How can I train my dog to stay home alone with out keeping him in his kennel?

Question

I am resending this question out because I feel like I needed to explain myself a little better. My dog "Copper" is a year and a half old and pretty much a puppy still. He is very attached to me and sits and cries at my front door everytime I run outside to take the trash out, or when I run down the hall to grab my mail. Now when I leave for work in the morning I put him is his kennel, he is very comfortable in there, he doesnt whine or bark when he is in there, also his kennel is actually very large for him so he has pleanty of room to move around. My work is right down the road from my apartment so I go home on my lunch breaks and take him out for a walk around the apartment complex and then I have to go back to work. I would just like to find out how to train him so I dont have to keep him is his kennel while I am at work.

Answer 1

I think it's wonderful that your dog is so well crate trained -- good for you! But I agree, it's time to let him stay out.

First of all, try to downplay your comings and goings. Don't make a big fuss when you come home. Don't say long good-byes when you leave. Treat it as if you were just walking in or out of another room.

Secondly, start small. Leave him alone, out of the crate, for very short periods of time and slowly lengthen the time. That's what I had to do with my dog, leave him for 15 minutes, then 20, then 30... You can start with even shorter times if necessary.

In the meantime do what you can to keep up your normal routine, so that he doesn't feel upset.

I have a friend who's dog developed SEVERE separation anxiety after he had an accident while she wasn't home. She went through hell with this but FINALLY found a solution by keeping him in a crate by her bed while she's not home. My point is -- although I think it's great for dogs to be 'free' when you're not home, if by some chance it turns out that your dog continues to need or be more comfortable staying in the crate -- well, that's OK too.

Good luck with everything!

Answer 2

My dog has severe seperation anxiety, and although I've had her for almost a year, she CANNOT handle my being out of her site - unless she's in her crate. Crate = comfort for her. She is in the crate from 9am to 3-6pm everyday - sometimes with a break for lunch, but most days not.

She is paranoid, destructive and a nervous wreck outside of the crate when I'm not home. I would never consider leaving her outside the crate - it's her home, her comfortzone. I went to the movies ONCE and let her roam my room (just my room - where she sleeps) - and she ripped up the carpet and tore down the mini blinds. She's CRAZY without the crate - and she's a calm sleepy baby in the crate.

She will crate herself, crate on command, once I put my shoes on in the morning, she goes over to her crate, will even open the door with her paw if necessary and sit right down waiting for her chicken jerky and liver treats.

If the crate works, use it. My dog is actually MORE settled in the crate than out. Yours may be the same - it may NEED the crate for security.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Sounds like 'seperation anxiety'. The last thing you should do is never make a big or small deal about coming n going and never look him in the eye. You are the alpha and he'll do anything to get your attention. come in and totally ignore him, do not talk to him-do not do anything for the first 15-20 minutes just go about your business and do not acknowlesdge he is there, he will calm down and when you let him out, still do not talk or baby him, let him out quietly and take him out to do his duty. Do the same thing when you are leaving. The more you make a big deal the worse it gets. My dog had the same problem.

Answer 4

I put the kennel in the kitchen and left the door open. That way he could go in and out when he wanted. But if he is comfortable in there then why is it a problem?

Answer 5

Try babygating him into a puppy-proof (no electrical wires, etc), room, like the kitchen, with his bed, water and toys.
If he's out of the teething stage and basically non-destructive, he should be fine.
Sounds like you have a great situation for a dog!

Answer 6

you could attempt determining to purchase a truly great workout pen, in percentage to her length, and go away her in it really of her crate even as you're lengthy gone. you could really totally inventory it with the purposes, toys, a mattress, and a bone to chew on. in case you position mat/s, newspaper, previous blankets, or something of the kind less than the pen, you ought to have a normal time cleansing up skill messes.