If you still have her old blanket, maybe try putting it back in with her. Just like kids, dogs do have "security" blankets (and/or toys!)

Hope all checks out at the vet visit.

Ali will be 5 at the end of the month, and it took her until she was almost 3 before we could really trust her alone in the house for any long period of time. Now we rarely if ever need to crate her, but she still has her crate in our bedroom and goes in it whenever she needs some down time.

I'm not in favor of hitting dogs either, but our vet suggested the same thing about putting our old dog's nose into the area where he urinated and telling him "no" firmly. It has no adverse effects on the dog, and they learn quickly that what they've done is wrong.

How "old school" is your vet?

I'm finishing my vet tech training, and going through the process of vet school apps. I would venture a guess that most vets trained more recently wouldn't advise this method. The dog doesn't relate the punishment with the crime, unless you caught him in the act, which is unlikely since this is while she is at work. This method called fear or aversion training, really doesn't work with canines.

And people who suggest crating is wrong, it isn't just for convenience. A dog came into the hospital after getting into a childproofed cabinet and biting a bottle of bleach. The owner didn't know how long the dog had been throwing up, since it happened when she was at work. Crating would have prevented this.

Then, there is the story about two of my friends in school. Their apartment got broken into, and both of their dogs were there at the time. The one who was never crated was shot in the head, yet the other was left alone, even though both rooms were ransacked. The intruder didn't find the crated dog a threat. My friend who lost her dog said that she would have given everything in her room to have her dog back. The first thing she did when she got a new dog was buy a crate.

Our Buffy (a Bichon) was a rescue dog, so we don't know how he was trained - but it surely didn't involve a crate! He becomes semi-hysterical if he's crated. So, we found a soft-sided crate that we call his "house". It has several zipper entries, so we can put him in his house in the car, and dangle an arm to pet him. He'll tolerate that. Whoever "trained" him did a horrible job!

One thing I picked up from a vet was to NEVER hit a small dog!! Buffy's had 3 broken ribs, which we don't know how he got, but he passionately hates mailmen. So, if he gets wild about a mailman or whatever, I "nose" him. I put one finger on the bridge of his nose and say "NO!" (never "bad dog"). He hates that, so shuts up immediately. He's finally getting to the point that just saying, "I will nose you!" will shut him up - sometimes!

Aversion has never worked with him, but Buffy responds well to praise. If he absolutely has to go inside (it was 3 degrees here today!), he knows that going in the kitchen, and letting us know about it means he won't be punished. This is a huge improvement from when he came to us, and piddled everywhere!! A "Good Dog!" goes a long way with him!

Crating is fine. Almost every veterinarian I work with crate their dogs while they are out and some bring them to work and crate them there. I crated my dog -if I didn't she would have eaten everything (she ate an entire bathroom one time while I was at a concert for 2 hours). Unfortunately, many people have busy lifestyles and while it would be nice to be able to only be gone from your house for a few hours and then come home and spend the rest of the time with your pets it is not going to happen. Most people do the best they can.

There are doggy daycares which are ok though it is just like a child daycare situation-they can catch such things as kennel cough so be aware of this. Plus, I have had a few cases where the dogs were out playing with each other and ended up getting into a fight resulting in lacerations/bite wounds. I would not recommend these places for a puppy under 4-6 months of age as even if fully vaccinated I have had puppies contract parvo virus.

signed,
a horrible veterinarian that crated her dog (and sometimes her cat)

I don't want people to think that I'm anti-crating. I just don't know if our dog was or not. I highly doubt it, and I wish he had been - crated dogs are easier to deal with.

A fireman told me once that they'll release an uncrated dog, but will actually rescue a crated one - because they don't know if the dog will bite etc. I can understand that.

I take Buffy to work with me, so it's not like he spends a lot of time alone. We also take him to doggie daycare when we're out of town - it's funny, he heads right for the person! He definitely likes to be with people more than other dogs! My mother & I volunteer several times a year in DC, and we stay at a hotel that accepts dogs, and is near a doggie daycare center. The people at the hotel love him so much, they call him Mr. Buff, and will set up a table & chairs for us to have a meal in the hall, instead of the restaurant, just so he can stay with us! But obviously, all doggie daycares are not created equally! He goes to the Happy Tails in McLean, VA, but that was after we investigated several others. We feel that he's had enough abuse, to put him through more.

While we're talking doggie issues, what's the scoop about micro-chipping? Does it hurt them? I'm all for having it done to Buffy, but we don't want him shaved, if possible. Also, I may take him to school to become a therapy dog - is that misuse of a dog or not? I've seen some of my (geriatric) clients just light up at his cuddling - one man just rubbed Buffy's tummy and cried with joy. Since he loves people so much, I think he'd be good. I'm just worried about him marking! Any suggestions from our resident vets?

1) Are you a professional in the canine industry?

2) Are you a complete and utter bitch? Because, you are acting like one. Dani didn't deserve this comment. I highly suggest you reexamine your actions. Dani deserves an apology.

