tiger striped pitbull

Question
QUESTION: how can i train my pitbull to not cry or bark whenever i leave to work and lock him in his cage, I love my dawg like he's my child but I also don't want to disturb my neighbors?

ANSWER: Hi Tone,

You don't say how old your dog is but it is quite normal for your dog to miss you when you leave. Do you give him any interactive goodies (bully sticks, well-stuffed kongs, interesting toys) before you leave? Have you trained him to be fine in the crate for shorter amounts of time. For example, is he ever in his crate when you are home?  Have you gradually increased his confidence to be alone? Do you leave a radio on for him for background noise and company?

Jaz

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

QUESTION: he is a 1 year and 6 months. When we are home he is never in his crate, we leave it open cause sometimes he will go in to relax, but never while were home, he is very attached to me so usually he lies next to me or sits next to me. He is a very content and relaxed dawg, he never barks or growl at anytime, only when i put him the crate to go to work or go out and thats around 9-10 hours. i have never tried the music for background.He is a very obedient and intelligent dog, its just he was being mistreated with his previous owner and was bounced around a lot, so i think he feels that when im leaving that im not coming back, as if he doesn't trust.

Answer
Hi Tone,

Thanks for the follow up. It is very hard when we are gone 9-10 hours a day to then try to practice and teach a dog to be alone in a crate while we are home. But if your dog is as attached as you say, he really needs to gain confidence and independence. You start off with short intervals and build up, say starting at 5 minutes. YOu can be in the room or even the next one. The thing is he can't get out of the crate if he's whining/barking/pawing/scratching. You must gradually build him up which will be hard because of course you have to work. So work him for short periods when you get home and on the weekend. In the meantime, can you get a dog walker to come in mid day and exercise him? Do you exercise him in the morning so he'll sleep for awhile when you leave? Have you given him really well stuffed kongs, marrow bones etc? go to www.kong.com for ideas and to learn how to properly stuff a kong. Keep his mind engaged and give him LOTS of exercise and start getting him used to being alone. It'll take awhile but he'll get it with these things in place since it doesn't sound like true separation anxiety, simply him missing you when you leave.

Jaz