Reddit reviews Pro Select Empire Cage - LARGE
We found 4 Reddit comments about Pro Select Empire Cage - LARGE. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Dimensions: 41.25" H x 42.25" W x 30.75" L20-Gauge Steel Cage – This ProSelect Empire dog cage is extremely strong with reinforced 0.5-inch diameter steel tubes and 20-gauge steelLarge-Sized Cage – (41 - 70 lbs)Floor Grate With Tray – Cleanup is easy with this ProSelect dog cage because of its grated floor with trayRemovable Casters – You can attach casters to the bottom of the cage to allow for easily rolling the cage to other locations or leave the casters off for added stabilityDurable Dog Cage – The Empire cage will stand up to the toughest abuse from the largest dogs with strong latches and thick steel construction
You should get a preselect cage (http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Select-Empire-Cage-LARGE/dp/B0050ICOW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465155085&sr=8-1&keywords=proselect+empire+dog+crate)
Mine did the same thing, I got him the medium sized cage, and it has really worked at keeping him at bay. You have to do cage training. I feed my guy in there, he sleeps in there, he lounges in there. I always have treats in there. It is a pleasant place.
I leave, he goes ape shit, but he cannot physically get out of the cage no matter how much he tries. Excellent 340$ investment.
I'm getting tired again, too! Then again, our LOs are getting much, much bigger. My estimated weight is 12 oz. So, not far from a pound in month 5...... Ugh.
Luckily I haven't had sugar issues, but I'm having personal attitude issues when it comes to my dog. She's adorable and sweet, but SO NEEDY. I can't take her outside enough, pet her enough, etc. I tried playing with her and tossing the ball around, but she won't play with it for more than a few seconds and then she gets bored and literally paws at my body to grab my arms, tries to lick my face, hands... She has severe separation anxiety, too. She destroys anything we put in a crate with her as far as blankets, she has destroyed lesser crates when we leave trying to escape, learned how to open doors, learned how to chew molding on the walls in our old place... She started eating at a piece of loose carpeting and pulled it out in strands. I'd take her for more walks but the fatigue and sciatic pain will leave me limping.
She is a 60 pound absolute sweetheart, but she has escaped houses, destroyed stuff, etc... so we got her this. She is not aggressive. Just flips her s*** when she's left alone. It's the only way to keep her from hurting herself and our home when we're gone. Or when she is being too obnoxious.
Edit: My attitude issue is I just want to scream at her because her neediness got worse once I got pregnant. I of course just crate her and let her calm down, but ugh. Can't do that with a baby.
What kind of crate are you using? Our boy has SA and confinement anxiety and he escaped 2 of the pet store wire crates, including the more expensive "heavy duty" one. We decided to bite the bullet and buy a truly heavy duty crate that we refer to as the "lion cage": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050ICOW4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ew8mDb2C5CT3S
He doesn't even try to escape anymore because he knows it's futile. I've found that this has inadvertently helped his SA as well. It's like he's accepted that his only option is to stay put so he doesn't get so worked up.
As far as your severe SA goes though, it's going to be a long and slow (and potentially expensive) process. To make real progress you will have to actively work on this every day for potentially months, during which you should never leave your dog alone for longer than he can tolerate so as not to set his desensitization back. That might mean daycare or dog sitters any time you can't be home with him.
The process is simple really. Find his threshold for being alone, whatever period of time he can handle it calmly. Maybe that's 20 seconds, maybe 10 minutes. Practice leaving him for this period a few times, and verrrrry gradually increase it. Do this over and over and over. If he flips out at any point you've gone too fast and need to go back a step. So say he is currently OK for 2 minutes while you're out getting the mail. Leave for 2 minutes multiple times tonight. Do the same tomorrow. Then on Monday bump it up to 3 minutes each time. Then bump it to 5, then 10 and so on. Go slow.
Other tips are to stop with the music because it's just a cue to him that you're leaving. You could leave the TV on if it's on frequently when you're home. You want the environment to be as similar as you an get it to the way it is when you're there. Try to eliminate other cues that tell him you're leaving - vary your routine so he doesn't associate you grabbing your keys with your departure, for example. Don't make a big deal of leaving OR returning. When you arrive home don't make a big show of greeting him. Save the pets and lovin' until 5-10 minutes after you've arrived and only when he's calm. Basically do everything you can to eliminate the excitement of both arrivals and departures.
You might also want to experiment with leaving him confined in a small space like a bathroom or laundry room. It's possible the SA is exaggerated by a corresponding confinement anxiety. Our boy is much more relaxed when we put him in the bathroom with a baby gate (although he will still eventually panic, he can make it for much longer periods in there).
And finally, have you tried cbd oil? It's been amazing for helping alleviate our dog's many fears and anxieties. Even our dog walker has remarked on the change since we started him on it.
Sorry you're dealing with this, it's one of the most frustrating problems and so difficult to deal with. You should see progress if you follow a consistent desensitization protocol though. Good luck.
I'm having awful flashbacks looking at this...
[this kennel] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050ICOW4/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_EzVrxbVBVA96Z) helped me through a similar situation