Suggestions for crate training needed - Page 1

         I have this new girl(well, a little bit new). She is a very obedient, intelligent dog. She has her own crate, which she loves, AS LONG AS I AM IN THE HOUSE!
      She goes in there to sleep, will stay in there with the door shut, as long as I am in the house. she has already demolished 2 crates. My mom, who lives behind me says she can hear her "crying the blues",once I leave the house, and by the looks of the crates, she puts up one hell of a fight with it while I'm gone.
     She has a bump on her nose from fighting the crate(the two specks on her nose is just dirt from the woods). I Cannot take her everytime I leave the house, although she comes with me quite often. 
     I have given her toys,bones,rawhide to try to occupy her time. The minute I go out the door,'lady sings the blues"
ANYONE have a solution to this??

Never had to deal with separation anxiety but it sounds like you're doing everything right.  How about more exercise before crating?  Try a treadmill?  Seems like tiring her out may be the only thing left to try.

Not just exercise, but an indestructible crate as well. I had a rescue dog who did the same until we used an aluminum K9 transport kennel. ( Plus exercise!!!!!!!!!!!!). Once he figured out that no matter what, he could not break out and nothing bad was going to happen to him, he stopped all on his own.

I'd love to hear what others have to say about severe seperation anxiety as well.

Melissa

Have you tried to leave her for short periods of time...and sometimes that means walking out the door...and coming right back in...10 seconds....Then keep extending it for longer and longer periods of time...
Is this a dog you've had since she was a baby?...Sometimes we create problems without even knowing it...Maybe she has always had someone there for her...or she was taken with you...and so on...
If you try leaving her for short periods of time...when you come back in you can give her a cookie (treat)...and each time you come back in give her a cookie...and then work this up to a period of time...Don't go too fast too soon...Take it easy and slow...

~Bob~