If you have an older dog that has recently started showing signs of anxiety when you leave the house, you are certainly not alone!

It’s not unusual for dogs to develop separation anxiety as they age and if they have always had free-roam of the house while you were gone, then it might be time for a change.

To properly address this behavior, it will take time, patience and some learning on both ends.

In this blog, we will talk you through the methods of crate training an older dog that has developed separation anxiety.

Why Is Crate Training So Important?

Sometimes owners feel like “crating” their dog while they are away from home can be sad and lonely.

The truth is, if trained from a young age to stay in a kennel, many dogs learn to enjoy their private little den.

Crate training helps avoid undesirable habits while you’re away from home, such as destructive chewing or barking at passers-by.

It also helps to eliminate or minimize the occurrence of potty accidents in the home.

Also, traveling with a crate-trained dog is safer, and if they ever need to be boarded or stay at the veterinarian, being used to a kennel will make the experience far less unpleasant.

Furthermore, if your dog is wounded or recuperating from surgery, being crate trained will make their rehabilitation simpler to handle.

Why Should You Crate Train A Dog With Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety can be quite tough to handle and oftentimes those dogs have not originally been kept in a crate or kennel while their owner was away from home.

That’s when they start to see behaviors such as destructiveness, potty accidents and hear about their dog’s excessive barking.

Crate training a dog that already has separation anxiety is not always easy and can be stressful for both of you, but with time and patience they will become used to it.

Using the crate as a tool to help a dog’s separation anxiety is beneficial because it provides an element of safety for your home, and it should help establish those once good habits that they used to have while they were alone, such as holding their bladder.

There are times where a dog becomes destructive while in their crate, either destroying the items inside such as a blanket or toy, and even attempting to destroy the crate itself.

In these instances of extreme anxiety while in the crate, they could potentially hurt themselves by breaking their teeth or even injuring their jaw on the bars.

This is when you will have to invest in a kennel that is designed specifically for dogs that are rough on their crate, such as the Impact Dog Crates.

How To Crate Train An Older Dog With Separation Anxiety?

Depending on the dog, this process could be pretty simple or a little more difficult.

Overall, the best thing to remember is patience!

Your doggo will get it soon enough and if you make it a fun experience, he will probably enjoy it too!

Here are the steps to crate training an older, anxious dog:

  • Make the introduction of the crate fun
  • Make the crate comfortable
  • Don’t always make it about leaving

Make The Crate Fun For Your Dog

Your dog may take one look at a crate and think that’s not something he wants to hang out in, but that’s because you haven’t made it appealing yet.

If you can turn the crate into a place where treats are given or their toys are near, then they will be more likely to associate it with good and not bad.

Make The Crate Comfortable For Your Dog

This goes hand in hand with making the crate fun for your dog.

Let’s be honest, we all know our dogs want to sit, lay down and sleep on things that are comfortable, which is why they’re always on the couch and not the floor.

An older dog will probably have achy joints and some arthritis, making laying on a cold, hard kennel floor no fun and quite uncomfortable.

Providing your older dog with a cushion, blanket or bed to lay on will certainly entice them to spend some time in their crate.

If you can make it cozy enough for your dog to sleep in before you ever keep them in the kennel, this could help ease the process of leaving them in it while you are away from home.

Don’t Always Make It About Leaving

That leads us to our next topic; not making it about leaving. If you can get your dog used to the idea of being in the kennel even when you are still at home this will make the transition of being alone much easier.

Your dog will be far more likely to accept staying in their new crate if they have already gotten used to staying in it while you’re home.

What Size Crate Does My Older Dog Need?

A general rule of thumb is that your dog should be able to comfortably stand up and turn around in the crate but not be too large as they are more likely to have potty accidents if there is too much space.

Typically no more than 2-4 additional inches of room from the tip of their nose to their tail (not the full length of the tail though) is needed.

Do not get a crate that is too small for your small dog to somewhat stretch out, if they are kept in cramped conditions for too long it can cause pain and discomfort to their limbs and joints.

Why Is Crate Training More Difficult In Older Dogs?

Not every older dog will have difficulty adapting to staying in a crate when you’re gone.

But the truth is, an older dog is used to freedom and is certainly more likely to resist the kennel at first.

That’s why it is so important to try and make the crate a good experience and remember to have patience during this tricky time of training.

An older dog that has developed separation anxiety later in life will also resist the kennel, simply because they are resisting the idea of being away from their owner in general.

The best thing to do is simply to get them used to the separation.

Do not scold your dog and send them to the crate as a form of punishment.

This will only add to their anxiety in regards to staying in their kennel.

Does My Older, Anxious Dog Need To See The Veterinarian?

If your geriatric pup has had a change in behavior, such as an increase in separation anxiety, then you will surely want to discuss that with your veterinarian.

It is likely that they won’t have any medical suggestions, but they will also recommend finding a safe place, such as a crate for your dog to stay in while you’re away from home.

In some circumstances your vet may suggest your dog being on medications for anxiety.

How Long Will It Take For My Older Dog To Be Crate Trained?

This depends entirely on the pet.

Some dogs will take to the change much faster than others.

Just try to remember that their anxiety-driven behaviors are not due to malice or vengeance, but stress and patience, love and consistency are the best way to help a pet overcome their separation anxiety.

Some dogs can take as little as a week to become used to the kennel and others can take several weeks to months before they are completely comfortable and show less anxiety while you are away.

Conclusion: How To Crate Train An Older Dog With Separation Anxiety

Crate training is a highly beneficial tool for dog owners, especially those of us that have a canine companion (young or old) with separation anxiety.

If your once calm dog has started showing signs of stress when you’re away, then it may be time to introduce a kennel for those instances where you’re not home.

It may be stressful for both of you to change up your dog’s routine, but at the end of the day, a crate is a safe and valuable place for your pup to be when you’re gone, whether it’s a quick errand or an eight hour shift.

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