Should I cover my puppy's crate to stop tearing things when alone?

It's very common for puppies this age to tear things up and have accidents in the house when no one is there to watch them. I would recommend getting a nice comfy crate for Koda to stay in when he's home alone - it should be large enough for him to stand up and turn around in, but not much bigger than that. This will keep him from getting into mischief while you're gone, and most puppies will "hold it" rather than use the bathroom in their crate if they are able to. You can leave him with a special treat or puzzle toy, such as a bully stick or a Kong stuffed with peanut butter, to help make the crate a fun place for him and keep him occupied while you're gone. He will need a potty break in the middle of the day at this age, so I would suggest coming home at lunch or having a neighbor let him out, if possible. If he continues to have accidents even in the crate, or if he seems excessively upset even with treats and toys to keep him busy, these are signs that he may have a separation anxiety problem. In that case, it would be best to consult your vet as he may need anti-anxiety medication to help make him more comfortable.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Milo is adorable! Sadly there are some small breed dogs that will just not house train. But I think also that some owners give up because it is so hard. I think Milo needs to be crated when you aren't home due to his destructive nature and because he is not house trained. When you are home he should be leashed to you at all times and taken out very often. If he doesn't go when you think he should, he goes in the crate. All other rooms should be blocked by a door or gate so he can't wander off to eliminate in the house. Use special delicious treats, praise and play with him for 10 mins after he goes outside, even bring a favorite toy. He can never be out of the crate when you aren't home or when you are asleep. You can also train him to ring a bell when he needs to eliminate. It may take 2-3 months but if you are aggressive about it hopefully it will work. Also you may have to consider neutering him to fully eliminate marking behaviors. The destructive behavior will hopefully go away with age, but you can consider doggie daycare during the work week to decrease time in the crate. I hope this helps and I wish you and Milo the best!

Why don't you crate Chico while you are gone? The crate will provide him a small space where he can feel safe in it when you are gone, and it will keep him from chewing on things. 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 put a tablespoon of peanut butter in a Kong toy and freeze it in the freezer overnight, then give it to him in the crate. That will keep him occupied for a while. I hope this helps!

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. There is nothing wrong with crate training your pet when you are out of the house, especially if he is going to be destructive to the house and/or consume things that could be very harmful to him. I recommend consulting with your veterinarian about possible medications to give Spooky when you are out to make crating easier for him. There are anti anxiety medications that can help him relax at home. I hope this is helpful!

Hi there. Rogue is adorable!! Thanks for the photos! I would suggest you try putting him in the crate with a REALLY good treat for small periods of time each day. Start with only 5 minutes and then each day increase by a minute or two. When I say a REALLY good treat I mean one like a Kong with stuff inside so that #1, it is a good experience for him to be inside the crate from the moment he gets in and #2, it will occupy him for some period of time (instead of a small bite of a treat he eats in one second). https://www.kongcompany.com/101/kong-101/ Hope this helps. Best wishes.

You can try and give Harley a calming chew such as NaturVet Quiet Moments with Melatonin and see if this helps calm him while he is in his crate. I would suggest giving him indestructible toys such as the Kong toys to keep him busy while he is in the crate. When you are at home with him, you need to make the crate a positive place for him to be. This means putting his food and water in there so when it is dinner time or breakfast time, he eats in the crate. Lots of treats to reward him when he goes in would help create a positive environment as well. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

It sounds like Booker is experiencing some separation anxiety when you leave the house. I 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 put a tablespoon of peanut butter in a Kong toy 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 and pair that will a DAP pheromone collar that releases pheromones when in contact with his skin. If these methods do not help him, then I recommend having him seen by a vet to discuss the use of anti-anxiety medications. Best of luck, I hope this helps!