Skip to content

Apparently crate trained?

Behavioral Issues
  • We just adopted Maverick from his breeder 4 days ago and I know everything is still new and we're all getting to know eachother. He is crate trained and somewhat food aggresive we were told. Funny enough we haven't had much issue with food (even begging at the table- we think his past owners fed him from the dinner table) But I think he's figured out he isn't getting anything from us so he just sits on the couch. But we've tried crating him while going out a few times this weekend and he cries and cries, pawing at the door. We ignore him and leave although it's sad. We crate him at dinner time with his dinner which he doesn't eat but once he can't see us in the kitchen anymore he cries. SO! I'm assuming he is having some seperation anxiety just because it's a whole new world for him. But I don't want him to think of his crate as punishment.
    We won't crate him in the future while we're at work, but for now at the beginning his breeder suggested we do so to help him understand who is in charge. We did leave him the the house for about 4mins while we carried something to the car, and he peed on the floor by the door. I know he didn't actually have to pee because I took him out right before that. So I definitily don't want him alone in the house right now or he will most likely destroy or make a mess on something else.

    So basically, some advice on why he's doing this or am I right about it? I think I will pick up a Kong toy for him to hopefully be distracted by while we leave. I'm hoping once he gets used to the routine around here he will be okay with going in his crate, I just really don't like him thinking of it as punishment.. if he is even.

    Thanks in advance! (p.s… I have talked to the breeder about this, but was curious about others ideas, too)

  • Dogs that are happy to be crated while other dogs are crated next to them often have an entirely different take on being left "alone" in a crate. I have had two that were "crate trained" but suffered major crate/separation anxiety in a new setting. In the first case, there was another dog…...but she hated his guts......and he was not a happy camper when we crated him and went out. In the second case, there was no other dog for company, and he had major anxiety that was resolved when we stopped using the crate. Bottom line, I will never assume a "crate trained" dog will be happy left alone in a crate in a new place. It probably works best with dogs that have been shown a lot "solo" and are accustomed to being left alone in strange places.......but how many people travel to shows with only one dog??

  • @eeeefarm:

    It probably works best with dogs that have been shown a lot "solo" and are accustomed to being left alone in strange places…....but how many people travel to shows with only one dog??

    I travel to dog shows and set up with only my one dog in the building. The other one usually stays back at the camp area in the trailer. But my female did have separation anxiety until we brought our boy home and now they are in separate crates next to each other during the day. She would much rather be crated like that than alone, alone is not pretty.

  • Usually aggression during eating is when you would put your hand over the food bowl while the dog is eating or touch/pet the dog while it is eating and the dog will try to bite you. Shelters will often test dogs while doing the first one. Many dogs flunk because they will bite the fake hand and they become rescue only because of it.

    Jennifer

Suggested Topics

  • Training to be alone

    Behavioral Issues
    27
    0 Votes
    27 Posts
    5k Views
    ZandeZ
    I have "Intelligence" cubes and balls which you put kibble in and the dog has to figure out how, by rolling them around, to make the kibble fall out. But no 'extra' rations !!! Only some kibble from the daily allowance goes into them. I am such a mean Mom but my pack stays svelte !😁
  • Crying in Crate

    Behavioral Issues
    1
    0 Votes
    1 Posts
    2k Views
    No one has replied
  • Crate Training… and a Thunder Shirt???

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    18k Views
    ZolasMommyZ
    Thanks so much for all of y'alls feedback. However, today was not a good day for our family. I am just going to start another thread to talk about it…..
  • Major Crate Training Problems

    Behavioral Issues
    17
    0 Votes
    17 Posts
    7k Views
    JazzysMomJ
    As some of you may recall, I had HORRIBLE problems getting Keoki to crate – took me until he was 9 mos old {and three crates!!} before he would sleep at night at all w/out screaming and shredding his bedding. For him, the issue was NOT crating, but separation. I could put him in the crate and while wasn't crazy about it, he would lie down and go to sleep as long as I was in the room w/him. As soon as I moved to leave, he would go absolutely insane. X-pen didn't work either as he tore his nose up while moving the pen across the floor. I finally bought a large crate {-a great dane could be comfy in our current crate} and we crate Keoki and Jazz together. Jazz would prefer to be alone, but she has always been a dog that rolls with the punches, so she does fine. Keoki now runs to his crate if I just say, "Go to bed". They go to bed at 10 PM and although I open the crate door at 5:30 AM, the seldom come out before 9 AM. I can crate them when guests are over if necessary {Jazz gets uncomfortable if too many people are over}, when we go out, and all night w/no complaints. {I am home all day, most days}. My family says he still whines at the window for a few minutes any time I leave the house, which is funny to me because he doesn't seem to be particularly attached to me when we're all home together although both dogs seem to know that I am THE MAMA and they behave best and listen most to me. I wonder how often the dog's anxious behavior in crates is like Keoki - not a crating problem, but a separation anxiety issue.
  • Training Success

    Behavioral Issues
    4
    0 Votes
    4 Posts
    2k Views
    BenkuraB
    Couldn't agree more! Although, I do think that in most situations it is the OWNERS that need training not the dogs!! We frequently have people attend our training classes who think they can just come along for an hour or so and that I will 'fix' their dog! We always explain that most of training the dog is about training the owner to be responsible, consistent and to keep up the training at home. There's no point in just doing an hour a week at club and not practising at home. So well done to jys1011 your training efforts are paying off! :)
  • Puppy crate training around adult basenjis

    Behavioral Issues
    9
    0 Votes
    9 Posts
    2k Views
    NemoN
    @tanza: Well, seems that "he" Nemo is not following the "normal" thinking… remember this pup has come into his home and "taken" over his space.... so you have some adjusting to do... you need to just step back... and make sure that he is secure.. and it takes time... and you need to make exceptions to what would be the normal... try different things.. and remember as each day passes... Nemo will understand this girl is "not" leaving....ggg Not the best answer to your questions... but we have all been there... done that.... it is like a game of chance Thanks, Tanza. I think I probably knew the answer should be…"stay out of it". I'm sure it's usually the owner who needs the "behavioral adjustment" and not the dogs 9 times out of 10. :rolleyes: I'm pretty good now at not interfering with them than when I first got her, particularly if Zoni is pestering Nemo. I just need to remind myself not to interfere when he is pestering her. @lvoss: If she is sleeping in the crate, shut the door. You don't necesarily have to lock it that way she can open it and leave but he might be deterred from pestering her. Thanks. I'll give it a try, that might help.