Duke and The Crate...

[DukeNukeM]

so we've had had Duke for about a month, my girlfriend says the people we got Duke from had been crate training him. We have been working with him to make his crate a happy place and he has no problem going into the crate, he would sleep in it, he would go into it for a couple hours while i slept after my gf went to work and he is still okay......until we close the door, once the door closes he starts whinning barking and trying to escape the crate...we have left him alone in it three timese once for about 35 minutes and came home and he was fine and relaxed the second time for about 50 minutes again we came home fine and he was relaxed. The third time was for about 3 hours, this time his music shut off after and hour (i pressed sleep instead of turning the radio on). When we got back he had broken free from the cage, now everytime we close the door he just goes crazy. He is 7 months old, and im going to be starting school again next week so now were just not sure what to do?

also we have a wire crate, and are debating also getting a second crate one for the bedroom(current) and a second one for in the living room, I am worried he will hurt himself on the wire crate, has anyone had success with the plastic crates? we are even considering a indoor kennel like a 4x4 one to put in the basement? what do you all think?

 

[DukeNukeM]

well we got a plastic crate now we have the one in the bedroom and the wire one in the living room, he is great for sleeping in it at night, and he cant break out...he has been doing pretty good up until last week, at night or when he knows we arent leaving he is fine but during the day when he knows im going to school or my gf is going to work he doesnt even go in the bedroom he just freezes up in the hallway, and we have to carry him in, he is 8 months TODAY!!

 

[BostonGeorge]

So he sleeps in it at night, and how long is he in it during the day?? How much exercise is he getting?

I would put his toys and possibly some cookies in there for him to find...it needs to be a happy place. What steps have you taken to getting him used to the crate?

 

[DukeNukeM]

he sleeps in it all night no problem he usually has a toy and we give him a kong which he doesnt usually finish and usually ends up under the crate pad from all the moving he does, we done we give him treats and lots of praise when he goes in the crate, during the day if he knows were not leaving he will go in the crate and lay down, i can touch the treat bag and he will run in...so i dont know if the crate is the issue as opposed to maybe just not liking being alone.

we walk him an 30-1hr in the am and again in the evening, and take him to the dog park a couple times per week, so I think he gets enough exercise. on a side note about the dog park
(he likes to try to play with one dog and he will sit and bark in the dogs face then bite are there neck a bit to try to engage them to play, is this normal? i dont feel like it is acceptable but i think he just wants to play cause he doesnt do it aggressively...how can i correct this?)

Even just 10 minutes ago he went in the crate and laid there waiting for a treat, its just when he knows we are leaving, and he never gets left for more then 5 hours....he is lying in his living room crate as I type this....so I dont know.....

 

[Toffee]

I have a similar problem. I put Toffee in a plastic crate when I go to school in the mornings. She's in the crate for an hour to three hours, depending on my schedule. The second I walk out the door, she begins howling and barking. When I get home, she's actually moved the crate across the room. She's knocked over plants and pushed furniture out of her way while still in the crate. There's not really a pattern to her movement (like trying to go outside or get a drink), she just goes wild. I don't give her attention when she does this. I move the crate back to its original position and let her outside to use the bathroom. I'm really afraid she's going to hurt herself. Is there anything I can do to correct this?

 

[Jerrybobby]

Maybe you are getting nervous at those times and he senses it and that is when he freaks out. I do believe dogs pick up on our energy, and if you are expecting him to lose it he will. Are more relaxed at other times?

Perhaps you should try your typical routine on the weekends when you are not leaving and see how he does? Or, start the procedure earlier, leave for five minutes the first day and come back and just chill in the house for another 5 before leaving again. Increase the time until you don't come back.

Another thing that you likely already know is never respond to your dog when they are whining or barking or exhibiting bad behavior in their crate, this will only serve to reward that behavior and encourage it in the future.

When we took our 9 week boxer girl home from the breeder in her crate she went nuts and we just ignored her until she crashed in 30 minutes. From that point on any time she would wine we have ignored her until she is sitting or laying quietly. It seems to have worked as she is really great in her two crates.

Good luck!

 

[jbeauregard]

Fenix hated his kennel! He would bark to the point where there would be PUDDLES of drool all over the floor when we got home. He also would bite at the crate and broke a few of his nails. This was a nightmare for all of us. We baby gated him off to the kitchen/dining room with a kong, his toys, and a radio and he did wonderful. Some dogs just do not like to be confined. Eventually he jumped the gate and was sound asleep on the couch in the other room when I got home from work! Since then, he has had full run of the house with no problems.