Apologies if this is a little long, but I am very much at a loss as this isn't true crate regression so looking for any help! TDLR: I own a corgi who is 3 years old and he refuses to sleep in a crate only at the home he was raised in. Anywhere else is fine and he sleeps great in the crate.
He is well trained minus an issue where he often wants to put things in his mouth, but we are in training for that, which is why he sleeps in a crate still at 3. Prior to looking online, I have talked to his vet and confirmed no health issues, he has zero anxiety about being away from me so he does not care if we are separated (he does daycare 2x a week), and nothing in the routine we have had for 2+ years since he became an adult has changed. We have a trainer, but I am not able to see him for another two weeks due to him being out of town and I am at my wits end.
As of these last few weeks, he will not sleep in his crate only at my apartment (which he was raised in) even after following the command to get in/settling like he will sleep. If he is at my parent's house (which is the same exact crate model and bed even), he sleeps without issue. At only my apartment, he goes into full screaming panic attack mode after quietly being in there initially for maybe 20 minutes. We are currently penned into the kitchen as I cannot trust him in any other rooms (anything corgi eye level is fair game including my blankets so sleeping next to me is a no). I have tried calming techniques/positive treating, I have tried cleaning the crate and putting it directly next to me, but nothing is working. If I let him sleep in a crate in any other physical location (another house, hotel, etc.)? Zero protest, not even a bark or whimper, fully sleeps for 10+ hours. We went to my parent's house this week for a visit and nothing for three nights in a row. Just complete silence after crate command.
He takes 3 long walks a day, plays a lot, drinks water before bed, and even takes himself to his crate at bed time without me giving his night command most nights. I don't know what else to do or why it is only this crate at my apartment only. He has not been allowed on the couch or bed so I can't say that he's broken habits (he actually does not know how to jump up!). Am I going to have to retrain from the beginning even if he's following all commands properly/sleeping in crate at other locations? If he didn't have his 'this is mine in my mouth' issue, I would let him lay wherever, but that is not an option yet as I am worried about choking or suffocation. I'd love any and all ideas as I am worried retraining won't work as he is doing commands, sleeping, etc. everywhere but his actual home crate.
submitted by /u/yunyun1028
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