My dog won't stop barking in his crate when I leave. What to do?

This behavior in Buster could actually be due to separation anxiety. I would recommend crating him when you are gone. The crate will provide him a small space where he can feel safe in it when you are gone. You will have to slowly train him to get used to a crate. Start putting him in it when you are home and sitting nearby so he doesn't think you are abandoning him, and slowly increase the time he is in it. He can have toys in the crate, and puzzle toys with treats in it that he has to figure out how to get the treats out. You can also fill a Kong toy with peanut butter and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to him in the crate. That will keep him occupied for a while. Finally, you can get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety.

Hi there. I would recommend giving Brady a special treat whenever you put him in his crate, such as a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter. This will help to keep him busy so he doesn't bark, and will also teach him to associate good things with being in his crate. You should only leave him in the crate for short periods right now, and let him out before he finishes his treat so that he doesn't have a chance to get anxious or upset. As he gets more comfortable with the crate, you can gradually increase the amount of time he spends there. You could certainly try a Thundershirt if you want to - it seems to be helpful for some anxious dogs. Other things that might be helpful would include an Adaptil pheromone collar, or a natural calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure.

Covering the crate or relocating it to another room may help. Teaching the "no bark" command can help but will take patience and consistency in training. If you know visitors are expected, wear him out with an extended session of play or exercise before their arrival. Praise and reward him when he is quiet and when he stops barking. Ignore any barking and wait it out. You can read more at this link: http://m.humanesociety.org/animals/dogs/tips/how_to_stop_barking.html

You could try giving them a treat puzzle or something else to keep them occupied while you are gone if you are crating them when you aren't home. You can also try starting over and slowly re-acclimating them to the crates: try feeding them in the crates and keeping them in for short periods of time with a treat or other distraction, then gradually increasing the amount of time they spend in the crate. If this is a new behavior you may want to try to determine if something in the environment has changed, like a loud noise that might be startling them or a dog barking nearby.

This is definitely a difficult situation, because you have a dog (with the mindset of a puppy) that has a normal amount of energy for his age and seems to view the crate as a negative place to be. The crate should be a place that the pup likes to go to, so there is a great deal of training that will be required to get him to associate the crate with good thoughts (like treats). Also, the crate should not be overused. If a dog is spending more than 8 hours a day in a crate, then there's a good chance that they will eventually go stir-crazy. The other thing that needs to be addressed is Ollie's energy. The best way to release this pent-up energy is regular exercise. In his case, it may be best to have exercise where he is running - like when playing fetch at a dog park. I recommend starting two hours of this (AM and PM) to start with. He may need more. Working seven days a week and raising young kids must make free-time for training and exercise very difficult. If you are able to hire help (i.e. a dog walker, or trainer), then this may be your best option. If it is not possible for the dog to get adequate exercise and training, then the only other option I can think of is a consult with a veterinarian, or a veterinary behaviorist. Sometimes medication is needed for certain circumstances in order to facilitate training. I hope that helpful for you. Good luck and I hope all goes well with Ollie.

Poor Chelsea! It sounds like she's quite anxious in the crate by herself - many puppies have trouble adjusting to this at first. I would recommend giving her a special long-lasting treat of some kind each time you put her in the crate, such as a Kong toy stuffed with peanut butter - this will help to keep her busy and encourage her to settle, and over time will also help with her anxiety by giving her something to look forward to when you leave. You can also try a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement such as Zylkene or Composure to see if this helps.

This is not unusual behavior. Most puppies will outgrow this behavior but it will take time. Try to make the crate a positive place. Feed him in the crate only. Hide treats in the crate that he can discover. About 30 minutes before bed, play with him to make him more tired. Most pets will eventually come to like their crate and think of it as their own room but this generally will take a few weeks. Hang in there and best of luck.