<p>well we have discovered that she has a very bad case of seperation anxiety..meaning when she goes into the crate she DESTROYS toys that are in there, whines, cries, pants and drools, for the ENTIRE durrration she is crated!

If I could walk out the door and go to work every day it wouldnt be so bad! but I have to listen to it. She comes out completely sopping wet and it is not pee and takes a good hour to calm her down..we have found. she is a much calmer dog when we do not have to crate.It is very sad. We really minimize the time she is crated and are working on other ways to confine her...we need to go get a couple taller gates this wkend, as she is able to jump over the ones we have now!

She also figured out how to open the first, wire crate we purchased and had a couple escapes!

We now are using a smaller, travel one and she is not able to open it!! SHe is doing very well on potty training and we will start some puppy training when I am done working! she is a GREAT dog, so fun and great with the kids! Some friends had a dog that did the same thing (panting & drooling) in the crate, they said dog training helped and she did eventually out grow it. So there is hope!! I have read that this is common for abandoned animals to have this anxiety and some never completely get over it!! We will keep on crating when needed as long as she is not hurting herself in there and keep PRAYING that it gets better soon!! SHe just needs some paitence and training. When we are busy in the house and cant have all eyes on lucy we have been leashing her up in the kitchen to minimize accidents...she has gotten much better in the last few days about whining when we are not within her sight.

and has started going to door to let us know she needs to go out! Baby steps...an adjustment for all of us and every day is better!! That first wk was rough and last wk had a few not so good days as well! but this wk I am giving a thumbs up!

thanks for asking Paul!!</p>
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<p>Tell dd CONGRATS and GOOD LUCK in grad school! you have a lot to be proud of!</p>