By Mikkel Becker, vetstreet.com
Q. My dog hates to be in her crate. Do you have any tips for getting her to go inside and stay in the kennel?
A. Crate training can be challenging for dogs who already have negative associations with kennels. The trauma of being left alone in a confined area often outweighs the lure of treats. There may even be a component of separation anxiety tied to their distress.
Related: See Video on How to Crate Train Your Dog
Start by talking to your veterinarian about the possibility of separation anxiety. If you have the option, take a video recording of your pet when she's home alone and show it to your veterinarian. In many cases, canines with separation anxiety do better when they're not crated.
Once you've received guidance from your veterinarian about how to properly address separation anxiety - or rule it out altogether - you can proceed with retraining your pet to go inside the kennel. A vet may
Read More »from How to Crate Train a Fearful Dog in 5 Steps

