don't give in and take her out when she yelps nor do I take her out of the crate when she whines (usually), but we are about to move from a house into an apartment and I would like to get her to a point where she doesn't cry and yelp so loudly when we leave. I had her in our new place briefly last weekend and put her in her crate and left to grab a coffee - but when I stepped into the hall the yelping was so awful I went back as I didn't want to disturb the neighbors. It's that pitiful crying yelp - sounds like she is in agony! She has kongs, hidden treats, bully sticks, but nothing distracts her from our leaving.

So, now I fear because I didn't do much to stop this early on (she is 10 months now) that I won't be able to correct this behaviour. I also have done some reading from a book we received from our puppy class and it specifically says that if we have developed too tight of a bond with the dog that she basically can't cope when we leave i.e. separation anxiety?? Is this true?

Advice? I don't want to be "that" neighbor with the noisy dog.


Hello,

My Abby is one of those barking whiney dogs when you put her in the crate BUT she does stop. She sleeps with me at night but is in the crate during the day while I am at work and she sleeps in the crate on the weekends when my boyfriend stays over. At night I put a blanket over her crate and she stops. I dont know if that would help or not.

[Martina]

While researching another topic, I just happened to come across this and thought I'd post it for you. A lot of it is probably stuff you already know, but sometimes a little refresher can help you pinpoint something you've overlooked ;)

http://www.k9centre.co.uk/alone.php

even I can't believe how much I'm posting here!

[EllieMae]

Ellie Mae used to jump up and down in her crate like a mexican jumping bean and slam herself into the side walls all while doing to evil frenchie noises. evilicon. My husband threw a housecoat over the crate and left the room, she calmed right down and went to sleep. But if her crate is ever not covered, she yodles! I think it helps. Good Luck!

[Mpup]

Hi, I have heard about that pheremone and would like to give it a try. Thanks for all the advice. I think I will try covering her crate to see if it helps.

[Kirby]

I agree that she probably does quieten down after a short time - but I know how awful it is to be down the hall waiting for the elevator and hearing your dog whining and barking from within your apartment. We were VERY concerned about disturbing the neighbours. Our trainer told us this: he WILL get over it eventually but realistically you have to go out and puppy has to be crated...

1. Put a note on your door that reads: Dear Neighbours, we have a puppy in training and we apologize for any disturbance. Please call us @ if he/she is very bothersome....etc. etc.
2. Give him/her a peanut butter kong to distract while you are leaving.
3. Leave a radio or television on.
4. Leave a 6 pack of beer on your neighbours doorstep as an apology!

[Kirby]

P.S. I don't think you've messed up (as per your subject for the thread) - I think Molly will move past this when you find the trick that works with her :)

P.P.S. I totally know what you mean about not wanting to be "that" neighbor - we have a very barky pug right across the hall from us that barks on their balcony as well as when you walk past their door. From the other end of the hall it is hard to determine where the barking is coming from. We are paranoid about people thinking that naughty dog is ours! :eek:

[Mpup]

Sigh. Thanks for the support. I love your beer idea. Perhaps a six pack for me and my husband will work wonders as well to help us relax about all of this :p Do you think she is still considered a puppy at 10 mos.? Sometimes I view her as an adult and expect so much. She was doing quite well when crated at about the 6-9 month stage so we let her have more freedom, i.e. sometimes would not put her in the crate at night and let her sleep in the bed. Now she has totally reverted. Maybe it is just a stage.

[Kirby]

I would still consider Molly a puppy :) Maybe at your home you have boxes around that make her nervous if you are packing up things? Maybe she was just unsure of the new surroundings when you had her in the new place that day you went to grab a coffee? (Although the whole basis of crate training is that they feel secure in their den...) Or, quite possibly it is just a stage...Perhaps you might have to step back a little in the crate training and do some sessions with her in the crate during the daytime and you in another room and then start going out building up the amount of time you are gone? Especially until she is used to the new apartment.

I found that our puppy has always been great at nighttime - no fussing. He just falls asleep. But the daytime is a whole different story. I have to make sure he has a good start on the PB Kong before I leave, otherwise he just focuses on my leaving and creates a stink. It can be very frustrating!

[Kirby]

Here's a link to a website regarding dog training handouts...I just read "How to be the Leader of the Pack" which was excellent (part of Kirby's current leadership course we are taking). I see there a book called "I'll Be Home Soon! How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety" by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D. Check it out - it's pretty cheap and the description of what info it contains looks very useful...

http://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com/books-retail.php

;)

[miss heather]

a really important part of crate training is thr routine surrounding leaving and coming home.
about 5 mintues before you leave, put Molly in her crate, speak nicely to her, give her her kong / crate safe toy, and close the door.
walk away! don't talk to her through the closed door, or stick your fingers in, or even just stand there... walk away... no fuss.
finish getting ready to leave, but take your time... she'll know you're still around, but it will be more of a transition rather than: she goes in, and you are gone.
don't say goodbye again... just leave when you are ready.

same thing when you come home....
come in, put your things down, hang up your coat... etc, etc.... take your time...
after about 5 minutes (and she'll already know you're home)... go and open her crate.
don't greet her, don't make a big deal about it... just open the door.

if she starts to see that coming/going is no big deal to you, she'll realize that it should be no big deal to her either.

good luck!

[Kirby]

So true Heather...

It took a LOT of restraint for me to not rush in and tell Kirby "I'M HOME!!!!!" because I too was so excited to be home to see him. :rolleyes: I needed a lot of training but I think I am coming along... :lol:

[Botti]

I have been going through the same thing with our new boy Botti - we leave him in a large play pen at night with his crate open, and he whines and yelps in the evening whenever we leave him alone. One thing that has really worked is just staying with him until he falls asleep - I'll sit in his play pen and pet him in his crate until he falls asleep, and he usually is then fine throughout the night. If I can't get him to fall asleep, he'll usually yelp for about 10-15 minutes, but after that, he realizes it's not going to do anything and he falls asleep on his own.

Thanks everyone for their suggestions - I may have to try the blanket over the crate and see how that works.

[bulldoggin30]

So true Heather...

It took a LOT of restraint for me to not rush in and tell Kirby "I'M HOME!!!!!" because I too was so excited to be home to see him. :rolleyes: I needed a lot of training but I think I am coming along... :lol:


I do the same thing! As soon as I open the door, I race to Dutchie's pen and open it while squeeling "mommy's home!". :lol: I'm more excited than he is!