Expert: Lee Charles Kelley - 5/23/2008

Question
Greetings, I have 7 1/2 year old neutured male chow, Sebastian, recovering from TPLO surgery (7 May).  He was crated as a puppy without problems, but has had access to a dog door & 100 acres of property since he was approx 1 yr old.  Due to the surgery, he is supposed to be confined for a MINIMUM of 6 wks (12-16 preferred).  He's on pain meds & Ace(?)(tranquilizer), but if I leave the house (I have to work) he goes beserk, biting the crate and barking incessantly. I tried leaving him alone in an x-pen connected to the crate for 2 hrs & he ended reshaping an octagon x-pen into a long, narrow run & moving the 40 lb crate away from the wall, bending the wire on both (all w/ his mouth apparently). I was so worried about him reinjuring his knee, but now he's damaged his teeth (today he chipped a bottom canine).  It's only been 2 weeks - I don't know how we're going to make it. Should I just seal the dog door & let him roam?  I hate to totally drug him.  I'm so concerned he'll never be the same after this experience (emotionally or physically).
I should mention there are 2 other dogs in the household that are allowed to roam freely.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Sonya & Bubbie  

Answer
Hi, Sonya,

Thanks for the question.

This is a difficult one for me to answer because I don't know enough about Sebastian's condition, and how much freedom he can handle without doing damage to his knee. That's something you should ask your vet about.

In terms of re-acclimating him to the crate, I think the ship has kind of sailed on that already. It would take at least 2-3 weeks of feeding him in the crate every day, leaving his water bowl inside it, enforcing a rule that he can only chew his bones inside it, etc., all with the door left wide open (and preferably secured so that it can't close accidentally). You'd have to do all that before you could lock him inside it again, and you'd only be able to lock him inside for brief periods, while you were in the room with him reading or cooking or cleaning, etc., and ignoring him until he calms down, etc.

You'd also have to do work on his general separation anxiety as well.

In other words, with the kind of intense reaction he's showing to the crate now, and the time it would take to get him to enjoy being left alone in it, I'm not sure that crating him is the best solution for his recuperation period.

Talk to the vets, and if necessary, get back to me with what they have to say.

I hope this helps a little,

LCK