Rehabbing a rescue who fears backyard and crates?

Question

I have a three year old female miniature schnauzer.  I adopted her from the local Humane Society a couple of months ago.  We are her third 'forever family' as she already been surrendered twice to shelters by people who didn't care enough for her to bring her with them when they moved. From my discussions with the people at the Humane Society her last family kept her outdoor 24/7 for over a year.  The last month they kept her in a crate pretty much 24/7 because they were too busy with preparing for their move out of country.  The Humane Society had to completely shave her to remove all the feces stuck to her badly matted coat.  When I saw her at the shelter I couldn't bare to leave that poor dog there so I took her home and made her mine.

In any case,  her prior experience with her old families has made her very hesitant about going into the backyard (I guess she fears that she will be left outside and not let back in) and completely terrified of crates, kennels, and cages.

Any useful tactics and strategies I can use to make her more comfortable with the backyard and accepting of using a crate for short periods of time? 

Any advice is appreciated.

? · Accepted Answer

I have a rescue that has some odd things we have had to work around so I can appreciate your challenges :)  I am thinking once she realizes that neither of those places are going to be "exile" anymore she will be fine.  With the backyard I would try and have some toys and playtime out there with her if she is up to handling it and leave the backyard trips short and never let her out there alone at least not till she works through this.  Walk her on a leash around the perimeter and make it fun and you know the calming voice and some toys randomly as you walk. The crate, I would put something extra tasty in there with her every time you put her in it and do that randomly throughout the day while you are there and leaving her in only a short amount of time again, so she realizes she will not be in there forever with no human contact.  Good luck to you and kudos for saving her and giving her a permanent forever home!

Anonymous · Answer

She was most likely thrown in her crate and chained up in the back yard.

To make her more comfortable in the crate, try purchasing a larger one and pad it with blankets/towels/sheets and throw some toys in there, along with a treat. Do not force her into there or shut the door, she will get scared. Do not become discouraged if she doesn't follow right away, give her some time. If she goes in pet her and say "good girl" and give her treats. A crate should be looked at as a place for safety, not punishment. If she really fears the crate don't force her, use a baby gate instead.

As for the back yard, try throwing some toys and treats into the yard and step out and slowly encourage her out. Again, do not force her out. This will all take time and patience but it will pay off, I promise. Shelter dogs are the best, they really are. Thank you for giving her a forever home and a second chance!

greygarious · Answer

Why must you crate her at all, when you know that confinement causes her understandable turmoil?
Put her in the bathroom with a baby gate or closed door if absolutely necessary. Make sure she has a bed, water, food, and toys/chews in there.  A radio would probably help, too.

Take her into the yard on a leash, with treats, and do rewarded obedience commands there with her.
Fetch if she likes that game.  You might be able to gradually replace her bad memories. Don't leave her there on her own, or tie her outdoors.

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Rehabbing a rescue who fears backyard and crates?

3 Answers