Dog drooling badly when left alone in crate?

[hoof]

One of my friends from work just got a 6 month old Weimer, and it has an odd problem. When it is left alone in its kennel (an extra large wire cage) it drools itself soaked. They adopted the dog just recently, and they just don't feel comfortable leaving it out in the house unattended, but the dog is soaked whenever they return. My understanding is there will literally be a puddle in the tray of the kennel from drool. I suggested they leave a radio on for company, which they did, with no apparent results. The dog was pretty shy at first, but is pretty well adjusted now (it has been 2-3 weeks).

Anyone ever have this trouble with a dog before?

Thanks,
CHAZ

[Munster]

Dont think it is an odd problem at all. Sounds like anxiety to me.

I guess I would try leaving him for short periods of time and then progress to longer time. Have then not just kennel the dog when they leave, but for short times through out the day. Try to associate it with good things.
I also believe that obedience and the dog having a job will help with this stuff. Obedience builds confidence in dogs.They know what is expected of them, less anxiety.

[Benny]

It's also possible the dog wasn't properly crate trained. The owner may have to repeat the steps in reducing the dogs anxiety. Back to the basic of rewarding for kennel, and leaving the door open, using it as a comfort zone more than an auxiliary.

It does for sure sound like anxiety, though.

[Greg Jennings]

Drooling is a well-known symptom of stress/anxiety in dogs.

[NC Quailhunter]

I had a young setter that used to do the same thing. He would be saturated as if he was watered down with a hose. He wasn't able to be left alone in the house with the other dogs becasue he would damage things like the couch. That beign said the fix for the problem for us was to put him in a kennel outside. We got him from a man that kept in a kennel and he seemed very comfortable in there. The drooling stopped and he seems like a happier dog. He is fine with all the other dogs and people. I think he just didn't like the confinement of being in the house and a crate. this is just what worked for me.

[legallyblonde]

As someone who has personally experienced separation anxiety with a Weim, I really feel there's not a whole lot you can do. Mine's almost 12 now, and after trying soooooo many different avenues, training, devices, etc. the only things that we found that truly helped were 1. getting another dog and 2. putting her on prozac. I've heard that separation anxiety is rather prevalent in the Weim breed, and it's not so much a behavior issue as a mental illness basically. Mine has had issues with it from day one, and hers went way beyond drooling in the crate.....she would injure herself in the crate. She's quite neurotic in general. She's been on prozac for a few years and it has really helped. I don't like resorting to drugs and it was our last resort, but it has made it possible to live with her, and she remains out with the other dogs in our house and there has not been an incident for years now. I'm not saying every dog in particular should go on prozac, I'm not a vet, but that has personally helped my dog. There are many other drugs and supplements out there for anxiety issues (we've tried several of them) but this was what worked for us.

[Munster]

It may be a issue with the breed, but giving the dogs age I wouldnt jump to that conclusion. Work with the dog and see what happens.

[Sharon]

Dont think it is an odd problem at all. Sounds like anxiety to me.

I guess I would try leaving him for short periods of time and then progress to longer time. Have then not just kennel the dog when they leave, but for short times through out the day. Try to associate it with good things.
I also believe that obedience and the dog having a job will help with this stuff. Obedience builds confidence in dogs.They know what is expected of them, less anxiety.

x2 Exactly.

( Could be worse. i had a shelter dog cover it's crate in diahrrea ( From anxiety) whenever she was left alone. :roll: )

[Steve007]

All of this make sense, but here's an untested (by me) hypothesis. The recently-out "Thundershirt" is getting very positive reviews in achieving its intended purpose of stress reduction in thunderstorms. It's worth a try under other stressful situations as well AFTER trying to retrain the dog to a crate as benny has suggested. Feeding the dog in crate makes sense, too,and occasional treats on entering if he's a foodhound.

But that said, a Thundershirt is worth a try.

[sully511]

+1 on the Thundershirt. I have one for my GSD for thunderstorms and some general anxiety in certain situations. It works great! Believe it or not it also helps her with car sickness. I would, like stated above, also try to retrain the crate in a positive manner to help make it a good place.

[Steve007]

When it is left alone in its kennel (an extra large wire cage)

Try loaning them a solid-sided airline crate of the RIGHT size. Dogs like security and a giant crate isn't a den. Moreover, wire crates (though dogs do adjust to them), if left out in the open (as opposed to an enclosed corner) can cause dogs to be nervous and insecure. I've used wire crates in the distant past, but I covered them with a fabric crate cover for that reason. They liked it much better.

Worth a try...

[bb560m]

When it is left alone in its kennel (an extra large wire cage)

Try loaning them a solid-sided airline crate of the RIGHT size. Dogs like security and a giant crate isn't a den. Moreover, wire crates (though dogs do adjust to them), if left out in the open as opposed to an enclosed corner can cause dogs to be nervous and insecure. I've used wire crates in the distant past, but I them covered with a fabric crate cover for that reason. They liked it much better.

Yes - or put a towel over the crate. Our dog would go nuts in the car in his wire crate - trainer suggested we add a towel over the crate - problem solved immediately. After about a month we got rid of the towel - no issues now.

[jonstclair1311]

My older Brittany pictured here was that way as a pup. She had the run of the house for 3 years, then had some issues. I started crating her again recently and was going through rolls of paper towels cleaning up saliva. She is now at peace in her well-bedded with prairie grass hay K-9 Condo. No salivating in the condo and she runs to it after letting her out before work, as she know the alternative inside is not what she wants.

[hoof]

My friend said that he switched to a smaller plastic kennel and the dog got better. I haven't talked to him in a little while to find out if the problem is completely gone.
Thanks a lot for the help.
CHAZ

[Grousewing]

I had a pointer female years ago that was a kennel licker. She would be covered in drool all the time. I would just give her a bath and she would be good as new. She was one heck of a trial dog.......