Crate training older dog

[robinb]

My DD22 has agreed to watch our 9-year old LWRD (little white rat dog, aka a small poodle mix) while we are on vacation next month BUT she wants him to be crate trained. He was potty trained when we brought him home as an adult 8 years ago, so we never had to crate train him. I have been home with him the entire time and now my DH and I work from home so he's used to someone around most of the time. Because of that, he has some separation anxiety. He barks when we leave and if we're gone for more than a few hours we come home to a mess, usually pee but also sometimes poo. My DD came home to the same kind of mess when came home from work the last time she watched him for us. Understandably, she doesn't want to clean up pee and poop every time she comes home from work.

Are there any good books on crate training an adult dog? I want him to be comfortable in the crate and think of it as a den so he is relaxed and not anxious when left alone by my DD. We would be home the entire time we would be training him with only a few hours a week away from home. I'm envisioning that he'll be able to see and hear us while in the crate to be the biggest problem.

 

[Christine]

There probably are books or online resources for crate training. It's going to be much more difficult in an older dog, especially one that might have anxiety. I don't think it's impossible at all but you are going to have to work at it. Basically you need to get a crate and make it as comfortable and cozy as possible. Put treats in it and get the dog to just go in and get the treat out. You want to demonstrate that the crate is a good place. You can then start feeding your dog his meals in the crate just so he associates it, again, with good things. Once you have that mastered, you then need to get him to willingly go in the crate (treats) and stay in there while you go out of the house for a few minutes. Come back in, tell him how great he is, let him out and then repeat, repeat, repeat. You have to do this slowly. It is possible that the dog may not ever do it though. I don't think you can get this done in a month, but it doesn't hurt to try. Who knows, he might be very receptive.

 

[bcla]

I remember trying when my dog was maybe 5 or 6. I bought a dog carrier on sale and thought that it might be useful, especially in a vet's office even if it was never used for long-distance travel. Couldn't get my dog in no matter what. Ended up returning it, and although there were scratches, they took it back just fine.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I think you’d have to balance the stress of that whole training process and actual separation/being in a crate while you’re away, with his familiarity with your daughter. So there are some pros, along with some cons, also (as there usually are no matter what you do).

For many years we enjoyed a stress-free time when we went away as my mother lived with us and would watch the dogs. Life remained the same for them except for us being away. But they knew we’d eventually come home.

Several years back Mom couldn’t do it anymore. (As a matter of fact, we had to either get someone to stay with her, find somewhere for her to go, or take her with us when we went away, so that became quite stressful in itself.)

We tried different things for our dog. A friend is a pet sitter and couldn’t have been nicer, coming twice a day to let him out, with DS feeding him and caring for him in between, etc. Dog was apparently pretty stressed, though. (Found evidence he peed in the house, which he never usually does.)

Our go-to has become a local kennel we’ve used for years (before Mom came to live with us, even). They’re good there. The dog goes in a large pen, where he has his bed, blanket and toys. Winds up sleeping a lot. His food and treats are labeled and they give as instructed. They have a working relationship with our vet themselves. They let him out a few times a day to ‘go’ and play in their play yard. Once when I called to check on him (while walking into Epcot!) they said he was ‘helping them in the kitchen’, lol. I mean, he dreads going. When the suitcases come out, you can see he starts to get bummed out. But once he’s there he’s fine. Not exactly happy to be there, but he resolves himself to it. And he’s learned that we come back after a week or so. The beauty is that we don’t have to stress about whether he’s ok or whether we’re inconveniencing anyone, etc. He’s bored, but safe, and ultimately, fine. If he does have an accident, the floors there are cement and they clean it up. They’re definitely used to it. So our house remains clean and when we come home there are no funky odors, haha. That is how we play it now. In comparison: at home, he seemed a little lost.

I can understand why your daughter wouldn’t want accidents in her house. If you decide you want to go with that plan, I would probably get as large a crate as I could, maybe one almost like a play yard with a floor if possible, and start to put him in that for a little while a few times a day to get him used to it. (@Christine had some good suggestions for keeping it positive.) I think you may have better luck with something like that than with a small, classic crate. Maybe you could purchase one to keep at her house if you anticipate this will happen from time to time, as well. The dog will have to learn that this is the routine when you go away, but eventually you will be back. I think the first time or two is hardest. The big thing we have to know when we go away is that our pets are safe. It sort of comes with the territory that they’re going to be somewhat stressed because they’re varying from their routine and we can’t explain to them that we’ll be back. But do it frequently and they get used to it as a ‘necessary evil’.

