Dog advice sought.

[sasha_feather]

Does anyone have advice for how to get my dog out of her crate? Treats are not working (turkey and cheese). Usually if I sit around and wait she comes out eventually, but she hasn't been out to do her business since last night!! This problem seems to have gotten worse since it got cold out. Climbing in and attaching her leash and then pulling on it doesn't really work and causes her to yelp. Singing her name/calling her hasn't worked today.

I am going to lay down for a bit: it seems like when I take a nap, that is when she whines to wake me up and wants to go out.

Comments

[neolithicsheep]

Treat thing could be either she's anxious enough to not want food, or the treats are not high enough value for her. Sid does not want "normal" dog treats -- he works for honey nut Cheerios, cheesy popcorn, cheap cheddar cheese, bits of carrot, and oyster crackers. (I carry a snack mix bag) So you might try stinkier things than turkey -- bits of tuna, bits of hot dog, bleu cheese, slightly rotten squirrel. Whatever you're eating, if it's not poisonous for dogs, offer her a bit, you'll find something she loves.

If you feed her in her crate, I'd also stop that and start feeding her next to it, so she gets the idea that nice things happen outside the crate. You may have to do it by degrees -- get her to eat with just her head sticking out, gradually moving the bowl away weekly or whatever.

Have you talked to your vet about meds for her? People have been getting good response from Prozac with anxious dogs and it can help her get over how stressed she is.

[dogstar]

THis.

I'd also consider working on 'go into' and 'go out of' crate on cue in a totally different context to try and detach it a little bit from the 'oh no it is COLD out there' worries.

And maybe some warmer jammies? any chance she's cold?

[sasha_feather]

I think warmer clothes would be an easy place to start! Good idea.