Puppy barking in crate

[Labyrinth]

Misty has been doing very well in regards to her crate. She'll go in without much fuss whenever we ask her to. At night she'll sometimes whine for a minute or two, then she'll lay down to go to sleep.

I'm currently not working, so I'm home with her most of the time. I do occasionally have appointments or shopping that needs to get done, and obviously the puppy can't go with me. I put her in her crate with chew toys and turn talk radio on to keep her company while I'm gone.

Since I'm not on any real schedule, there is no pattern for when this happens, but when I go out it's rarely for more than an hour or two. As soon as she's shut in she knows I'm leaving. And she proceeds to have a complete hissy fit. I try to calm her down before I go, but she just won't have it. It starts as a loud whine, and evolves into full out screaming. I feel terrible leaving her while she's yelling, but sometimes I've just got to go.

When I get home I can hear her yelling. I'm hoping she just started up because she heard my car, or heard me come through the door but I'm afraid she may be screaming the entire time I'm gone. When I get upstairs and she sees me she quiets to whining again and I sit with her and talk to her until she stops completely then I let her out.

When I let her out, she's soaked. It's completely clear liquid, and it doesn't smell.. So I don't think she's peed herself. I find it all over the floor in front of the crate, soaked in the bedding I left in there with her, and covering her legs and her face. I think she's slobbering all over everything while she's yelling. I'm honestly at a loss, I just don't know how to make her more comfortable with being left alone for an hour or two.

I'm hoping she'll get more used to it in time, but if anyone has any suggestions to help put her more at ease I'd love to hear it!

 

[Angela's mom]

First of all, I don't think she is yelling the entire time you are gone. She would be hoarse by now!

Have you tried one of those toys that you can put treats in? I forget what they are called. The one I have for Molly is pink and looks like two bubbles. It's hollow. I fill it with treats and cover the end with peanut butter. I give it to her right before I leave and it keeps her busy while I go out the door. Works like a charm!

 

[Labyrinth]

The very first time I had to leave her locked up while I went out she actually was hoarse when I got back. Poor thing kept coughing whenever she tried to whine :/

She's definately not hoarse now though, so I think she's adjusting. I think the toy you're talking about is a kong. She's got one of those in her crate, but I haven't tried stuffing it yet. I'll give that a shot, thanks!

 

[ihartgonzo]

How old is Misty? How long have you had her? How long has she been in the process of crate training?

These are basic things, that you probably knew already, but... NEVER talk to her, look at her, or let her out of the crate when she's whining, crying, or pawing at it. She only gets attention when she's quiet, or else you're reinforcing the crying. Don't force her into the crate, lure her in with treats, a chewy (like a bully stick), a stuffed kong, or a meal. Feed her every meal in her crate, and gradually increase the time she spends in the crate after eating. Take her out to potty and play with her until she's visibly tired, before crating her.

That's pretty much all you can do, to cease the crying. It would help to give her something to occupy herself with in the crate, that is safe to leave with her. My friends' puppy quiets down immediately when she has a bully stick in her crate with her. You could try a treat-dispensing toy, like a molecule ball, or just fill her Kong with kibble, some peanut butter, or a large cookie that she'll have to gnaw on to get it out.

You should also desensitize her to you getting ready to leave. Randomly, through out the day, do some of the things you do before leaving... put on shoes, grab your bag or keys or whatever, and step outside just for a few minutes.

I have no idea about the "liquid"... if her bedding is soaked, that seems like A LOT of drool! Some puppies drool excessively when they're teething. Is she getting her adult teeth in? Good chewies, ice cubes, or teething rings can help with her sore mouth. When Fozzie was in the worst part of teething, and was obviously uncomfortable, I put some mouth-numbing gel (I can't think of the name...) on his gums. That worked really well.