Is there a best crate for anxiety? You brought your lovely little pup (or adopted dog) home. He is so sweet and playful. But then you come home from work and wonder if a cyclone came through. You start to hear from your neighbors that there is an awful howling sound coming from your house when you leave. It is time to crate your lovely new friend, but is there a best crate for anxiety? There is no special crate to help ease the anxiety your dog is feeling when you are not around, but here are some important things you should know about crating your dog.
Related: Handling Severe Anxiety in Dogs
The Best Dog Crate for Anxiety is the One that Works!
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Placement is important
Dogs are social animals (as if you haven’t guessed by now). They don’t want to miss anything. You might be thinking of putting his crate in your bedroom, where he can feel close to you at night. But where do you spend most of your time? I guess it is not your bedroom. Place his crate in a high-traffic area of your home where you will be most of the time. Don’t cover it. Then he feels isolated and in trouble. They are made the way they are for a reason. Let him see what’s going on.
Make it inviting
Would you want to be in a room where there is nothing of comfort for you? Imagine you were told to go into a room for an extended period and all there was for you was a bottle of water. Sounds inviting huh? I didn’t think so. Don’t expect this of your dog either. Place a couple of toys in his crate for him. Something soft and a chew toy to keep him busy. You might think about tossing in a blanket for him (our Lola is spoiled with a pillow, a blanket and a few stuffed animals my daughter has left for her.). You want to make sure your dog is not a chewer of soft things first. He could easily tear apart something soft and get it lodged in his throat.
Training first
Before you leave your dog alone for any extended period, you want to practice during the day while you are home. Start with a few minutes at a time and extend it. Be prepared he probably won’t like it at first. Expect some cries. But be strong! The idea is that you want him to be ok while you are not home right?
Once your dog gets used his new space, his anxiety will decrease or go away altogether. Your house will be thankful too! You won’t come home thinking a tornado had been through your kitchen or find your favorite shoes lovingly chewed in the corner (it’s always the favorite ones huh?) He will feel secure in his personal space and rest easy while you are gone, and so will you.
What worked best for your dog to ease his anxiety? Share your stories with us below in the comment section!
