My dog sleeps in the crate at night but panics when I leave them in it by day. Are they crate trained?

Choosing an open crate for sleep is not the same as feeling safe behind a closed door while people leave. If your dog barks frantically, rubs their nose raw or growls when guided inside, stop using that daytime setup as a test. A wound and bite risk matter more than finishing the errand on the old plan.

Ask your vet about the injury and whether pain or anxiety needs assessment. Arrange safe company or another secure setup for unavoidable absences while you work out whether distress is about confinement, being alone, or both. Do not assume a dog is fine because they eventually become quiet on a camera. Check the whole recording and what happens before the door closes.

On days you can stay home, let your dog enter and leave the crate freely. Practise closing the door only while they are comfortable, and reopen it before worry builds. A qualified reward-based behavior professional can help if progress stalls or injury recurs. The home-alone distress guide is relevant if your dog also struggles when alone outside the crate. It is not proof that all crate distress is separation anxiety.

Today, make an alternative care plan for the next absence and share the recording with your vet. Safe rest can happen outside a crate.

Sources: Dogs Trust on positive crate use and avoiding distress. Dogs Trust on separation-related distress and individualized support.