Ask Annie: Separation anxiety, tips for crate training and an overview of attachment theory

In this Q+A episode, Annie answers a question from a puppy owner whose dog is scared of the crate and stresses out when left alone, and then considers another dog owner who asks if "Attachment Theory" applies to dogs. Visit AnnieGrossman.com/ask or leave a voicemail at 917-414-2625. NOTES Products: Annie's preferred crate, the Revol (get $25 off the Revol with code SFTD25 at checkout through March 31, 2019) - See through pen on Etsy by ClearlyLovedPets - See through crate on Etsy by PrettyKennels - Treat and Train - The Toppl toy Books: Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs by Malena Demartini-Price - I'll Be Home Soon by Patricia McConnell, PhD Sites: Evolutionary Parenting article on Attachment Theory and Attachment Parenting by Tracy Cassel PhD Shoutout: You can witness Gilby and Ghost's playdates at @GhostFrench and @GilbyKriss Fun Dog Fact: The Beatles song that contains a secret dog whistle --- Partial Transcript: [Intro] Annie: Hello humans. Today I am going to be answering some dog training questions that have come down the pipeline. If you have a question you'd like answered in a future Q&A episode, you can find us on Instagram @schoolforthedogs . You can send a direct message. Or go to Anniegrossman.com/ask and you'll find a nifty little form there. So our first question comes through Instagram from a listener named B. She writes: "Hi Annie. I've just finished listening to your crate training episode. I love how no nonsense you are with most subjects, and this one is of particular interest to me. My husband and I fostered a few dogs before we adopted. All the dogs we had before, including puppies and adults slept in a crate. However, our last foster and now adopted member of the family hates the crate. He'll go in if there's food, but if the door closes he immediately loses it and won't eat. He tries to eat the bars, jumps up and throws himself against the bars, and generally cries until you open the door. We've also tried pens, et cetera. We want to crate train for all the reasons you mentioned on the podcast and also because I want him to stop sleeping in our bed. He moves around and I'm always scared he'll fall off. He was rescued from a puppy mill. And I've been following the Best Friend's guidelines, which say that some dogs will never adapt to crates after being born in a puppy mill. He is five months old. He also hates pens. I've tried covering the crate to make it more den like, but he barks and jumps the whole time. Occasionally he goes quiet. I've even filmed him and left the apartment, and he keeps jumping and barking until I’m back. "He is very happy when he's let out. He also won't eat if he knows he's closed in the pen or crate. He's very stuck to me in general... Full transcript available at SchoolfortheDogs.com/Podcasts Get full access to Don't Be a Dick to Your Dog at dogtraining.substack.com/subscribe