In May, we rescued a 2-year-old lab mix. The dog warden found him wandering the streets in February and brought him to the local humane society. Therefore, no one knows what his story is. He was in bad shape, very thin, lost most of his hair on his back and tail. He was neutered in March, which set him back and he lost more weight. When we met him in May, his hair had grown back and wasn’t noticeably thin, a real handsome guy. He was very calm and my son was able to walk him, even though the dog weighed 10 pounds more than my 8-year-old son.

Dylan for the most part is amazing, a very calm and relaxed dog. He even allows my son to hang on him while he is eating and sleeping. He acts as if he doesn’t notice him there. He is a quick learner and responds well to commands; it often only takes two requests. Unfortunately, Dylan suffers from separation anxiety and it appears to be getting worse.

The first 2 months, he was very calm and relaxed and had no noticeable problem being crated. One day he pried the roof off his crate while I was out. Since we were letting him sleep with my son at night, we decided to see if he could handle being in the house while we were away. He was fine for a month and then randomly started to eliminate in the house. It did not matter if he eliminated before we left, or if he was home alone for an hour or 5 hours, it was random – until it was every time and then he started to eliminate randomly at night. Dylan has amazing control over his bowels, he can hold them for 15 hours – not because he was not walked or had the opportunity, he just doesn’t go. On the other hand, he can go three times in an hour, he actually marks with poo and pee during hikes.

When we are home, he loves his crate. He tends to hang out in there for most of the day, of his own accord. Due to the elimination issue, we secured the crate so he cannot escape and he sleeps in the crate at night and is crated when we leave the house.  For the most part, he goes in on his own, but then gets very anxious, whines, pants and salivates a lot. One day my son thought Dylan peed in his crate there was so much liquid in the crate.  Some days he deals better than others.

We have watched your program, read books, talked to trainers and feel we have a good idea how to work with him. Before he is crated, I take him out in hopes that he will eliminate, walk him, run with him, play Frisbee, to help burn off some energy. However, lately he just wants to go back in the house, he does not want to walk or play. I have a bone that I stuff treats in for him to eat while we are away. We only give him attention when he is calm. When I get home, some days he has moved the crate across the kitchen floor – more than five feet. When he is calm, I let him out, bring him outside but he still doesn’t want to play outside, he just wants to get back into the house. When I let him back into the house, he runs back into the crate and starts eating the treats hidden in the bone.

This is where I left Dylan in the crate.

Although we have worked with him daily, giving him exercise, only responding to him when he is calm, showing him that we are the pack leaders, he is still very anxious and is hurting himself while he is crated. He has wounds on his head and nose. Please help us Cesar Millan, Dylan needs you.

This is where I found it when I got home

Thank you,                                                                                                                             The Biltonen Family