Crying in crate when left alone

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We are fostering, with a view to adopting, a fantastic lurcher.
In his old house he loved with other dogs and was apparently fine being left crated with them around at night and for a few hours in the day.
We’ve had him nearly a week now and although he’s settled in brilliantly otherwise and will stay in his crate pretty happily if someone’s in the room he will cry and bark if left even for 5 minutes.

He will stay on the sofa if we leave the room though so it’s not purely the separation.

I’ve slept in the same room as him every night and we haven’t had to leave him for longer than 20 minutes during the day yet (he cried and barked for most of that time-didn’t settle down).

Is it just a case of building up the time minute by minute? I’ve dealt with separation anxiety in our old dog and had success with just leaving with no fuss but that’s hard when you need to put him in his crate first.

I really need him to go in his crate for various reasons so I could do with cracking this

There's a fab dog training group on Facebook that you can ask to join with lots of free resources to read - there's lots of help there with crate training and their guide basically says you start with the dog not feeling 'shut in' - search 'Dog training advice and support'. It's in the puppy section but sounds like you may have to go back to basics with your boy.

Yes I’ve read a couple of articles-I was just hoping there was a short cut as he’s been used to a crate before and he’s ok if there’s someone nearby. I guess it’s the same principle though.
I’ll look at the Facebook group thanks

STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO A DISTRESS FREE, FORCE FREE CRATE TRAINED DOG OR PUP BY EMMA JUDSON

Please sit and read this guide thoroughly before making a start, as it is important that every single step of this is carried out and nothing is skipped.

It is also important to understand, before you start, why it is important to crate train your dog.

Crates are often seen as a place to lock a naughty dog, or a place where dogs are left shut away for long hours, and it is true, they can be misused just like any other item of dog related equipment.

However, properly trained your dog can find being crated reassuring and a visual cue to relax and go to sleep.

Crates can be used to aid in toilet training, dealing with fear or reactivity, introducing new dogs, in rehabilitation from illness or injury. Crates are commonly used in transporting dogs, in groomers and of course, in a veterinary surgery or hospital.

Unless you can guarantee that your dog is never going to travel, be groomed, go to the vets, require strict and confined rest - something you can only do if you can see the future - then your dog needs to know how to handle being crated!

CRATE TRAINING WILL NEVER INVOLVE YOUR DOG BEING SHUT IN AGAINST HIS WILL, THERE WILL BE NO CRYING OR WHINING OR SCRABBLING OR BARKING IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF THE CRATE - IF THERE ARE ANY OF THE ABOVE SIGNS, YOU ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS CORRECTLY.

That's the start of the guide I'm on about- there's 9 steps (I think!)

I don’t suppose anyone knows if there’s anyway to read that article in full somewhere other than Facebook as I don’t have (and don’t want) a Facebook account? Thanks

@pistachioicecream I tried to copy and paste the whole thing but it wouldn't let me - I could try to dm it to you?

I've dm'd it to you.

Thank you. That’s really kind.

Unless you can guarantee that your dog is never going to travel, be groomed, go to the vets, require strict and confined rest - something you can only do if you can see the future - then your dog needs to know how to handle being crated!

Our dogs travel and got to the vets - we have estate cars with dog guards
When one has had an operation we've always managed to provide a safe and appropriate environment for them.
All our dogs have safe spaces that they retreat to.
In fact we've never felt the need to cage any of the dogs we've had.

Not many years ago nobody had ever thought of keeping a dog in a wire cage.
Dogs are members of our families. Would we shut children in cages to stop them getting into mischief?
It’s become acceptable to leave puppies and older dogs shut in crates all day while owners are at work. This is cruelty and totally unnecessary.

@Hovverry - I loathe the things I really do. They facilitate dog abuse, neglect and cruelty. I know some responsible owners use them to create a safe space and use them sparingly. But in the hands of stupid, irresponsible and abusive owners they become an instrument of torture. So much easier to pop the dog in a cage when it’s becoming destructive etc than actually engage with it. And very handy for popping a dog in while you’re at work all day so they don’t wreck the house.
You’re right - dogs are part of our families, not toys to be taken out now and again and then shut away.
I grew up with dogs - we never had to lock them up for any reason. I’ve had 4 dogs as an adult - again, no need to lock them up. It’s easy to make a safe den for a dog without resorting to a metal cage.

Just leave him on the couch

is it essential for him to be crate trained? can you not just leave him on the sofa? i have a rescue lurcher who had terrible separation anxiety when we first got him. i’d hate the thought of him being stuck in a crate whilst i was out. it took a while but he can now be left alone for a few hours at a time, as long as we leave the tv or radio on and i leave my dressing gown on the sofa for him to lie with.

He will stay on the sofa if we leave the room though so it’s not purely the separation.

Yes it is exactly that. Most dogs with separation anxiety will either:
Lie next to the door their owner has left from, or a window where they can see the departure/return or,
Lie on the sofa or a bed as this smells strongest of human pheromones and is thus the most reassuring spot.
It's classic separation anxiety, though quite mild if simply being on the sofa smelling if you is enough to soothe him.