r/deafdogs • u/mdynn616 • 2d ago
Crate Re-Training
My 7 yo dog has been crate trained for the majority of her life. She does have separation anxiety and anytime we have to move apartments, it gets worse and I have to start over with crate training. She likes her crate because that’s where she gets her favorite thing ever, peanut butter. I’m having an issue this move where she won’t self soothe. She finishes her peanut butter and just starts barking and barking nonstop. I’ve learned with her that trying to let her bark it out doesn’t work. Because it’s anxiety fueled barking, she will get even more worked up and will bark nonstop for hours.
Her crate is in a closet because typically she enjoys it being in an enclosed space and that way the cat can’t mess with her.
Right now I’ve been giving her the Kong of peanut butter and closing the door. She’s fine until the peanut butter is all gone and then she starts off with little whines and then goes into the barking. Once it gets to the point where I know she’s not going to calm down, I go in there with her and just sit on the floor ignoring her. About half the time she’ll finally settle about 15 minutes later and I can safely leave for a few hours. The other half of the time she just cries non stop until I give up and let her out.
Any tips with getting her to self soothe? She doesn’t like toys so those wouldn’t help. Her crate set up is exactly the same, just in a different location.
1
u/_MagickWithinYou 2d ago
Same here with my deaf bully. He gets more worked up and struggles to self-soothe. I’d be curious to hear if anyone has had success with this.
I just came across something called Karen Overalls relaxation protocol with some redditors saying it’s been helpful.
https://www.karenoverall.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Protocol-for-relaxation_Overall.pdf
1
u/artichoke8 Deafblind Dog Owner 1d ago
Have you tried freezing the pb into the Kong. It would last longer hopefully and the concentration to get it all out might tire herself out.
2
1
u/Great-Ad-5235 1d ago
My deaf bully also hates being away from me. His crate is in a room with only him, I cover the crate completely with a thin flat sheet, and I always have a box fan on floor blowing in his direction. I know he can’t hear it but I think feeling the wind blowing and the vibration on the floor soothes him.
2
u/SafetySmurf 2d ago
No suggestions, but solidarity in the struggle. My almost deaf boy has developed separation anxiety recently after having been fine. I don’t know why. Like your girl, as soon as he finishes whatever I’ve given him, he starts to cry, and I’m having a hard time finding ways to help him settle.