Duncan's first time alone

There's nothing innately cruel about using a crate. Some of our dogs in the past have gone to the crate on their own, because it's their space. None of them have cried or barked because they were locked in. It's far better to use a crate than to have a dog doing damage to home or RV, or worse yet - getting into stuff that can be bad for it.

campn4walleye wrote:
Magnusfide

We named him Duncan because he's a tri-colored Cavalier King Charles. It's a Scottish breed and a Scottish name. It fits. He's a darling. This is him on his first day home.



This is him with his brother Buddy Blue.

GREAT LOOKING DOGS! You're right of course; thought he was named after someone you know. I'm partial to the name myself.

It sounds like Duncan is doing fine. I hope your doing ok as well. I know it takes a while but it sounds like you have a lot of good memories.

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.

When I got my rescue Neal he had never been out of a small dog pen with a dog house. In my large fenced in yard he was very nervous. I ended up buying a 12'x12' pen and put a dog house in it. Neal was happy and relaxed. After a week I started leaving the door to the pen open. If Neal felt nervous he could go into his pen and dog house. After a couple of months Neal did not need the pen. so I sold it and the dog house.

My dogs are generally not crated, but I make sure that they are comfortable in one if they have to be. I don't want them stressed about being confined if they have an emergency vet visit, or any other situation that requires that they be confined in a small area.

To keep them comfortable I feed them every night in their crate (door open) and occasionally they get a bone (door closed).

Real glad to hear Duncan's doing well. Second photo reminds me of how Calvin slept with Harlee. Sure wish I was in a better position to adopt another female into our clan.

Pops

Duncan was crated while we went out until he was about 5 months old. Then we tested him and he was excellent (with Buddy). This was his first solo.

He sleeps in his crate because he wants to. We gave him a choice of a dog bed, but he goes into the kennel. It's Buddy's old kennel so you can imagine how huge it is. DH wanted him to have plenty of room. He does!

I like crate training because it gives the puppy a sanctuary of sorts and calms them when they're anxious. He now only sleeps in it. I always want him to be comfortable in a crate...just in case. We always practiced with Buddy going in and out even though he didn't use it. We would close them in together and they would just wait patiently, but if Buddy was in alone, Duncan would bark until we let him out. It was a game we would play to make it fun, not a bad thing.

Colliehauler- we're doing better missing Blue, but I can't say it out loud without welling up. We rearranged the bedroom so that the empty space is covered up. Surprisingly, it helped.