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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Dog crates/cages?

14 replies

redheelsandwine · 05/06/2011 17:46

Hope someone can help, please. We got our dog on Friday from a farm. Hes a 7mth old border collie and was bought for breeding and herding sheep, but has it is a petting farm, they were just to busy to train him and he was locked in barn for most of the day. We took him on a trial basis. Hes been good at night, not messed the house (hes happy to go in the garden for this), hes brill on the lead. The only prob is when we leave him alone in the house. We left yesterday for 1 hour and came home to find he had been scratching the internal doors like mad, so DH said we should get him a cage (he works with somone who recommended the cage also). We have tried to put him in it and he just panics and wets himself. We managed to get him in it and we left him in there for 10mins. He was shaking for most of the time. We are going to have another go, but leave him in for 15-20mins this time. I was hoping someone could give us some tips or advice. He will have to go in tomorrow has me and DH are both going to work, he will be alone for 4hrs.

Thank you xxx Sorry for long post xx

OP posts:

BoscosBox · 05/06/2011 17:52

Don't force him into the crate , tempt him in there with food / toys etc and leave the door of it open so he knows he can come and go freely .
Most likely he has fears of being locked up in the barn poor dog has been neglected imo .

BoscosBox · 05/06/2011 17:55

you might need to get help from a behaviourist to deal with his separation anxiety .

Original poster

redheelsandwine · 05/06/2011 17:57

Thanks Boscos. We also felt he was being neglected, we talked and talked about it before we rang them to say yes we would have him. Hes frightened of his own shadow bless him. x

OP posts:

minimu1 · 05/06/2011 18:23

Border collies do not do change that well.

If you think about their natural lifestyle they stay on the same farm day in and day out,usually see the same people, they may be herding sheep but in the same location most of the time.

BC can be very anxious and also at 7 months is a high fear time in puppies anyway. DO use a crate but it needs to be a place of comfort and relaxation not imprisonment. I expect by putting him in like you have you will find it hard to make him relax in the crate. I would move the location change the bedding and hope you can fool him but I would not bet on it.

Throw yummy treats into the crate, usually I would say feed him in there but as he is already terrified of it I doubt that he will eat - if he does then great feed him in the crate. DO not lock him in or force him in.

DO you have to leave him for four hours tomorrow - that is an awful long time for a new dog to be left - can you take some holiday leave or get someone to sit with him. I think you could be making more issues that you will have to unravel at a later date.

He has probably not been neglected but this is just all so new to him being out in a barn and then suddenly in a house with new people, new smells - he is terrified.

I am feeling absolutely awful that you will be leaving him on his own in a high state of anxiety for four hours - he will be going crazy with fear and anxiety. Imagine your most scariest thing and then force yourself to deal with it for four hours on your own. Please can you try not to let this happen. Where abouts are you?

BoscosBox · 05/06/2011 18:23

Lots of TLC and patience and hopefully he is young enough to put his past behind him . I would seriously consider reporting his previous owners to the officials for neglect tbh . They will most likely carry on and do this to another poor dog .

minimu1 · 05/06/2011 18:25

Boscos a BC would be happier in a barn to which he is used to then being throw into a new situation and being forced into a crate and locked in until he wet himself through fear and then to be left for 4 hours!

BoscosBox · 05/06/2011 18:28

I agree Minimu1 .

Could you get someone to dog sit for a few weeks op until he settles in ?

Original poster

redheelsandwine · 05/06/2011 19:33

Minimu1 I feel so awful for having to leave him, trust me I do. I dont know what to do. Have you had BC's? Your advice has been v.much appreciated.

OP posts:

2gorgeousboys · 05/06/2011 19:40

No experience of BC's but last year we adopted a lab who was scared to detah of everything. According to the owners he needed rehoming because he was a trained gun dog but was scared of guns . For the first few weeks we left him for increasing periods of time. DH and I would alternate leave and working from home so he was only left for 15 minutes the first day and so on. We did not put him in a cage at first and put up with the scratching of doors etc as we wanted him to feel at home.

Now 12 mths on he is a happy settled member of the family who retreats to HIS cage when he wants space from DS2 and a little peace and quiet.

minimu1 · 05/06/2011 19:56

Yes I do have border collies and I also have fostered many. He will be a fantastic dog but he will need to find his feet and he will do that in his own time.

I wish I could think of a solution for tomorrow - where does he sleep at nights and what is like at nightime?

Original poster

redheelsandwine · 08/06/2011 21:53

Minimu, sorry Ive not been on here for a few days. Marley has been great! Night times he is fine just goes to sleep, and the mornings when he has been left he has been brilliant, DH popped back to check on him and which has helped. Hes been going out 3 times a day which I think has been helping, because he is tired out. I work 3 days a week, so im at home with him now for next few days. Hes really coming out of his shell and is so loving.

OP posts:

LadyButterfly · 08/06/2011 21:59

We use a crate when stay with friends/holiday cottages as our little darling has a habit of weeing on other peoples carpets at night, never at home, though she is shut in the kitchen. We introduced it by moving her bed and toys into it and giving her treats in it, keeping the door open for a week or so. She loves her bed and settled very quickly into it, but then although rehomed she did not have the traumas your dog had. I think the crate gives her security in strange houses secure.

Original poster

redheelsandwine · 08/06/2011 22:22

We have kept the cage open and he can go in if he wants, but he wont go near it even with toys etc in it. I think we will end up putting it on ebay to be honest. Just hope he continues to settle in OK x

OP posts:

wildfig · 08/06/2011 23:59

It might be too late now, but have you tried covering the sides with a blanket, so it feels more like a cave than a cage? It makes it feel more secure and cosy, and might encourage him to regard it as a safe place he can go to, with the door open, rather than somewhere you're trapping him.

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