Put a toy in the crate so that the dog is occupied while confined.
Separation anxiety is linked to canine instinct. Dogs in the wild need to be part of a pack to improve their chances of survival. When dogs are in the domestic environment, they view the family as their pack. Some dogs can become anxious when isolated from family members because they have not yet learned that separation is temporary. They may bark, whine, howl, chew on furniture and in severe cases, urinate on the floor. Crate training can be used to help your dog overcome anxiety.
Instructions
1. Introduce the dog to the crate gradually. Put a treat or toy inside the crate and wait for your dog to show an interest. Do not force the dog in to the crate and do not close the door behind it. As soon as the dog is in the crate, lavish it with verbal praise. The trick is to make the dog associate the crate with the pleasant consequences of being praised and receiving a treat.
2. Get the dog used to spending time in the crate. Close the dog in the crate for brief periods at first, increasing crate time day by day. For the first week of crate training, stay near to the crate so that the dog knows you are there. If you put the dog in the crate and then leave, it may begin to associate the crate with separation, which can increase existing anxiety.
3. Begin the process of separation training by putting the dog in the crate and leaving the room for one minute at a time. These brief periods of isolation will help the dog to understand that you will always return.
4. Reinforce placid behavior. If the dog begins to whine or howl, do not return. Doing so will teach the dog that behaving in that way elicits your presence. Only return when the dog remains calm for a meaningful period of time.
5. Rehearse the process of leaving the house. Your dog's anxiety often is caused by triggers. If you put on your coat and pick up your keys, your dog may believe that you are about to leave. Over time, these triggers are enough to cause separation anxiety on their own. With your dog in the crate, perform your routine but don't actually leave. This demonstrates to the dog that those actions do not necessarily have the unpleasant consequence of being left behind.
6. Increase the period of time that you crate your dog. You should aim to have the dog in the crate for longer than your average absence from the house. Then you can crate your dog safe in the knowledge that it can handle that amount of time in the crate. If you position the crate away from the front door, your dog may not even notice that you have left the house.
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