UGH! Kaiser has Separation Anxiety and is hurting himself

DukesMom · Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:55 pm Post subject:

Just keep doing what you're doing. In the crate for 10 minutes at a time and then back out (but only when he stops whining and then tell him what a good boy he was). And leave the room and come back often. Then gradually start doing it for longer periods. He will adjust to it. It just takes time and patience. When I first started crate training Duke I would put him in there for short periods than longer and clean around him. In the room, out of them room, etc. He didn't take but a few days to adjust and goes in there without a fuss every time. And goes in there all the time to sleep on his own. He loves his blankets! I buy them all the time at the Thrift stores so if they get ruined I just toss em.

2kids2weims · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:35 pm Post subject:

This sounds gross now that I'm writing it, but we used the sheets and blankets from our bed (the dirty ones due to be washed) to cover the crate & make it a "cave" thinking it might have the rescue dog feel "closer" to us while in the crate. It is also in the hall between all of our bedrooms. She came with a history of crate injuries, but we have not had one in the 8 months we've had her.

We also hid cookies & toys in the crate when she was not looking to make it a wonderful place. When she was going in to look 10-20 times a day, we started the training.

We did only very short alone crate times when we were home and when we worked up to 30 mins before we tried out of the house (for 10 mins) and worked up. What this meant was she was out eating our belongings when we really had to leave. See wiem crimes Smile

We still do the frozen kongs, bully sticks and marrow bones every time we leave the house. She actually goes to the crate on her own to sleep after dinner now.

Vet told us that the clonicalm can help facilitate the training by making the brain chemistry more receptive and less likely to default to anxiety, but will not solve the problems without training, just like Anne said.

puppylove · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:01 pm Post subject:

We leave clothes that we have slept or worked out in (gross I know) in the crate and that seems to help alot (like your friend suggested). We just change the clothes out when we wash the dog bed. Just don't put anything in there that you absolutely love b/c it may get damaged. Our dogs only put a few small holes in shirts during the "puppy teeth" phase. Every suggestion is worth a try is the way I saw it!

weinyrhymer · Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2008 1:55 am Post subject:

My weim still cannot handle changes in his routine or he starts up with separation anxiety issues again, but he has less of a problem on a regular basis if he is getting sufficient exercise.

Also, if I put peanut butter or canned dog food in his Kong and freeze it overnight, it keeps him occupied for longer, which means that he's more likely to just take a nap when he's finished instead of trying to alert the neighbors to my absence. Smile

good luck!

jkashlak · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 10:09 pm Post subject:

Hello, I hope you are having better luck with the crate. I use to put my weim in a metal collapsible crate. He was an escape artist though and would get out and destroy the house (separation anxiety). We than pad locked the crate and that is when he started hurting himself. Like you said, he had bloody teeth, nose and feet! We decided to do away with the metal since he was getting hurt. We have moved onto the plastic crates which work great. I use to have to buy a new one every six months because he would bite a little "window" in the side and eventually wiggle himself out run upstairs and open the basement door with his teeth, weims are just to smart. Anyway, Petsmart changed there style of crates and now he can't get his teeth around the plastic nor does he get out! I am going on a record. I have had his crate for about 8 months now. Other than the whole separation anxiety problem Bailey is great!! Not sure how old your weim is , but Bailey is going on 4. Hope this info helps.

milo · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject:

Sp silvercharm, how about an update for those of us just beginning the hell ride of separation issues. Would love to hear what worked and how you managed.

yoko · Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:34 pm Post subject:

I am right there with you on the hell ride. Lol it totally is a hell ride!!!

Razormom · Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject: Re: Kaiser UPDATE