3) As a PROFESSIONAL in the pet industry, I can tell you that vets, groomers, breeders, traniners, handlers, etc. ALL use crate training.

Not only does a crate protect the dog from hurting itself by getting into dangerous situations (such as chewing on things it shouldn't and getting an intestinal blockage, etc.), it also gives the dog a sense of security. If you are not using a crate YOU are the sick one. A dog needs to have a safe place it can retreat to. Dogs are den dwellers by nature. Crates mimic this and often calm babies that are having a hard time staying by themselves.

While it is certainly cruel to leave a dog in a crate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without exercise, it is equally inhumane to deprive a dog with a sense of security that a cage offers.

And, while crating is not for all dogs, it is most helpful in a lot of behavioral situations.

Sissy, you're welcome for this consultation. Most people actually pay me for such advice. I will give you this advice for free seeing as how you seem like you really need it. No thanks are needed.

Random question: When does your inability to spend time with a pet effect whether you should get a pet or what type of pet you should get?

I mean, lets say you work and live alone so your pet has to be by itself for say around ten hours. Is that good for a dog? Is that ok for a cat? You don't crate cats right?

I know most of us think: We want a pet, and then force the critter into our lifestyle, but I was wondering what our responsibility to the pet was.

I guess the person that can spend more time with a pet, or has more people in the household to spend time with the pet, is in fact a better owner? Because they can fufill the pets needs better?

Thanks Tippie, but who she really owes an apology to is texas*princess for saying those horrible things about her. I know that texas*princess loves her dog to death, and what Sissy said was wrong (as disproved by the pet care industry people posting here).

Now, I'm just a random twit, but some pets are more adaptable to being alone than others. Cats easily entertain themselves, but do like their people (or staff, however you care to look at it). Some dogs like the company of other dogs, others would rather be alone, others have to have their people 24/7. I know that a lot of Bichon Frise breeders will NOT sell to someone who won't have someone home with them during the day - they can become a little neurotic. Our set up is good in that I can take Buffy to work, so the only time he's alone is when we go out to eat. My brother's Dobermans are fine alone, if they have another dog with them. So, each breed (and/or dog) is different.

Ya know... after reading this thread I just feel really lucky about my dog, lol. This woman just brought him into my work one day, asking about his owner, and It was just love at first sight for both of us, lol. He just came over and snuggled up against me and that was that!
He's like...the weirdest dog ever, lol. So i guess that's why he's perfect for me! He's pretty lax about going out (a late sleeper, just like me;)) and he does pretty well with being alone -I'd never crate him; but I think it's up to the individual dog as to whether or not they need to be crated, so I see both sides there!

Now, does anyone elses dog have weird eating patterns??? Like first off, he won't eat anything "healthy" ya know what I mean??? Like...he won't go for the good stuff, like Purina and Science Diet and whatnot, lol. Nooooo...he has to pick kibbles and bits, the lucky charms of dog food, lol. And bones? Nope! Not a chewer at all, lol. Then, he only eats...every so often. Honestly, he pretty much goes through a bowl of food...pretty much in like 2 or 3 days(it's not like...a "big bowl" either)- I was worried at first, but the Vet assured me that it wasn't a big deal, especially since he's at a healthy weight, but still!
And then...the funny part. I'll put Eli's bowl in the kitchen right??? He'll grab a few bites of food, walk out of the kitchen, through the hallway and into the living room to eat, lol. Then he'll walk right back in, get more food, and do it all over again! What is up with that?:P

I.....did you read what he wrote? I think he said....."Give the dog a little swat." In no way did he say HIT the dog. Maybe you should work on those interpretation skills. I have a black and a chocolate lab and trained them the same way. They are the most well mannered well trained dogs i've ever been around.

well I just typed a reply but it got lost so I will say in shorthand: There is no right or wrong answer as far as crating goes. If you do not crate and this works for you then great. If you have to crate to insure your pet's safety while you are away from the house then do what you need to do.
And BTW, georgewallace, I don't pretent to know it all as you say, but being in the animal industry for almost 20 years (10 years as a tech then almost 10 as a vet.) I do have some knowledge in this area. There are board certified animal behaviorists if further info is desired.

Just wondering-those that are so offended by crating did you get your pets from a breeder? Just curious.

Doesn't it also depend on the breed of the animal? Just asking?

And my husband is studying for another Board exam--lab animal--the Diplomate from ACLAAM... We will be at the AVMA this year.

He wants a Rhodesian Ridgeback. Of course as a puppy. But, we don't have any land... Which means that for that kind of breed, leaving it in the house would drive it nuts, crated or not... At least that is what all the vets at Comp. Med. are telling me...

So essentially for large dogs, that have "schizophrenic tendencies", what would you advise for crating as puppies, i.e. Huskies? But what about for small dogs with open fontenelles, i.e. Chiauahuas [sp?]? Just asking?

I have never had a dog growing up because my mom was allergic to their fur. :( So I had a pet brother. :D