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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dog kennel illustration.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dog kennel illustration.

We do small-dog fostering for a local pound and we currently have a 1-year-old Chiweenie. We've had her almost a week. The issue is crating her. If we crate her at night, she has a screaming fit. To get some sleep, we finally gave up and let her out of her crate. She's happy and sleeping with us. But when we both leave, we crate her -- we're afraid of what the house will look like if we leave her running loose. She really, really, really hates the crate. We put toys in the box for her, but every time we leave her, she howls and urinates in it. Do you have any suggestions?

Step back, take a deep breath, sip a soothing beverage and relax. Your Chiweenie's dislike of the crate isn't an insurmountable problem but one that can be resolved with time, patience, understanding and basic behavioral modification therapy.

When dealing with a behavioral issue, it's helpful to understand a bit about the dog. A Chiweenie -- part Chihuahua, part dachshund -- has a lively temperament, says Karen Kelley, a North Little Rock professional dog trainer and founder of Cynder Creek Animal Rescue and Sanctuary who specializes in helping people understand and deal with their pets' behavioral issues.

"Chiweenies can be a little nervous and a little full of themselves," she says, and the mixed breed is highly energetic and needs opportunities to channel that energy in a positive way.

For your Chiweenie, Kelley recommends a two-pronged approach to help the dog view the crate in a more positive light. A key focus of her plan involves a time-proven tenet of puppy training, which is that a tired puppy is a good puppy. A dog that gets plenty of exercise -- mental as well as physical -- won't have energy to expend on anxiety and destructive behavior.

Your task is ensuring your rescued pup is worn out before she enters the crate.

"Right now she has too much natural energy to just sit in a crate," Kelley says. "She's investing that energy in worrying about her people and where they are instead of lying down and resting."

Making sure your dog is tired before putting her in the crate is only part of the solution. The pup also needs time to develop positive associations with the crate. She needs to learn to see it as a sanctuary or, at the least, a not-unpleasant place to spend some time alone.

To help her view the crate more favorably, leave it open all the time. Put treats and toys inside. You can even place an old T-shirt that you've worn in the crate so that it'll seem more inviting.

Behavior modification isn't a short-term process. When working on your dog's crate issues, "make it a gradual process," Kelley says.

"Don't overwhelm her. Just putting her in the crate and shutting the door and leaving creates distrust."

Only when the dog is completely worn out should you place her in the crate -- and then for only a brief period, Kelley says. Instead of leaving her alone, put her in the crate and let her stay there for five to 10 minutes while you are in the house. She will likely whine and fuss a bit, but because she's tired she shouldn't have the screaming fit you've described. As she becomes more used to the crate, you can increase the amount of time she's in it. Again, make it positive for her.

During the training process, you need to enlist some help so your dog isn't left alone in the crate for long periods. Kelley suggests taking the dog to doggy day care or hiring a dog walker to come by the house. If the dog is comfortable with friends and family members, see if they're willing to stay with the dog or even keep her for a few hours.

You can also get people to help you with training. One person, for example, could take the dog out for a walk while you stay home and create a trail of treats into the crate, where you've placed her water bowl. When the dog comes home from the walk and wants a drink, she'll follow the treats into the crate. Let her get used to going in and out of the crate.

"Be patient and don't expect changes overnight," Kelley says. "Most dogs can correct behavior in a few weeks, but don't set a time limit on it. If you do, she'll feel the stress of that."

Family on 07/27/2016

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