Help - Houdini

[Suzanna828]

Jake apparently has some magical powers that my husband and I don't know about. As a result of his destructive tendencies, we have finally begun crating him. Following all of the instructions, we began with a month of behavior modification (mostly on our part - tuning down comings & goings, etc.), and we have slowly introduced the crate, treating and praising him for going in it, adding toys and blankets, and so forth. We have also gradually been increasing the amount of time we leave him in it. He hasn't been thrilled about going in, but he hasn't been awful either. Always when we come home he is full of extra wiggles and slurps. Today when I came home Jake was not in the crate, but the crate had been moved halfway across the room and was locked. It was the first day that my husband was going to put him in it after lunch, and I wasn't sure if maybe he hadn't changed his mind. Also, the gate we used to use to gate Jake in the family room wasn't latched, so I figured something was up. Sure enough, when I called my husband it turned out that he had crated Jake before leaving. Well, we must have some amazing dog, because the crate is still locked and he managed to get out! Crazy guy! I'm wondering if we should keep trying?! Any ideas?

 

[Tina-SCBR-NY]

Sometimes if the top isn't secured properly they can squeeze out that way. Check it carefully!
I suggest to be very careful if you put him in again. His head might get stuck and suffocate him if he tries to get out then changes his mind and tries to pull his head back in. Also de-leash him so it doesn't get caught on anything.
Check him out for sctratches or cuts.

 

[Peggy G]

Hudini -- LOL Magical Powers -- LOL

Do you have another pet that maybe let him out then the two of them covered the evidence by locking it back up so you would question yourselves as to if you REALLY put him in there before you left? If so, thats my theroy as to what happened.


Im sorry, I couldnt resist.

 

[lfeltz]

Oscar is a little houdini as well. He had a plastic crate and he greeted me at the door many times, don't ask me how he got out. Just yesterday I bought a sturdy - non-collapsable crate that is to heavy to even move. He was a little confused, but he was still in when I got home today. He doesn't like the crate either, but this one he goes in and out of even when I'm home. Good Luck!

 

[Diego]

Thanks all for the great advice. We do put in a warm "dish" thing we bought at the pet store. We'll try putting it in a pillow and placing it against one of the walls of the crate. We've also tried tiring him out before bed time with a good 1 and a half of play but it didn't work out last night. We're gonna try anticipating his time of waking up and waking him up ourselves to go outside. Also, we're gonna place a towel or shirt with our scent on it in the crate so he gets a scent of us, although I don't think it'll work much since he's just too smart for his own good

Again, thanks for the advice, I'll keep you posted as to his progress.


Diego

 

[boxergirl25]

When I got my rescue dog Able, I left her in the apartment to get laundry and I came back and the door was wide open and she was running around. She had unlocked the door and pulled it open. The lock is simple it just turns to the left from the inside, so she just turns it and then pulls on it. One time I also went to the truck to get something, and I came back and she had locked me out. I had to wait for her to open the door! She will also open her crate if both latches are not locked. My boyfriend forgot to latch both latches before and she was out when I got home. Now we are very careful about latching her crate.

Able and Kane White boxers natural ears and docked tails

 

[Diego]

Ooops!

I just noticed that I posted a message in the wrong thread.

Sorry.

Diego (needing more sleep)

 

[artemis4951]

houdini

i found when my dog zolly was just starting his houdini career that a liberal use of bungee cords, locking carabiners, and duct tape cut down on things considerably. not on the dog, :( but on everything that he used to crack into, including the refrigerator and the back gate latch, which he actually broke by slamming his head against it to get out. thank god he eventually calmed down. he could also pop his crate open. we have no idea how he did it, but attaching the grate to the crate with multiple bungees stopped that practice.
( he also used to extricate himself from a zipline that he was attached to by both harness and collar and then hop the 6 foot tall fence...quickly enough to catch up to the car before it left the neighborhood.)