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Post by suziriot on Sept 15, 2011 17:15:56 GMT -5
yep the plastic ones... or you can splurge and get one of the aluminum huge ones that are for hunting dogs .... That's what we ultimately had to get for Barley, since he destroyed the house when he was left out and then destroyed two Vari Kennels. We call it the lion cage, lol! He's got lots of comfy bedding and it's huge, so he's pretty happy in it. It was EXPENSIVE though. But it was still cheaper than the damage he did to the house and himself - tore up his face, broke a tooth. Worst separation anxiety I've ever seen, and training/conditioning have only gone so far. But Bola may not be as batsh*t crazy as Barley, so a Vari Kennel may work just fine. |
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Post by michele5611 on Sept 15, 2011 17:28:04 GMT -5
Had the same problem with Harley when i first got her. I would come home to find she had either escaped from the cage or bloodied herself trying to get out. I had no choice but to leave her out. However, the last five years she is back to being in a cage due to the sep. anxiety. Her being loose in the house or gated in a room became even more problematic. I got her the biggest vari kennel they make and no escapes yet......don't want to jinx myself.
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Post by loverocksalot on Sept 15, 2011 19:08:03 GMT -5
That is one big kennel michele has for that little girl. Does she stay in it all day?
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Post by AmyJo27 on Sept 15, 2011 21:07:13 GMT -5
Man guys...I just dont know what to think right now. Ive NEVER seen a dog act the way he does. ...Wish I knew his past.
He seems broken hearted and edgy. Like he cant rest and he just wants to be glued to Kris and I or hide out in our bathroom. Its pitiful.
He hadnt chewed at the crate since I left at break time.
I get paid next week...I think Imma buy him a VariKennel and see how he does.
Wish I knew what happened today...It worries me. :/
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Post by loverocksalot on Sept 16, 2011 6:27:38 GMT -5
Do you leave some music or TV on? I have done that for my moms dog. Do you live in apartment? Possibly noises are scaring him. Once when our hot water heater broke the pipes made a hammer noise every few minutes. This scared the crap out of Rocky as he associated the noise with the back yard sprinklers coming on. I was able to desensitize him a little of the noise so that at least he was not trembling in fear looking for a place to hide. I brought him closer to the noise and gave him treats every time the noise happened. Now he just goes between the couch and coffee table if the pipes hammer. that is his safe spot. When something scares him I am a believer in petting and talking to him even treats. I do not believe in the rewarding fearful behavior. I do believe that Rocky learns when scary things happen mommy or daddy or the boys give me comfort and love so the bad things are not so scary. He has gotten over many fears with this. Do you think an xpen could do the trick. give him more room. I was lucky to have found one in the garbage has high walls and a door. I use it to block off the pool on my deck. and put my moms dog in it when I need a break when she is visiting. Rocky has tried to push into it to see her but the walls will wobble a little so he will not try to hard. Im thinking if Bola tries to break out it might be easier to get out so he may not get hurt. IDK though. Is it possible to close off your kitchen? I once had a doberman here who had anxiety and poop and pee everywhere. She was also terrified of crates. I would block off the kitchen with chairs and she would stay in there and never poop or pee on floor. I think it was that she could not see outside from there also she stayed in kitchen in previous home. She could also not do her pace routine since that area was blocked off. Or what about if he just stays in the bathroom since that is his safe zone. Maybe put something on the door so he can ruin it. like put double gates up instead of closing the door. Rocky would never try to cross a gate. after the baby gate fell once that was it he will not even walk past the baby gate if it is leaning against the wall. I hope you find a good solution for all. Anxiety is difficult.
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Post by sugar on Sept 16, 2011 8:17:22 GMT -5
I agree with CA, leaving a radio on or some music would help. I leave the AM news on for Chubby, all talk.
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Post by catstina on Sept 16, 2011 9:31:51 GMT -5
How are Bola and Honey today? Try playing music or a book tape while you're away. Benny had mild separation anxiety and would howl when left for more than 10 minutes when we first brought him home. We put a sheet over his crate so he couldn't see Bowie wandering about and played A Farewell To Arms for him and he never howled again. Must have been a Hemingway fan.
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Post by catstina on Sept 16, 2011 9:32:32 GMT -5
We had a VariKennel for Benny and have one for Saxon. I think they are much safer than the wire kennels.
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Post by loverocksalot on Sept 16, 2011 15:28:44 GMT -5
We had a VariKennel for Benny and have one for Saxon. I think they are much safer than the wire kennels. I agree I had same for Rocky I think the wire are easier to break out of. And I think they feel safer in them. Unfortunately you cant just fold it and put it away. |
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Post by AmyJo27 on Sept 17, 2011 16:38:29 GMT -5
Honey and Bolas fine like nothing happened....
So strange... He doesnt even mind his crate at all. Lays in it when the doors open and is fine left in it alone again. Not sure what happened the other day...really wish I knew. :/
Carolann, We have a house so Im not sure what the deal was. If we were in an apt I would def think the neighbors were making noise but we live in a two story house. ??? ...Its strange.
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Post by melonie on Sept 18, 2011 2:50:37 GMT -5
It must have been a bad crate day!
Bola is still settling in, so give him time to get comfy! I wonder if someone knocked on the door or something and it upset him, or he just got fed up with being crated... but for Honey to act scared is odd too.
