I think I was wrong and I'm happy about that.
Remember that I was having some difficulty with Callie and her crate when left alone? Upon my return she was panicky and very stressed for some reason. It's been years that she's been crated, the same crate, the same place, the same routine, etc. I
was thinking that Callie may be developing separation anxiety as she is
aging. Not that she's that old, she's only around seven.
Well, I think I was wrong about the separation anxiety and I am very
happy that I was wrong!
Over the past few weeks, she has been uncrated and left in her room off the kitchen with the side of a baby crib serving as a gate/door. Upon my return, Callie has been calm, quiet (now I know who was frantically barking until I opened the door) and very relaxed. Almost as if to say, "Oh. It's you. Whatever."
Callie is fine with the crate in the bedroom and the one in the living room where she lays while the young ones are being rowdy. So it's not crating, it seems to be that crate. But...wait a minute...yesterday as I was in the kitchen making breakfast, I glanced over and didn't see Callie in her usual spot on her bed nor was she on the chair. She was laying in her crate as if it was the most comfortable place to be.
I think she might be messing with me.
Over the past few weeks, she has been uncrated and left in her room off the kitchen with the side of a baby crib serving as a gate/door. Upon my return, Callie has been calm, quiet (now I know who was frantically barking until I opened the door) and very relaxed. Almost as if to say, "Oh. It's you. Whatever."
 |
| Callie says: "No crate for me!" |
Callie is fine with the crate in the bedroom and the one in the living room where she lays while the young ones are being rowdy. So it's not crating, it seems to be that crate. But...wait a minute...yesterday as I was in the kitchen making breakfast, I glanced over and didn't see Callie in her usual spot on her bed nor was she on the chair. She was laying in her crate as if it was the most comfortable place to be.
Idk, maybe Callie was smart enough to know that for a large portion of her life she NEEDED the crate - to feel safe, calm, protected, and to keep her out of trouble - and now she's letting you know she dosesn't any more, that she's ready to have more freedom and can be trusted :)
ReplyDeleteI was with you until the can be trusted part! Ha ha ha. It's not that Callie has ever gotten into anything, she's not like that at all, she is more of a pick-a-fight-because-he/she-looked-at-me. Callie has a very quick temper and will lash out and ask questions later.
DeleteThere is a difference between you telling her to go into the crate vs. her choosing to go in. She knows your routine and knows that the first scenario results in her being confined for a long time. When she chooses to go in to relax, the door of the crate is open so she can come and go as she pleases.
ReplyDeleteSusan and Wrigs
Oh ya, I totally agree with that. The other thing is that Cattle Dogs are very smart and I am certain that is a factor too! I am really happy that the room works for her and also that it's not a closed door isolating her.
DeleteYay! Glad to hear she doesn't have separation anxiety! Also glad to know that she can be trusted in her room while you're gone. For sure, she was just messing with you. :)
ReplyDeleteElyse and Riley
Yup, you have an ACD, you know what it's like!!
DeleteSounds like she just wants to be crated on HER TERMS! BOL!
ReplyDeleteXXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
She can be a stubborn one. None of you are like that though, are you?!
DeleteGlad to hear Callie isn't suffering the mood swings of an old dog! :)
ReplyDeleteI am very relieved. Just to be sure that everything is okay, we're off to the vet next week for her yearly check-up a few weeks early.
DeleteOh, how funny. Maybe she had something happen while you were away (like, a bug got into the crate, or there was a scary noise) and she just needed a few days to get over it? I'm glad you were willing to work with her and give her the time she needed, no matter why it was.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure what, if anything happened. Breeze and Bill are way more sensitive so if there was a noise or something, I would expect a reaction from them. Oh well. Callie is happier and doing well and that is all that matters to me.
DeleteAhahaha - I like to think she's messing with you too. ;) It's the equivalent of when dogs stare at the closet like someone is hiding in there; only it's more advanced. I like it, Callie! :)
ReplyDeleteGeez, don't be giving her (or any of them!) ideas about staring at closets or the closed bedroom doors upstairs, the basement door, the door to the cold storage...yikes! Hopefully it's just Callie and the crate!!
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