Ask Me Help Desk - Crate behavior

My Shih Tzu is 3 years old. When I have to leave her alone, I leave her in her crate. When I return she has pooped in her crate. This happens each tie I leave her alone. She is potty trained and let's me know when she needs to go out. Her crate is not too big for her. I need some advice . Can anyone help me?

How long have you had her? How long has she been crate trained? Is this something new, or has this always been what she does when she's crated? Has she been to a vet to rule out anything medical?

Please come back and answer the questions I posted so that I can better answer yours. I do have a few suggestions, but I need the info in my above post to give you an accurate answer.

I had had the dog for over a year. No medical problems. She has always done this when left alone in the crate.

How long is she in the crate for? How often/how long are her walks?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sariss

How long is she in the crate for? How often/how long are her walks?

She isn't in the crate very long. Maybe 2 or 3 hours. I am handicapped and can't walk her as long as I would like to. I have a fenced in yard and she has plenty of room to run around in the yard. She has pooped in the crate after she has been there for an hour or less.

Sounds to me like she is suffering from a form of anxiety.

Dogs with anxiety, separation anxiety being the most common, will potty in their kennels when left alone even after they had just been outside.

With anxiety, there is not cure, you can only manage it. You can speak to your vet about anxiety medications. There are natural supplements, such as Melatonin and Valerian root that are said to manage anxiety. Obedience helps dogs with mild forms of anxiety as does ensuring the dog is extremely well exercised every day. You can even go as far as getting another dog to help keep the anxiety dog feel more secure.

When you leave, try leaving the TV on or a radio. It'll trick the dog into thinking that you're not really gone. Try this first while you are home a few times.. Put your dog in her crate like you would when you leave. Turn on the TV and do some house work. Check in on her every few minutes. This will assure her that you're not really gone. After a few trial runs, try this same technique while you run a short errand. See how she does.

Your dog isn't home alone long enough that she is doing this out of desperation. She is just displaying her anxiety and fear of being left alone. Dogs are pack animals, and some dogs would enjoy being your second skin. However; as humans, we like our space. Some dogs get it, some dogs don't. Your dog apparently doesn't understand "alone" time for her human.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucky098

Sounds to me like she is suffering from a form of anxiety.

Dogs with anxiety, separation anxiety being the most common, will potty in their kennels when left alone even after they had just been outside.

With anxiety, there is not cure, you can only manage it. You can speak to your vet about anxiety medications. There are natural supplements, such as Melatonin and Valerian root that are said to manage anxiety. Obedience helps dogs with mild forms of anxiety as does ensuring the dog is extremely well exercised every day. You can even go as far as getting another dog to help keep the anxiety dog feel more secure.

When you leave, try leaving the TV on or a radio. It'll trick the dog into thinking that you're not really gone. Try this first while you are home a few times.. Put your dog in her crate like you would when you leave. Turn on the TV and do some house work. Check in on her every few minutes. This will assure her that you're not really gone. After a few trial runs, try this same technique while you run a short errand. See how she does.

Your dog isn't home alone long enough that she is doing this out of desperation. She is just displaying her anxiety and fear of being left alone. Dogs are pack animals, and some dogs would enjoy being your second skin. However; as humans, we like our space. Some dogs get it, some dogs don't. Your dog apparently doesn't understand "alone" time for her human.

Thank you for your input. I will try the methods you suggested. I am retied and am with her all the time. I take her with me when I go out but can't always take her with me. I can see why she may have a problem with anxiety.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmpresti

Thank you for your input. I will try the methods you suggested. I am retied and am with her all the time. I take her with me when I go out but can't always take her with me. I can see why she may have a problem with anxiety.

It does sound like anxiety. If you're with her all the time, then imagine how she feels when she's left behind. Not that it's wrong to leave her in a crate when you have to leave her behind, it's something a good dog owner should do, and I commend you for it. But, she's used to having you home, and when she's left behind she's likely anxious about it. Understandable.

Think about it this way. If you're a stay at home mom for years, go back to work when your kids are old enough to legally stay home for a few hours alone, it's hard on them. They can cope, they're fine, you've given them the tools they need to be alone for a while, but that doesn't mean that they'll like it, or find it easy to deal with. I had that situation when I went back to work over a year ago. My kids still find it hard to deal with, and I often hear "I wish you didn't have to work". They're only left alone for an hour or so three days a week. Your dog is the same way. She's anxious because she's used to you always being around. When she has to be alone, she doesn't handle it well.

Do talk to your vet. An animal behaviorist would also be a good option.

We'd love pictures. :)