u/New-Detective-3163

Photos of my family reacting to my dog not being crated when home alone, plus one Dog Tax.

Two years ago I posted on this subreddit asking how to help my dog who had separation anxiety and hates her crate. Well, it’s been about two weeks since a miracle happened, and it’s safe to say she has graduated herself to free range!

For the past two years Dot has been getting better at tolerating her crate. She can stay in it for an entire work day, and only barks when her crate isn’t perfectly covered, or if she wants a movie. She is a diva, honestly. She still won’t go in willingly unless I pick her up and place her in front of it, but whatever! At least she is calm and safe.

Around two weeks ago, my girlfriend (same lady I mentioned in my other post!) and I had to go water a friend’s plants and feed their lizards while they were out of town. Should be a 30 minute affair. Well, we get home, I open the door, AND MY DOG STARTS WALKING TOWARDS ME!!!???? “What the fuck???” I say OUT LOUD. I ask my girlfriend, “Did you lock the crate?” She tells me, “Ohhh, I only did the top latch….” She done houdini’d.

I asked the neighbour if Dot bothered them this evening, she says she didn’t hear anything. Weird…

A few days later, my girlfriend pushes me to go to the gym with her. I’m worried about crating my dog with the heat today, so I said, let’s leave only the top latched, so the dog can get out of her crate if she needs to (ETA: DO NOT DO THIS! This was a dumb idea and she could have gotten stuck and/or died trying to get out).

And sure enough, she does get out!!! I have no idea if she just wanted to tempt fate, or if if she really wanted out, or what. But someway, somehow, she was out.

We come home, ask the neighbours again, did she bother them? The neighbour says she heard some barking but it calmed down quickly! I figured that the ripped open treat bag was the answer to that! But honestly, I could never be mad at her, my baby girl was growing up!!! It felt like she was telling me “I’m all grown up now, you can stop with the box!”

So I listened! A few days later (last Sunday), I have to go grocery shopping. I decide, fuck it! I move the dog cam into the living room, and I go. I leave out the back door, because I park in the back, and I know she barks if she can see me in the windows in the front (i.e. every time I do laundry!). 

I keep the webcam open on my phone, and decide that the second she starts barking, I will turn around and go home. But… SHE NEVER DOES! She mopes at first, staying at the door for around twenty minutes, I hear some whining. And then, poof. She walks over, and takes a nap on the couch!!! WHAT?? I’m gone an hour and a half. During this time she paces a little, hears people outside our front door and maybe thinks it’s us. Looks out the window, doesn’t bark at anything??? Mostly naps!!! I’m shocked. 

I tell my girlfriend. I encourage her to try it, and tell her the steps I did. She tries it, but accidentally leaves out the front door, and sure enough, Dot starts barking at her as she leaves! She starts pacing, and then barking at nothing! Luckily, I was almost home, so it was an okay time for an accidental experiment. My girlfriend tries it again the next day and leaves out the back, and not a peep!

Last night, we both go to the gym again. This is the first time we’ve BOTH left her at the same time. And she takes it like a champ! Two hours of big chilling!!

Today, she was home alone for four hours! Absolutely vibing!!

Tomorrow, we are trying six hours. 

I am not sure what the heck happened to my dog, but I am very happy for her! She is no longer destroying my blinds, no longer barking at nothing! She is an angel!

She is a rescue, so I can’t help but think maybe she is just finally adjusting to her new life! She was already able to be uncrated at my mom’s house in the country, so maybe this was just a natural progression for her. 

Anyway, just wanted to share a win!