How do you calm an anxious dog in a crate? Put your pup in their crate and leave the room for short amounts of time. Slowly increase the time you leave the room. You can give them a toy or treats that take time to consume before you leave.
Give Them Some Stimulation in the Crate
Kongs make great mentally stimulating toys when filled with peanut butter or another treat. There are also a variety of other puzzle toys or fun, interactive dog toys you can leave in the crate with your pooch to keep them occupied and help them forget their stress.
Putting some of your pet's favorite toys or blanket inside may help create a tranquil space for your dog. Calming dog supplements, like Only Natural Pet's Just Relax, also can help your pupper feel calmer in and out of his dog crate.
Separation anxiety can be difficult to manage without training and patience. Crate training is one of the best ways to ensure that your dog does not engage in destructive behaviors, especially behaviors where he ends up hurting himself.
A crate cover, like a blanket or crate-specific covering, can be beneficial to many dogs and can help reduce anxiety and soothe dogs by limiting visual stimuli, which in turn can prevent excitement and barking.
Generally, you shouldn't place a cover over the crate that's not specifically made for the crate. Towels, sheets, and blankets can be pulled into the crate too easily and ingested by your pup. So, before you use them, make sure that your dog leaves them alone–outside the crate.
Should my dog's crate be near me overnight? Ideally, yes. If you can put the crate in your bedroom, it will help a new puppy settle down faster. If he can hear and see you, and continue to hear you breathing overnight, he will be much calmer than if his dog's crate at night was in a room alone.
If he does whine or cry in the crate, it's imperative that you not let him out until he stops. Otherwise, he'll learn that the way to get out of the crate is to whine, so he'll keep doing it.
Ignoring a dog that has suffered with severe anxiety whilst alone – until he gives up trying to interact - is unkind and counterproductive because it actually adds to their anxiety.
So while some dogs might master the basics of crate training inside a couple of weeks, others might take several months to get the hang of it. The main thing to remember is to remain patient throughout the training process, and continue with a consistent approach to achieve the best results.
Pet or Massage Your Dog To Relax Them
By petting or massaging your dog in a calming way, you can help their muscles relax. In order to fully calm them down, it is best to avoid any more excited petting that could make them less tired. Instead, focus on long and soft pets through their fur.
While your dog is in their crate, provide them with safe chews, like a bully stick or rubber food-stuffed toy. Dogs love to chew, so this will keep them busy and help prevent boredom. It will also build positive associations with the crate, even more so if you only provide certain special items inside.
Dogs will whine in their crate for a number of reasons including boredom, loneliness, fear, anxiety, or they need to be let outside. All of these reactions are perfectly normal, and it is your job as an owner to make your pup feel comfortable and get used to their new crate.
Give your dog a special treat each time you leave (like a puzzle toy stuffed with peanut butter). Only give them this treat when you're gone, and take it away when you get home. Make your comings and goings low-key without a lot of greeting. Ignore your pup for the first few minutes after you get home.
Desensitize individual pre-departure triggers
From the point where your dog begins to get anxious, take a small step back (this may be a literal step back, or a reduction in the distance you move your hands, etc.). Repeat the trigger behavior between one and three times, depending on what your dog can handle.
Consider using a crate
Make sure your dog is okay with being confined to an area and if they give you their go-ahead you can place them in their crate for the duration of your absence. In some cases, the crate can become their safe space, an area where they feel comfortable and calm when you are away.
Most of the time we recommend that your pup be settled for 5 or more minutes before being let out of their crate. The most ideal scenario is that your pup cries for a bit, but settles in under 30 minutes and falls asleep.
Put your hand down at dog-level to check the air temperature. If needed, try tucking folded blankets either between the crate and wall or around the inside of the crate to make your dog feel more cosy. Your dog needs water available in the recovery crate at all times, so do check that this is topped-up.
Most pups will cry for around half the time. By the third night it should be just a few hours, and an average pup is quiet for the fourth. Once they are settled, you will actually need to go in at least once overnight to take them out to toilet! This is when you can swap the pen for a bed-sized crate.
In some cases you may be able to crate a dog for 10-12 hours overnight. Adult and senior dogs tend to sleep rather long at night and will be able to hold their bladder for that long. Especially more laid-back breed such as Pugs or Saint Bernards might not even want to get up before sleeping that long!
There is no real right or wrong answer.
Just like humans, dogs are different. Some may feel more comfortable in a crate next to your bed, while others prefer to sleep on a blanket in the living room. The best sleeping place for your dog depends on their age, personality, health condition, and your preferences.
However, there is usually little need to leave them in the crate for extended periods. Most dogs can be trusted around the house unsupervised at around two years of age. This may seem like a long time, but this is how long it takes most dogs to mature.
However, dogs can quickly get bored when stuck inside a crate. Owners need to use crates for their dogs' safety. Therefore, you must find ways to keep your dog entertained and prevent it from becoming destructive inside the crate. Keeping toys in your dog's crate is an excellent way to keep it busy.