[KristanL]

My 9 week old Labradoodle "Boodles" has been freaking out any time we put him in his room or his crate. I begged everyone for help in my post "Separation Anxiety - HELP!" Nothing I say does any good. He winds himself up and screams, cries, yelps, barks, and whimpers uncontrollably. In fact, the more I spoke to him (no matter what my tone) the worse he got.

Today I worked from home and he started to wind up when I put him in his room to eat his breakfast. Without a word I calmly put rocks into an aluminum can, and taped the top shut. When Boodles started to scream and bark I threw the can at the door without looking at him or saying anything. It startled him into silence. He then went to another door, the glass slider, and started barking uncontrollably. I threw (not hard) the can against the slider without directly looking at him or saying anything.

The first hour it took 5 times to quiet him. After letting him out for an hour, I put him back into his room. This time it only took 2 tosses at his door. Now, when I put him in his room and he starts to cry I just shake the can and he stops. He currently has been in his room for 2 hours and has been quiet the entire time! YAHOO!!! I'm going to let him out now to play with his kitties & mommy.

I hope this helps anyone who has been having the same problem as I have.

 

[KristanL]

Boodles slept through the night at 7 weeks old - 3 days after we got him. We would take his water away at 6pm and make him pee before bed. His crate is covered in blankets and right next to our bed so he only has to whimper a little to let us know he needs to go out. There are times he'll even come back in & sleep a couple hours longer! Good luck!