The Crate

For some reason, Zuzu has decided that she hates her crate.  Not dislikes, HATES!

It all started when we moved it from the kitchen to our bedroom upstairs.  I thought it was because it was warmer up there and because she was no longer in the center of all of the action.  Before we moved it upstairs, she would go in it to take naps on her own. She seemed very happy with it.  Upstairs, however, she would cry and bark and she even scratched up her nose, trying to get out of it.

So, we brought it back downstairs.  She was fine for a little bit, as we fed her treats and made it fun, and should would lay in it with us in the house with her without much complaint.  On Monday, she a short stay in it while we were out without a problem.

Then on Tuesday, we went to a baseball game, and when we came home, the crate had moved across the floor and she had scraped up her nose again.  The kong that we left in the crate with frozen hamburger, was untouched!

We spent Wednesday at home with her again, and she stayed in the crate three times without incident, but we were home.

On Thursday, I promised Tressa that we would go shopping for her birthday, so we went out.  I left her treats, and water, and gave her calming drops before we went, and made sure she was happy and settled in the crate before we left.  When Jim came home (we got caught in 90 minutes of horrible DC traffic), he again found the crate across the kitchen, the tray outside of the crate, and Zuzu with a scratched up nose.

She had bent most of the metal bars, trying to get out!

This is what my poor baby did to her nose!

I felt horrible for leaving her in that crate, and I knew there was no way that I could leave her there again.  So, we did some research and went out and bought a new crate to try.

Here Jim is, introducing her to her new crate.  With steak, of course.

She didn't love it, but she didn't seem to hate it either.

Today, I put her in it this morning and she was okay.  She had to be coerced inside, with lots of treats and a final shove, but she hung out for a little bit without any whining or panicking.

I let her out and put her back in later to run an errand.  When we came home, she was super happy - laying on the tile in the front entryway. ?????  The crate was where we left it.  The water bottle was right side up on the kitchen floor, and the gate was wide open.

Nothing in the house was messed up at all.  At least if we can't contain her, she seems okay for short periods of time.

I'm sure there will be more to follow!