emergency crate training due to injury

any_name_will_suffice

hiya,

I'm hoping you knowlegeable people can give me some advice.

I have a 6 year old lab cross who I rehomed when he was 9 months. When I first had him, he had terrible seperation anxiety, and after lots of difficult times, I learnt he hates being confined, and now he has free run of the house, and hasn't had stress on being left alone for about three and a half years now. He also hates not being with us when we're in the house, so he tends to follow us around, and we don't shut him up or out of a room.

however, we have been to the vet today, and he has torn slightly his cruciate ligament, the vet explained he must not go up the stairs or climb on furniture, as well as rest, while it heals. After a long talk about our lifestyle and his behaviour problems, we have decided it's safest to use a crate over night and while we're out the house.

He has never been crate trained. I have bought an extra large PAH dog crate tonight, and placed his bed, blanket, favourite snuggly toy and food and drink bowl inside it, in the place his bed usually sits. I have a refill for the dap diffuser, which helped when he had really bad seperation anxiety after a house move, and a muzzle which I will use if he starts trying to chew his way out. He's lying in there now with the door open looking rather despondent, I did shut the door briefly when I went upstairs, and quietly opened it again when I came back down. I am going to try popping out for 10 minutes later with the door closed, to start getting him used to it.

Trouble is, i am going to try to work from home tomorrow, but I will have to pop out three times, between 8-10am, 1-3 pm, and at 5.30pm for a gp appointment (i really have some health problems and i can't cancel that).

I know I am being a bit ambitious, but is there anything else I can do to help him get used to it?

any_name_will_suffice

Ok, I popped out for 5 mins, came back, put the kettle on and calmly opened his door, he hasn't got off his bed yet!

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

That sounds like he's in a lot of pain. Does he have medication for it?

Sally_A

This will be a bit controversial, I hate the idea of crates, they were never in the vocabulary of dog owners 20 years ago.

You state the dog hates confinement, so just keep him within a couple of rooms with a comfy bed, water, warmth with no access to sofas or beds.

Crates seems to have come about and been a big sales hype for dogs that need their own comfy space, a blanket under a table always did for us, children were taught that when the dog went there to sleep, eat treats etc, it was the dogs den and they were left in peace.

The only place I can see a positive use for crates is for keeping dogs safe in the back of a car.

any_name_will_suffice

the vet gave anti inflammatories for tonight and tomorrow because he yelped when she was manipulating it to examine it. she says it's only a small tear. i feel awful, because it actually happened a week before christmas when he jumped off my bed, he landed with a squeal and limped for about 5 minutes and that was it. he limped a couple of times on christmas day, but again it seemed to settle straight away. however, he had a bit play in the snow on saturday and he's been limping on and off since, and he's not his usual happy self, so we booked an emergency vets appointment today.

she did seem to think that there was a good chance that with the right rest (no exercise for 7 days, and providing he's not limping then short lead walks only for two weeks plus no stairs or jumping on furniture) it should heal pretty well.

fingers crossed!

any_name_will_suffice

i actually agree with you Sally A, but I can't see that working for him. He has learnt if he jumps up and down at a door handle for long enough, the door will eventually open for him, and I really don't want him jumping up and down. It's the same with a stair gate, I can see him injuring himself trying to climb over it.

The crate really is a last resort, and I really don't want him to rupture it completely.

lostinrates

Sally_A wrote: »

This will be a bit controversial, I hate the idea of crates, they were never in the vocabulary of dog owners 20 years ago.

You state the dog hates confinement, so just keep him within a couple of rooms with a comfy bed, water, warmth with no access to sofas or beds.

Crates seems to have come about and been a big sales hype for dogs that need their own comfy space, a blanket under a table always did for us, children were taught that when the dog went there to sleep, eat treats etc, it was the dogs den and they were left in peace.

The only place I can see a positive use for crates is for keeping dogs safe in the back of a car.

I have never used a crate before this pup. I have to say I felt exactly the same as you...but.....it's been amazing. He genuinely does choose his crate.

The reason we opted for a crate for the first time is because with two giant dogs we wanted to know we could leave them together but the much smaller breed dog safe from being squashed (one of the breeds is noted for squashing their own pups and he was the smaller of one of those when he got here).

I agree about children/people respecting the dogs space....sometimes dogs and cats with their noses out of joint at a new arrival are harder to teach that lesson though.

lostinrates

any_name_will_suffice wrote: »

i actually agree with you Sally A, but I can't see that working for him. He has learnt if he jumps up and down at a door handle for long enough, the door will eventually open for him, and I really don't want him jumping up and down. It's the same with a stair gate, I can see him injuring himself trying to climb over it.

The crate really is a last resort, and I really don't want him to rupture it completely.

Might a childs play pen work? Or do you think he might try and hop over it?

We considered that with the dog with the broken leg, but opted for the one room approach instead. But we know she would not jump (she resents being asked to step over the hose!) Before anyone asks, she's too big to crate.

Sally_A

Ah, OK anws - I would have thought that at the age of 6, he may have been a little bit less excitable than that..

I think all mine at the age of 6 were more interested in snoozing on the bed for 5 solid hours when I was at work, and thought they were doing me a big favour by going out for a 3 mile walkies. In fact a crate would probably have made them less likely to settle, as it was an unknown bit of kit.

any_name_will_suffice

lostinrates wrote: »

Might a childs play pen work? Or do you think he might try and hop over it?

We considered that with the dog with the broken leg, but opted for the one room approach instead. But we know she would not jump (she resents being asked to step over the hose!) Before anyone asks, she's too big to crate.

Knowing Rocky, he'd be climbing out the top! He climbed a six foot fence once when he was younger, I just saw his tail disappear over the top :rotfl:

I'm going to try and go to bed now ( yes, my usual time). fingers crossed he settles....

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

When I've torn a ligament, cold packs have really helped. If he'd let you, maybe a cold damp flannel in a sandwich bag would help him?