crate destruction

[emilyc]

Does anyone else's little angel try as hard as possible to dismantle their crate piece by piece? He likes his crate, goes in it all the time when we're around, but once we're gone, it's a fun game to break as much as possible. It's like once he's made a little progress, he can't wait to do more! We leave a Kong with peanut butter and his nylabone, his favorites, but he's too mad to play with them!

 

[mobrian]

Jesse did destroy her soft crate but I don't think she could ever do any damage to the crate she has now.

 

[emilyc]

What kind of crate does he have now? Grodd has a metal cage type of one. It's the second one he's had. He's a little over a year-- he might have been 5 months old when he busted out of his first one. We recently had repaired it, but he re-broke it!

 

[mobrian]

it is made by Petmate. it is extremely sturdy and very easy to fold. you do not have to take it a part like most.

 

[angray]

Mugsy also tries like crazy to get out of his crate. We have a metal crate for him and we put in soft fleece blankets and a bed (to make it comfortable for him) as well as a kong, nylabones, safe toys, and a few treats. He bothers with none of it. He actually tries to dig his way out of the crate. He has cracked 2 of his nails on his front paws from trying to dig his way out. He loves being in the crate when we are home and the door is open. I can sympathize with what you are going through.

 

[ilona]

Samson, male, 3-4 years old. We're not sure exactly how old he is because he was a rescue. Sam had zero destruction issues - never a torn shoe or a ripped bed. Except that when we had to move into a new apartment, his separation anxiety flared. The moment we were gone, he ripped curtains, scratched doors, and when he attacked a 50 lb bag of dog food - ate none, but made a mound of food on the floor - we got him a crate. The first crate was fake wicker, (ralan?) from Sam's. It was a lovely crate. In two hours we were gone, he chewed a hole in its side and squeezed through.

The next crate was from a local store, the strongest they had. He bent bars and injured his nose. We reinforced the bars and went through a long process of trying to get him use to the crate. It took at least three weeks. He doesn't attack the crate anymore, but I'm willing to bet that your puppy has a bit of separation anxiety. Give him an old T-shirt that smells like you to have in his crate.

 

[Barron's mom]

Barron did well with his crate from Midwest. You might want to try leaving on the television or radio for background noise.

 

[Wendy Swalls]

Our APBT has completely destroyed her crate, and worked on Mickey's! My husband put tie straps on the front panel, which she pushed open repeatedly, and now we have to padlock the door closed because she can push her way out of that! This crate was purchased at Wal-Mart, but I haven't found any that are any stronger. She goes in fine, just won't stay in unless she has no choice. I am so afraid of the padlock because we have to put the key in a cup by her crate and if there were a fire and someone tried to rescue the dogs, how would the get her out? But if we leave the key in the lock, it could end up on the floor and then Mya or the cats would move it and we couldn't find it!!! Is there a stronger crate that will keep our little girl safe?

 

[mancin]

I also have a Midwest crate. I've had no problems w/ it strength wise. Sounds like your pup has a bit of separation anxiety. Tyson used to claw at the sides of the crate (and actually ripped off a nail doing this) and would drool profusely over himself. He too would walk in and out of the crate freely while we were home. We started actually putting him in there for about 10 - 20 mins while we were in his sight. I did not want him to associate crate = mom and dad leaving. Ever since we started doing this (and gave him a more comfortable bed to sleep on) he's stopped the drooling and we have had no problems w/ him.