Thank you for adopting. To answer your question, yes I would consider using the crate again. We use crates with our dogs throughout their lives. When our dogs get older we use the crate less, but we still try to use it from time to time. I know you mentioned you can’t afford a pet behaviorist on a regular basis. I think if you let them know your financial situation maybe they can give you a plan that you can work on over a period of time. It’s tough for me to make any kind of recommendation without actually meeting your dogs, but if you have any other specific questions please let me know and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.

I could use some advice. 2 years ago my husband and I adopted 2 sibling girl puppies about 4 months old that had been rescued from an abusive household several hundred miles from here.
They were at the foster house for about 6 weeks before we adopted them and they were so traumatized from their experience that it took almost 6 months to be able to collar and leash them for a walk. During this time it became apparent that my husband and I had drastically different ideas about training the dogs. I refused to use negative reinforcement techniques because the dogs were terrified of everything. When he suggested hitting one if the dogs i decided to divorce him. The divorce is final and he will be moving out in 3 weeks.

Heres the problem. During the past 2 years, the dogs witnessed a lot of loud arguments which scared them and put up with alot of inconsistency from my ex. He was never consistent with feeding locations, separation, feeding times etc.

I tried to be consistent but sometimes it just wasnt possible. The good news is the girls have become the sweetest companions, but i sense that one dog, Rosie, is a bit afraid of her sister Penny. She is also less self confident. There are certain things that trigger her, riding in cars, the vets, hearing her sister bark, and most of the time she can not be out of sight from her sister.

Theyve never spent a night apart, Theyve never stayed overnight anywhere since we adopted them

i have a lot of trouble spending one on one time with them because of this. After their first 6 or so weeks with us, the crates were put away. I realize now this was a big mistake. They both sleep in bed with me.

Once my ex is out and the house will be calm and orderly, should i start using the crates again? I really think Rosie, the more submissive, fearful one, would get so much benefit out of extra time alone with me.

Thanks for reading all this. Its a complex set of circumstances.

I’d do anything for these girls. Just not sure what direction is best for them. Im on disability so am with them 24/7. I have been working off and on with a pet behaviorist who has them on anti anxiety meds but havent been able to afford consistent training sessions.

Hi Jill
My husband and I just adopted heeler/Collie also…we are also retired so have round the clock care. Any advice?? Our only problem right now is they have both turned to eating everything in their fenced yard.. especially rocks!! Any advice from anyone…HELP.
We have mesh net muzzles coming and I hope this isn’t a long term habit.

At 4 months they decided to come home with us and stayed. Originally we were going to take a boy/girl pair but ended up with all four. Had we not visited regularly on our walks things might have been different, but having bonded with mom, the puppies, we are accepted from day one.

We don’t crate, we communally feed in multiple bowls and everyone takes turns getting human attention and all get alone one on one time while the rest play.

As puppies they play bitey face, but no one has draw blood, it’s more show, as they have learned limits, so if someone nips a ear too hard a yelp and the older dog steps in takes on an authoritarian role as needed.

Three months down the road and we are doing fine with a acre plus yard and a fence so the are contained from neighbors and livestock.

I disagree with a lot of the info presented here in part, but mainly it ignores some of the preplanning we took before letting them come home with us, the play visits and the getting to know each other over a longer span than just bringing one or more home at once. Momma dog had to allow us access before they were weaned and that only happened from a prior bonding of several years.