Crate Training Cocker

Question
QUESTION: Hello! My husband and I rescued a 4-5 yr old female cocker spaniel a few weeks ago, and her name is Gracie. She's very sweet, affectionate, house trained, a really great dog! We began crate training her the first week, and we did it gradually. I have another dog (yellow lab/red heeler mix) that I rescued two years ago, and I successfully crate trained her. Gracie did pretty well with the training: she would go in her crate and sleep on her own, and didn't seem to mind the door being shut. Even if my husband went into the other room, most of the time she was quiet, but sometimes she'd whine for a few minutes at first. When we'd leave the house, we'd hear her begin to whine right away, and paw at the door. We gradually increased our time away, the longest being almost 2 hours. When we would come back in the house, we wouldn't hear anything from her, unless we took too long getting back there to let her out. We always wait until she's silent for at least 30 seconds before letting her out. We thought she would get over the whole whining thing and get used to us leaving and coming back.

Well, we found out she was heartworm positive right after we got her (the foster's vet, it turned out, never tested). She just got her treatment this past Monday (09-20), and we picked her up Tuesday morning. We haven't done anymore crate training this week because we wanted to let her rest comfortably and not put any stress on her heart. She's been feeling really good the past few days, so we decided to start back up on the crate training again today.

My husband informed me that Gracie was in her crate for about 15 minutes while he was in the living room, and she whined the entire time. Our other dog was in the same room with her in a separate crate. My husband said he waited until she was silent for at least 30 seconds. He let her out into the room, and then put a gate up in the doorway and went back into the living room. There was no more whining after that.

Could being at the vet for a little over 24 hrs have traumatized her? Did she forget all the crate training we did just last week? I'm wondering if she just hates the crate and would do better being gated in a room. I don't want to put stress on her heart because she still needs to be calm and quiet for at least a month because of the heartworm treatment. I'm just not sure if she's whining because she's not getting her way and she doesn't want to be in the crate, or if she truly hates the crate and it's stressing her out and scaring her.

I know her foster family had her a few months after rescuing her from a city shelter. They had a house full of dogs and kids, and I know she had to be left alone time to time, but they would put her in a bedroom by herself. They said she was always a good girl, and they said nothing about whining. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I feel like we've gone "by the book" on everything as far as crate training, so I don't know what else to do, besides trying to gate her in a room. I want to do whatever will be best for this sweet girl! Thank you so much in advance for your help!

-Robin

ANSWER: Gracie lucked out finding you :)

Now first I'd ask why crate or confine her at all?  You're right in fearing stress at this point and she needs calm and quiet.

I'd only crate or confine if there was a problem as in being destructive when alone.  My own dogs have the run of the house whether we're home or not.  So to advise you I'd have to know the reasons for crating/confining.  And why she'd be crated when someone was home????

So give me the whole picture and the reasons for this and hopefully I can help.
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Delores! Thanks for the quick response! I'm very thankful Gracie is with us now, for a lot of reasons! :)

Well, I crated my first rescue, Blondie, only when I wasn't at home. Blondie was 3 when I got her, by the way. I started it because I knew it would help with re-introducing potty training, that she would feel safe, and I would know where she was when I was gone and that she was safe. Also, it's easier if she has to stay with my parents (if we're out of town). If they have to leave her there for a little bit, she easily goes in her crate and they don't have to worry about her either. I thought I would do this for my new dog, too.

I have considered leaving Blondie in a room by herself, gated. I know she won't destroy anything. My only thought was that if I ever did have the need for her to be crate trained, I'd have to start over. So, I'm not afraid of either of them destroying anything or having an accident. Oh, and when I said Gracie was in the crate while my husband was at home was just to get her used to being in there, and being "alone" in there. We leave the door to the crate open all the time, and sometimes she goes in there on her own to take a nap, and we'll leave the door open. Hopefully that makes more sense. If we're around, the dogs are normally "helping" us with everything, right under our feet! :)

Are you thinking that maybe I should just gate her in a small room while we're gone? I could probably do the same with Blondie also. I seriously doubt they'll ever be boarded when we go out of town. They always stay with my parents, and hopefully there won't be anymore overnight vet visits!

Let me know if you need anymore information from me, but hopefully I've given you a better picture of my reasons for crating. Thanks again! :)

Answer
That helps:)...but at the moment it wouldn't hurt to put this on the back burner until she's well again.  Usually I'd say to perservere but right now I'd avoid any stress if possible.
The heartworm healing is pretty awful.  There are times a little spoiling is in order :)

Perhaps if you just gate/confine them together?  See how that goes when you're home.  And yes, being alone, frightened & crated at the vet would have set her back.

But honestly, if she's a good girl and behaves herself when alone, I'd try just letting her have at least the run of part of the house.  You can always close some doors and kind of limit the area.  I usually only advise confining if there's an issue..and even at that, it's just until they learn better.

In this case I think it's just what you've done before with no problems but..Gracie isn't Blondie and when Gracie is all well and peppy again you can start up with short times in the crate or gated.

I really wish every question was this easy.  You sound like a really good and caring owner.
Yes, dogs do have to learn to be alone without fuss...but it doesn't sound like that's a thing with either dog.  You actually don't really have a problem.

So - bottom line - leave it be for awhile and when she's well again, teach them there are times when they'll be confined together.  If either one makes a fuss..write me...that can be stopped instantly if you know a few tricks :)
Best of luck to Gracie and I hope all goes well for her.
Write anytime.
Delores