- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Still yells if left. I had my shower this morning and despite having a poo at 6am, she had done it all over the dining room carpet and trod it everywhere. I am having to order a very high baby gate.
Flicka
- Thread starter Stacia
- Start date
- Location
- Isle of Man
Maybe go back to basics with house training as if she were a puppy. She'll get there, but it must be very tiring for you xx
I'd second this - for now while you're learning all about her, I'd treat her as if she's a complete novice in every way where at all possible, so in terms of being alone, house training, socialisation etc. It's a really tough challenge for you, hopefully you can get some respite here and there? But you're also a very experienced dog person, and I'm sure Flicka will make quick progress as she settles in with you. Those tall baby gates are great, we've really appreciated our one in the kitchen for Stilton.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Leave them alone in a crate, you mean?
- Location
- Sydney, Australia
The baby gates were the best thing we got for puppy Maxx. They can be used to fence off a room or area or used together to make a pen. That way we could have him with us without needing eyes in the back of our head
You are doing brilliantly Sonia
You are doing brilliantly Sonia
Atemas
UK Tour Guide
- Location
- North Cambridgeshire
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
No and yes, but leaving them alone without you in the house, loose or crated?
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Yes, that was what I am concerned about as she got her head stuck in the crate and I had to call the Fire Brigade at 4am to cut her out.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Slowly! She is getting less frightened of people and less frightened of the lead. However, my major problem is will I ever get her out for a walk and into the back of the car.
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
You have made progress even though it may not feel like it.
Baby steps
You are the best person for Flicka, even though at the moment you have doubts that she is the best dog for you.
It’s still very early days. I’m sure you will have thought of this, but have you got a friend with a dog who would make a good friend for Flicka? If you could then introduce them to each other at home and then give them plenty of ‘play dates’ you could eventually try taking them out together to give Flicka more confidence.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
A lady brought I her very quiet dog into the back yard and we just stood there while she barked and barked at it from her bed, when she stopped the lady and dog left. She then brought the dog back the following day and we sat in the garden, again Flicka barked and barked and didn't stop, just poked her nose out of the house. This lady has now worried me as she said she may not be good with dogs!
- Location
- Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
I think you have to go very slowly with her. She has to build up confidence and probably the other dog came too soon. Just wait and see how she bonds with you. Just slow steps. How long is she with you now? Give her and you time to bond. You are doing a great job!
I am just back from the UK, where I visited my sister who fosters/adopts dogs. She has three of her own already, and has just adopted a labrador/pointer cross, who is about 8 years old, and extremely nervous and shy (she was in a shelter in Cyprus that caught fire, and she was trapped in her kennel along with all the other dogs, so in addition to normal shelter stuff she has PTSD...). When I was there she really just hid in her crate (which is her safe place) and shook, although she did calm down a bit and finally took some treats from my hand. She even poked her head out of the kitchen door while we were in the garden. My sister says it will take weeks, if not months, before Chocco works up the confidence to be able to go for a walk. But she is certain she will get there in the end. So take courage, and be sure that you are making headway with Flicka, and that slowly is the best (and indeed only!) way to go. Sending you lots of virtual support!
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Sorry for the late reply - I disappeared for a while.
My two memorable crate-haters were my dog, Mama Jodhi, and one of my foster dogs in Spain, Paul. Paul was Carbón's prison buddy Bodeguero.
Jodhi came as a foster and was 8 years old, already good as gold. She was a rare one that I never crated. She had a crate, but she didn't use it, preferring the bed or sofa. She was so very good, that it was never an issue. The only thing she ever chewed up was a book that I was reading. I fell asleep reading and she and puppy Brogan were sitting in a torrent of itty bitty paper pieces when I woke up. So to be fair, she may not have even been the culprit.
And it gave me one of my favorite photos of all time, so I'm not complaining. 
However when Jodhi had her TPLO surgery, I found out the hard way that she HATED crates. Per vet advice, I kept her crated post surgery. She was fine with me at home (the crate was in with the action in the living room and moved into the bedroom at night). Three days in, I needed to go to the grocery store. As she'd been fine for three days, I felt it was ok to leave for 30 minutes. It wasn't. When I got back, she's pulled out or broken off most of her teeth trying to get out. I never crated her again, and had a new viewpoint on crates. I kept using them, but more cautiously to be sure.
Paul was a screaming banshee in his crate. It took me six weeks to work him up to 90 minutes time in the crate, and that was next to me in the car driving, not left alone. If I left him alone, he'd scream like he was being murdered, and that never changed. He didn't hurt himself at all, but was he ever loud and UNHAPPY. He took a while to house train (both he and Carbón had never been in a house), but he wasn't destructive, so it wasn't a big deal. I just had to clean up a lot of wee and poo for a bit. His family in the UK have never crated him, and he's never destroyed anything but his own toys, so it's not an issue.
Overwhelmingly, my fosters and my own dogs LOVED their crates and used them with open doors for a long time until I just got tired of hoovering around them. Carbón also loved his until I got tired of lugging it country to country. But yeah, those couple who didn't were memorable to be sure!
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
She has been with me for two weeks and 3 days. She now takes herself out to do a poo and pee and will accept the collar and I have let a light lead drag on her for a very short time. I think we have both bonded with each other! But I don't want to be confined to the house for months, I need to walk! I have left her while I walk down the lane. I think she is quite bright as I can see the little brain whirling .. Added later, her breeder came today, at first she didn't recognise him and when he picked her up she did and snuggled into him, she missed him when he went. He is a very kind trainer,
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Thank you @MellowYellow, your comment and positivity are much appreciated.
- Location
- Isle of Man
This is massive in such a short space of time. Kudos to both of you.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
Thank you @Emily_Babbelhund, very interesting. My acquaintance, who is a young retired vet, early 60s as she went deaf and her step mother came round with a snuggle dog bed and took the crate out, saying it was to traumatic for her!. So when I leave her at night she has two of Rourke's bed on top on one another in the utility room and access to the dining room (hope she doesn't eat the dining chairs and table!) and I leave the kitchen light on and the radio! She only cries for a very short time now.