Introducing a Crate

[MotherOfGreyhounds]

Hi -

We have a four year old greyhound. We've had him around a year now. He's bloody brilliant.

However he's not very happy being left at home by himself. We don't leave him a lot. He's left 3 x a week in the morning (school/preschool run) for around 30 minutes and occasionally at weekends for no more than 2-3 hours. Leaving him is a last resort and we do try and plan life so he's not left alone if possible. He sleeps downstairs at night by himself without an issues. During the winter we've been able to take him with us places and leave him in the boot of the car (if appropriate - e.g. if it's somewhere we can go back and check him periodically and give him a leg stretch) and he's MUCH happier in this situation than being left at home.

Hence we're now wondering if he might be happier being left if he was in a crate. My friend has one we can borrow to try it out and see if it's right for him, but I'm wondering how to handle the introduction.

One issue is that I don't think we physically have room in the house to keep it up all the time (he's not a small dog and so the crate is correspondingly massive!) so we'd ideally only want to put it up if we're going out, not have it there all the time. I'm not sure if that will necessarily work, but I want to at least try it. I wonder if anyone else does this with a crate or if it's usually all or nothing with them?

Incidentally when we got him from the rescue he was "advertised" (not the right word but you know what I mean I hope) as being happy left alone. I think that was certainly the case when we first got him, but I reckon as he's gotten more settled with us, he struggles more with being left. He's not exhibiting any extreme signs of anxiety but when we get home he is usually very barky (he's NOT a barky dog in the slightest) and there's been the odd incident where there's a knocked over plant pot (kept on a window sill) or tea towel that's been pulled down and chewed, so he's obviously not 100% chill with the situation, and I want to do what I can to help him. In comparison in the car you can sneak up on him and he'll be sparko fast asleep, so (I'd assume this means) more comfortable being left.

Any tips welcome!

Before anyone suggests another dog - a) I don't think I'd convince DH, b) with increase in cost of living I'm not sure we could actually afford it (and also I know it doesn't always solve SA to introduce a second dog anyway).

If the crate doesn't have the desired effect then I guess the only other option is going back to total basics with SA training (we already don't make a fuss when leaving or returning). But any other suggestions of things that might help, please do share.

What about a baby gate on the kitchen door way? Leave his bed in the kitchen.
The other obvious thing is make sure he’s knackered out before you leave him.

We could try this but I think he'd still pace around. His bed is in the kitchen (he sleeps at night with the same set up we use when we go out), it's only the hall he has access to in addition to the kitchen (day or night). We have a stair gate to stop him going upstairs unsupervised.

We always aim to give him a decent walk before we go out. He does like a licky matt so we do those with natural yoghurt for him, but if we're out for a few hours they don't last that long. He's not a very food oriented dog so anything else (like a Kong) he won't touch while we're out (but again he'd happily snaffle it in the boot of the car).

Try the baby gate, disconnect the door bell.
I got one of those baby monitor Webcams, turns out all my dog does is sleep when imprisoned in the kitchen.

Most of the really decent dog behaviourists who specialise in separation do NOT recommend a crate or trying to wear them out etc before you go. He is anxious and you need to help him with the emotion, not confine him. Go back to basics with the SA training and pay to find a specialist in it (force free, positive only!) and you’ll get to the bottom of it. Try and address the underlying cause rather than solving the behaviour. Julie Naismith is a good place to start.

I’d get a travel crate and cover and pop it up when you need it.
some dogs feel safer with a safe space

You’d still need to introduce the concept slowly. Can you try leaving with a kong etc to keep him occupied initially (sorry if you’ve tried that)

I meant travel as in the ones that pop up and fold down into nothing. Not one meant for a boot

It's not about not making a fuss before you go, it's not leaving him for longer than he can cope with.
He associates home with something scary when alone so I'm not sure a crate is the answer.
Behaviourists that specialise in SA will tell you to start at the beginning - seconds not minutes, watch on a camera to see the moment he starts getting anxious and then next time you go you need to make sure you are back with him before then.
Then increase by no more than a third each day or a few times a day.
We did this with our dog. It took doing this daily and we got up to two hours in just over a month because you can make bigger jumps once you get to half an hour!
Depending on yours you might have a higher starting point .
Good luck!!

He's not a very food oriented dog so anything else (like a Kong) he won't touch while we're out (but again he'd happily snaffle it in the boot of the car).

Anxious dogs won't touch food while their owners are out because their anxiety is too overwhelming.

Like PP have said, you need to make him comfortable on his own - that means tackling the cause of his anxiety, not trying to mask it by putting him in a crate.