Crating Issues. Long.

[billpl]

I have'nt wrote in the forum for some time now, but have visited to read all the interesting post and grab some pointers.

Enough of that, onto my problem with crating, this is new because when I adopted Chopper almost 2 yrs ago which at that time is when I started introducing him to the crate and little by little and treat by treat I thought it was going pretty well. Chopper has always had anxiety, with being in the crate, being alone even with his toys and treats in the crate he will not touch anything until he is let out of the crate. When I come home to let him out I find that his crate is usually wet from licking the front portion of the gage (I told my wife if we ever come home and find him out of his gage it will be due to his tongue letting him loose) and I guess from drooling. Chopper has phobias with, Flashlights, Lights going off/on in a room he may be occupying also if you make shadows in the light, Loud Thunders booms, fireworks, etc.

That in mind just recently Chopper has come more reluctant to go to his crate when we go out knowing I guess he will be alone. Actually Chopper has become much more smarter knowing when we are about to go out before he is even called to go to his crate. It seems when we start to get ready to go out and we all go and dress and or wash-up to go out Chopper knows that this is his sign to hide. When I call him to go to his crate he will run to his bed and lay in it with his head down and I guess just to tune me out when I call him. (He's so Smart, I think smarter then the other breeds I had in the past. He's like a recorder.)
Just the other day we were all getting ready to go out. Chopper recognized this and when it came time for him to go to his crate he darted to his bed. I called him numerous times and had his yummy treats in my hand, but he still would not move. I have done this before by just going to him picking him up physically and taking him to his crate and then command him to his crate and I give him a treat. But not this time, Chopper wasn't going for this, as I went to wrap my hands around his body, growled and soft bite me, as if to say, "No way not this time your going to force me". I did correct him for this, mind you this is the first time he did this time of reaction. I did get to pick him up and brought him to his crate, and which I gave him the command to go into his crate at which he did and I gave him his treat and kong along with his toys.
I have some ideas, of what I can try but would listen to other suggestions as well.
Currently his crate is located in the basement, which I was thinking of moving maybe in a upstairs room. Maybe more relaxing for him knowing he is closer to see us coming in from outside. Another idea/s would be, maybe instead of the crate I can barricade him in a room which will give him more room and maybe more relaxing having his toys, kong and bed in the same room. I can't let him roam free through the house cause being a little of a nervous-pervous, in the past when I tried he pooed and took an ornament from one of the end tables my wife had sitting on just tore it up slightly, he didn't even fully destroy it. So for his safety and ours is when the crate was introduced (almost 2 yrs now).
I thought about getting another boxer. Maybe this would calm him down since they would have each other. You Think? Listen if it was up to me I would have 2 friends for Chopper, but wife says NO, not for 3 dogs, trying to get a least one friend for Chopper.(I think it would be healthier in general for Chopper to have a fur friend)
I also was thinking especially for family events that maybe I could take him to thier houses. NOT! As if you don't already know, even though some people know your pet and they maybe family they still are reluctant to have you bring them to their homes. (I guess their afraid they may dirty their house)

Oh, also Chopper kinda told me, "that this crate business is for the birds and not for dogs". (I told you he was smart) hehehehe......

Any help, suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Clover's Mom]

awww, yes - we went through and are still going through a little of this with Clover. She would actually growl and nip at you when you went to pick her up. I had a thread about it and Sharon gave me some great pointers, we did take a weekend to work on it and it was going good for a little while and now Clover is back to her antics! But she can't fit in her crate at the moment because of the cone on her head, so we put her in the bathroom now...and boy does she get mad. I think it's because she wants to be with us and not alone, but when we are home she will go into another room...go figure. So we are still working on her - we did have a breakthru though, when she had the smaller cone on her head, she walked into her kennel and played with her kong!

Here is the link to what Sharon suggested.

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55068

 

[peesha]

I feel that he is very lonely in the basement. Boxers are very much social butterflies and love to be close to us.

I have not one but TWO crates in my living room during the day. At night I move one of the crates to the end of the hallway by my bedroom door as I have an Epi-Boxer and if she seizes I am close I can hear her and attend to her immediately.

I have two girls, the oldest is 2 and my Epi girl, the youngest is also 2 (5 months younger) and a rescue. The youngest when we go her ( she was 21 months) just hated to be crated. We had to put her into it. Since she has been part of our family the crates have been in the living room where we spend most of the time. Now all you have to tell her is "want a cookie, in your bed" and she is in and waiting before I can get the cookie out of the pantry. Rule of the crate is when you go in you get a cookie, never put them in a crate without a treat. Toys you must be careful with when left in the crates. If you have an aggressive chewer it could be dangerous.

There are times during the day they have to be crated and they go in just fine. When I go out I leave the TV on, just like it would be on if I were home and when I return they are usually sleeping like a rock.

We spend the night at my brothers and both crates are set up in their living room during the day and at night both crates get taken into the spare room with us.

What started our living room crating is our oldest had dominance issues and we as part of our dominance training had to crate her in the most used room of the house. This had just become normal in our home now.

 

[VTbxrFan]

I definitely agree that you should move the crate upstairs to a social area of the house. Also consider putting him in his crate now and then when you aren't going anywhere. That way he'll stop associating it just with you being gone.

 

[billpl]

Thank you, for all the suggestions and ideas on this matter. I have already begun working with Chopper re-introducing the crate. I also found out, he still knows what to do when he's told to, "go to his crate". He's definitely know dummy, but very wise. His hang-up is and probably reason the crate attitude change is mostly likly due to him knowing that when he sees us all getting ready to go out and he sees me dressed differently, is when he knows he will be left alone in his crate. So I will try to change this by, maybe putting him in the backyard as we all get ready to go out, once we are all ready I will bring him in and give him the crate command, I'll work on this idea.
I will work with him on his hang-up which it truly know big deal. I actually think it's interesting to me what he is doing with associating his crate and being alone. You really can't ignore this breeds intelligence. (I love this breed)

Thanks Again All.....
PS.Cute pup, Clover's Mom.