I came home for lunch today, and Lilly was out of her crate. I think one of the other dogs helped in breaking her out because one side was collapsed in. I made sure it was all nice and tight when I left. I came home to her out of her crate again. This time she managed to get the food door open and squeeze through it. Luckily, nothing bad happened.
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Post by fureverywhere on Sept 18, 2011 9:36:27 GMT -5
While still trying to figure out the world of dogs I'm just curious...Is the purpose of crating to keep a dog from being destructive? Maybe for multi dogs so they don't fight? For dogs that aren't super potty trained? maybe all of the above?
Our border collie was nutz with chewing things so I understand...oy if had tried to put her in a crate she probably would have leaped around the house WITH the crate.
With Ophie from the beginning-she just hangs out with the cats until we get back. We leave a couple lights on. If it storms she runs upstairs and lays in the bathroom, usually with a few cats.
It works for us but I just wondered if crating is the norm and we're just weird?
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Post by maryellen on Sept 18, 2011 11:00:33 GMT -5
fureverywhere you are settng up ophie for disaster leaving her unattended with the cats ... that is an accident/death waiting to happen....
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Post by fureverywhere on Sept 18, 2011 11:46:56 GMT -5
...yes...someday Stumpy is going to eat that dog and we'll never find the body...
I know what you're thinking Maryellen and that's okay. We have the rat up on a dresser in a wire cage. She attacks any cats that come near her cage but it's out of Ophie's reach. Then the gerbils are in a tank with a secured cover so nobody can get to them. But being more mouse-like they're prey for everyone.
Sometimes it depends on the critters too. Think that with all her fears of noise that Ophie is comforted having her favorite cats curling up around her, everyone bathes each other and goes to sleep...very peaceful actually
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Post by maryellen on Sept 18, 2011 12:20:58 GMT -5
well, i wasnt talking about the rodents.. just the cats and Ophie... but, if you want to continue to leave things the way they are thats your choice, just dont cry if your Ophie kills one of your cats when no one is home....a fight can happen in a second, whether you are there or not, and to not be proactive with your cats lives with ophie loose with them is your choice..
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Post by melonie on Sept 18, 2011 12:43:26 GMT -5
I crate because: Lilly is snarky with something she feels is of value. Like her nylabone, chewies, treats, bones, and to a lesser extent, toys. She is only that way with the dogs. She is also super destructive, and she was squatting about every 15 minutes, even after being outside to do business. That issue has stopped , but she will still pee on the floor. Hopefully I can get time to get her and Winnie to the vet next week. I want to make sure she doesn't have a bladder inf. Lilly also chases the cat, and I'm pretty sure she'd snack on her if she caught him. She doesn't react to the cat unless he runs, which he does at least 8 out of 10 times. I have a feeling if all three of them were left to their own devices, there would be a fight. I don't know Lilly well enough to know her triggers. Rhett goes in phases with his destruction and house accidents. He was doing really good on not peeing in the house, and hadn't pooped inside in forever. Now that Lilly is here, he craps in the house daily. He did recently destroy about the only thing he could get to, and that was the remote to my new tv. Winston never pee's poops in the house, I do suspect he is to blame for peeing on my bed every now and then though. He is mildly destructive, and a food thief. He is more opportunistic than the other two. He won't go too far out of his way to get into something...so long as it isn't food. I don't crate him anymore. I am just careful to make sure my windows are closed, remember to put the bread and bagels away, no bacon grease on the stove... If he makes a mess, it's usually pretty small, and it's my own fault  |
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Post by fureverywhere on Sept 18, 2011 15:42:20 GMT -5
sigh...I dunno...is absolutely inevitable that a dog is going to turn?...We've had Ophie going on three years...my Dad still insists because she's one of "those fighter kinds" that she's going to kill us in our sleep too...
Isn't it just possible that dog, cats, people can all live in harmony and die of natural causes at an old age without anybody turning on anybody? I sound like a %#@&^% Hallmark card, but really...okay, I surrender
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Post by fureverywhere on Sept 18, 2011 21:11:35 GMT -5
Oy kidz, have patience with over-opinionated seniors, you'll be one yourself someday...so what I was attempting to convey was that in my experience cats and dogs can be fine together. Some of my cats have lived with four different doggies- 2 beagles, a border collie and now Ophie. I didn't know from separating them or anything. I made sure before each dog moved in ( some were with roomates) that they had been positively exposed to cats some time in their past.
But I never did anything special...the dog moved in and this is the house, this is your food dish, this is the yard and you don't chase cats, now would you like a treat?
Maybe we were just really lucky, but none of those dogs ever had an issue with any of the cats in the house. I've heard horror stories of what CAN happen. But in seventeen years of various dogs it just never did.
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Post by melonie on Sept 18, 2011 22:46:31 GMT -5
My cat has free roam, and normally Winston and Rhett are free in the house as well. They leave the cat alone. I feel comfortable leaving those three alone. But I don't feel comfy with Lilly. it is possible for all the animals to live in peace and harmony... |
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Post by michele5611 on Sept 19, 2011 9:47:28 GMT -5
As Mary always says it is what is acceptable risk to you. For me I am not a risk taker when it comes to my animals. The question has been raised can all the animals live in peace and harmony....they can but what happens if they can't and don't. Pit bulls/pit bull mixes are more prone to dog sensitivity. I have seen many a dog who has lived with cats and other dogs for years with no problems and then one day the owner comes home to the aftermath of a fight. Never believe that it can not happen to you or your animals....it can happen to even the most responsible owners.
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I look forward to learning much here