Duncan's first time alone
We had to be gone for a few hours today. Duncan has never been alone before. We set up the video recorder to see how he reacted so we would know how to handle any problems. He was perfect. He ...
Forum Discussion
Was he OK "alone" when Buddy Blue was around and you went out? Or did he have issues being left alone even with Buddy Blue there?
Some dogs just don't want to be only dogs. My Moose-dog was like that. He was fine his first 4 years with his older sister Dog around. When Dog died, he suddenly started getting nervous and exhibiting separation anxiety. I realized quickly that he was not going to be happy being an only dog. So I got Bat-dog and now Moose-dog is his carefree self. Completely different dogs: Moose-dog with sister dog; Moose-dog as only dog.
I've never used crates (with the exception of one hyperactive 6 month old black lab foster who would not sleep without being crated). My biggest issue with them is that dogs get crate aggressive and the owners ignore it. Any dog who snaps, snarls, growls, etc. from a crate should NOT have a crate.
I took in a 3 yr old akita. He had spent his entire 3 years with a crate in a backyard kennel. When I brought him home, he was a nervous wreck. He only felt comfortable in his crate. I immediately removed the door. Every night for about 2 weeks, he would go into his crate at bedtime. I always invited him into the bedroom with the other dog, but into the crate he went. So, I took the top half of the crate off. That night, he went right into his crate (or onto the crate base). About 2 hours later, he suddenly realized he had no roof. He got up, walked into the bedroom, laid down on the floor and went to sleep. Anytime after that if he had to go into a crate, he was visibly unhappy about it.
Some dogs just don't want to be only dogs. My Moose-dog was like that. He was fine his first 4 years with his older sister Dog around. When Dog died, he suddenly started getting nervous and exhibiting separation anxiety. I realized quickly that he was not going to be happy being an only dog. So I got Bat-dog and now Moose-dog is his carefree self. Completely different dogs: Moose-dog with sister dog; Moose-dog as only dog.
I've never used crates (with the exception of one hyperactive 6 month old black lab foster who would not sleep without being crated). My biggest issue with them is that dogs get crate aggressive and the owners ignore it. Any dog who snaps, snarls, growls, etc. from a crate should NOT have a crate.
I took in a 3 yr old akita. He had spent his entire 3 years with a crate in a backyard kennel. When I brought him home, he was a nervous wreck. He only felt comfortable in his crate. I immediately removed the door. Every night for about 2 weeks, he would go into his crate at bedtime. I always invited him into the bedroom with the other dog, but into the crate he went. So, I took the top half of the crate off. That night, he went right into his crate (or onto the crate base). About 2 hours later, he suddenly realized he had no roof. He got up, walked into the bedroom, laid down on the floor and went to sleep. Anytime after that if he had to go into a crate, he was visibly unhappy about it.