Maybe something like this?

https://www.ubuy.com.bd/en/product/...-crate-42-8-l-x-28-7-w-x-30-3-h-x-large-black

 

[CynBeth]

Honestly you are probably better off leaving him at your vet’s office if they offer the service or somewhere you could board who would be well experienced dealing with this. We have a dog a few years younger we rescued when she was 2 that was abused and is scared of the crate and hates being left alone. We have a wonderful kennel we leave her when we go away. When we pick her up they tell us usually that it took her a few days to adjust but she had a great time playing with the other dogs at the doggie day camp and how sweet she was with the staff.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I own a pet-sitting business so deal with dogs all day long. I wouldn't crate him...it'll cause him a lot more stress. Look into having a dog-walker/pet sitting service stop by once a day while you're daughter is at work. It'll be worth the cost, trust me.

As long as he's not a chewer...something that would get him into trouble, I'd contain him to an area, possibly an area in the kitchen or a large bathroom that you could gate him in with the door open....with pads on the floor if he won't eat them. Also, look into possibly putting him on something like trazodone if he's got serious separation anxiety...that would help if he's seriously stressed.

 

[unrequited23]

He's a smaller dog that is at least 9 years old (got him as an adult + had him for 8 years.) He physically may not be able to hold it for a full work day. A pet sitter who can let him out midday would probably be the best solution to accidents.

I would still try to crate train him--the main points are touched on upthread. I also would try to feed and water him on the schedule your DD would keep while watching him--no free access to water and food may be the tweak he needs to shift his bathroom habits.

 

[dvcgirl67]

He's a smaller dog that is at least 9 years old (got him as an adult + had him for 8 years.) He physically may not be able to hold it for a full work day. A pet sitter who can let him out midday would probably be the best solution to accidents.

I would still try to crate train him--the main points are touched on upthread. I also would try to feed and water him on the schedule your DD would keep while watching him--no free access to water and food may be the tweak he needs to shift his bathroom habits.

While I'm not sure there's time in the OP's scenario to fully crate train an older dog, one strategy to start is to contain him in a larger area...gated kitchen/bathroom...like I mentioned above. And put a crate in that area, with the door open. Leave the dog with a "work to eat" treat....stuffed kong...etc. That might really help. And I'm not sure if the OP's little guy will chew pads or even use them, but another though is to use cloth pads. I have an almost 8 year old diabetic miniature schnauzer....and we used reusable/washable cloth pads. She has an occasional accident, and she uses them like a champ. Super easy to wash. I had to put my 10.5 year old Airedale on prednisone recently, and guess what....she had a couple of accidents and used the pads too. My airedale is exceptionally bright though...so wasn't surprised .

 

[Alicefan]

A baby gate and puppy pads are a much better idea. You'll never get him crate trained in a month and it will feel like a cruel punishment and cause a lot of stress and anxiety for the dog. I'd find a kennel that has a run before I would ever attempt this in such a short time. It's worth the extra money. I would be afraid my dog would die from the stress at that age.

 

[NannyBeBe]

One of my dogs is almost 10 years old and has severe separation anxiety. He has never been crated. If I were to put him in a crate and leave him, he would probably go into respiratory distress and have a stroke. I would highly recommend that you find a pet sitter who can stay in your home and not have to leave.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I like the idea of gating him in a kitchen, too, but that’s not what her daughter requested. She wants him crated.

My DD22 has agreed to watch our 9-year old LWRD (little white rat dog, aka a small poodle mix) while we are on vacation next month BUT she wants him to be crate trained.

 

[robinb]

Thanks for all the advise!

To be clear, he does not have debilitating anxiety. Just normal anxiety of a dog who is used to having a hooman at home all day. He barks when we leave and then settles down and is super excited to see us come home. We let him take a quick pee outside immediately so he doesn't piddle in the house. He also gets three regular walks per day.

He would go to my DD's house while we are gone. She lives in an open concept type house where the kitchen and the living room are all one area with no place to put a baby gate. She also lives in a very rural area so having a dog walker come during the day won't work.

I put the crate back up next to me and put a throw blanket over it. I put his food bowl in there so he has to enter the crate to eat. He's fine entering the crate and being in the crate, he just whines and barks when he realizes I have locked the door. After a few minutes, I wait until he stops and then then I let him out with praise. I also made some liver treats (what we do for our fun babies ) that he ONLY gets in the crate.

 

[mom2rtk]

Ever heard the phrase "can't teach an old dog new tricks"? I probably would not try this with an older dog like this. It seems like it would be really hard on him. I would try hard to find an alternative that didn't involve the crate. Short time frames would be one thing, but if this would be for her entire work day, I don't see a way it doesn't have a big impact on him.