Crate anxiety

[kodi'smom]

I have had my 14 week old GSD female pup for 10 days. She initially howled constantly in the crate and would soil it. She developed bloody stool and was diagnoed and treated for a bad worm infestation. Her stools have improved and she potties outside. The problem is she poops in her crate when I leave the room for even 5 minutes even if it is only one drop (sorry for being graphic). She does not do this when loose in the house but I must crate her for her own safety. I am exhausted from scrubbing the crate and bathing her multiple times a day. Help!

[Carrie]

Well, it sounds like the remnants of her illness and not a training issue....since she's often leaving just a drop. Have you taken her back to the vet for a re-check on the worms? It can be too, that the worm medicine is irritating to the digestive system. I know, with my horses, worming them often made them a little cruddy feeling for a day or two. The only other thing might be her food. What is she eating, btw? You might try giving her something very digestable for a week or so, like boiled chicken and rice and nothing else. Is she having diarrhea or is the stool extra soft? I'd call the vet and talk it over with him/her. And in addition, just take her out often and try to find the culprit.

I hope she improves soon.

[Barrett]

Do you ever scold her for going potty in the crate? Does she fight going into the crate or howl and get destructive? She might have seperation anxiety. First train her to like her crate, then work on the seperation anxiety.
Try giving her all of her meals in the crate with the door open. Put the bowl all the way to the back of the crate and let her go in by herself to eat. Also through out the day call her over to the crate and toss in a few high value treats and let her go in and get them and come right back out. Praise her anytime she goes into the crate. You can get a Kong toy and fill it with canned puppy food and treats and put it in the freezer. Then give it to her in the crate with the door open. Tell her she only gets it if she stays in the crate. If she comes back out with it toss it back in the crate and get her to stay. If she won't stay, take away the kong for a few minutes and try again. She will understand she gets good things for going in the crate. Also try and get her to take naps in her crate during the day. If she is totally tuckered out and sleeping pick her up gently and put her in the crate and let her finish her nap. Just do anything you can to get her to assoicate her crate with good things and use lots of praise and treats anytime she goes in by herself.

Next work on the seperation anxiety. Type "Puppy Seperation Anxiety" into your search engine and read all about it. Mostly you work on desensatizing your pup to you leaving her alone in the crate. She needs to learn that you are coming back. Start by putting her in the crate, saying a phrase like "I'll be back soon", and go out the door for 3 minutes. Come back in and let her out and give her praise and play time. In another 3 hours or so do it again. Day by day increase the time a little bit but mix it up too. As she gets used to it stay out for 3 minutes one time, 10 minutes the next, 5 minutes the next 20 minutes the next and so on.
This is all a lot of work but it's the only way I know how to do this. It takes a lot of patience. The most important part is getting her used to going in the crate slowly, and by herself.

[kodi'smom]

Thank you for the suggestions. i never scold Kodi unless I catch her in the act in the house. I try to keep the crate positive. I like the idea of repeated short stays in the crate to desensitize her. I cannot use treats because of her sensitive stomach. I appreciate Carrie's comment. How long can the deworming upset their tummy. Her last dose was 4 days ago and will be repeated in 3 weeks. She is on the prescription I/D diet.

[Carrie]

What's ID? That's a Science Diet thing, right? I think Science Diet sucks. My Dobe has a sensative stomach, gets loose stools easily. He eats Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance which is an allergy formula....venison and brown rice. It seems to do the trick. There are no carcinogenic preservatives, corn or any other thing that is upsetting..very plain, single source protein.

I'd suggest talking it over with the vet about the meds and the worms and stuff and see how that acts on the dog. I don't really know. I do know that a lot of vets push Science Diet because they sell it and it's big bucks for them.

I would also not scold for accidents in the house, even if you do catch her in the act. Just wisk her up and take her outside and praise for that. Usually the accidents are our fault for not taking the dog out in time. The dog will learn in time. Just keep a close eye on her.

I like Barrett's suggestions for the crate thing.
good luck.

[BigPaws]

I always feed my pups in the crate. That's why they know it's okay to be in there. I also put them in the crate for a few min durning the day several times until finally they are sleeping in it when the door open. I also take a the larger crates and fill half of it up with something...for example pop can boxes or plastic milk crates..my crates are plastic and do not come with dividers. It is said that a puppy or dog will not soil his/ her bed that is why I put up a divider when they are small so that they only have room enuff to sleep..not half for potty. I have no idea if any of this helps with your situation though.

[kodi'smom]

Thank you for the encouragement. I will try the simpler protein formula after talking to the vet. The i/d is a Hills brand the vet sells for GI problems. As for the crate divider my pup rips or chews anything to shreds if it is an obstacle to her. Do you fasten it to the side with something? By the way when I am not so worn out I will post pix. She is a sweet thing when out of her crate.

[Carrie]

I never bothered with dividing the crate with anything. If you take your pup out often enough and don't feed after 4 or 5 p.m. and pick up the water an hour or so before bed time...let the pup out to pee right before bed, she will probably be fine. The fewer accidents, the better, but they're bound to happen occasionally. In time, most dogs level out. Just be patient and don't worry so much. Enjoy your pup, poop and all. LOL.