Maddy: Crate-Trained!

Maddy has an issue with separation anxiety. Okay, a big issue, which I understand is not uncommon with rescues. I tried leaving her alone in the house, and she nearly trashed it. (I didn't know dogs ate avocados!) My friend Nancy Williams loaned me a large dog crate, and I figured I'd get her used to it slowly...

So I sought the advice of my dog-trainer friend Maryna Ozuna (www.dogbodycare.com) and she said: "Stop thinking about the crate as punishment, cuz it's not to the dogs, and just crate-train her. Keep it small, keep it simple, and life will be a lot easier for her. Simplicity, structure, clarity -- dogs thrive on it. She's absolutely darling, and structure won't take away that quality. Feed her in her crate, let her sleep in her crate, all good things like bones can be found in her crate. And slowly increase the privileges."

That sounded great! And Maddy was enjoying popping into her crate for bones and food and stuff. But when I actually locked her in there and left her alone for a couple of hours.... well, the crate was still upright when I got back, but the water bowl had been dumped and she was beside herself with anxiety. She was even physically ill that night....

So we will keep working on it, and I will order some calming flower essences from Anaflora... beginning with "Return to Joy" and following up with a formula for separation anxiety. I will take the essences as well, since I'm just as glued to her as she is to me.

After all, I'm the one who pulls the cholla spines out of her paws (they hurt!) when she accidently encounters those nasty barbed spikes, like she did tonight in the dark.