Just wanted some info as far as crate training. Bo is 3 mos old doing well in his crate- but how long should I keep him in the crate during the day? I stay at home so he is in and out during the day, but because of the kids (feline & skin) I end up keeping him in the crate more than I would like to. Each day he is out a little bit more. Is there any info as far as time spent in the crate? Also, anybody who has info about feeding in the crate would help. I had read a book saying that you should feed in the crate, however my vet told me that she fed her Boxer in the crate and ended up with food aggresion. I have no other dogs only three cats and three young kids, I can't afford to let him develop food aggresion-I am also at a loss as to where to feed him if I don't feed him in the crate. Any help would be great!
New Pup & crate & kids & cats
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EricaG
Completely Boxer Crazy
I might be wrong, but from what I've read, the whole feeding them in the crate thing is to reinforce the fact that the crate is a good place. If Bo already likes his crate, then you'd probably be ok to not feed him in there. As for where to feed them, we just have Sascha's bowls in the kitchen, and she seems to like them there. We also try to feed her by hand some, and when she's eating, we'll take her bowl away from her for a moment, and then if she's calm when we do(which she always is) we praise her and give her back. Both of those things are supposed to help avoid food aggression, because it shows that you give the food, and you can take it away if you want to...but also that if you take it away, they don't need to worry, because they will always get it back. Hope that helps!
Erica
Erica
PatrickJamie
Boxer Pal
So what if the dog freaks out when you take the food away? If you don't give it back because she's freaking out, then you're giving her good reason to be freaking out - you don't give the food back. But then if you do give the food back, you're reinforcing the freaking out because you're rewarding her for freaking out.EricaG said:
I guess you'd have to get her to do a nice sit/stay and then give it back. Alright, I guess it's not as bad as I thought at first.
choppermomma
Boxer Pal
As far as how long they should spend in the crate... I read somewhere (and of course I can't remember where) that however long you leave them in the crate (say two hours) when you let him out he should spend at least an hour to run, play and exercise before you put him back in. Of course if you only come home for a quick lunch potty break, you can only let him out for so long.
Chopper loves his crate or as we call it his "penthouse" and fortunately my schedule allows for him to be out and about most of the day. He only has about 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon that he needs to be crated due to work. However we have had instances when he was in for 7 hours with no accidents. We also sometimes put him in his crate so we can get some work done around the house and can't supervise. He tends to find any little thing that is left around and either shreds it or brings it to me for a present. We have a fenced backyard and he loves to play outside and run like mad.
We do not put his food in the crate. He eats in the kitchen and food only lasts about 2 minutes so we don't have it around for long. His water is in the kitchen too, but sometimes I am afraid he doesn't get enough water so I have a water dispenser on the door of the kennel which he loves.
Chopper loves his crate or as we call it his "penthouse" and fortunately my schedule allows for him to be out and about most of the day. He only has about 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon that he needs to be crated due to work. However we have had instances when he was in for 7 hours with no accidents. We also sometimes put him in his crate so we can get some work done around the house and can't supervise. He tends to find any little thing that is left around and either shreds it or brings it to me for a present. We have a fenced backyard and he loves to play outside and run like mad.
We do not put his food in the crate. He eats in the kitchen and food only lasts about 2 minutes so we don't have it around for long. His water is in the kitchen too, but sometimes I am afraid he doesn't get enough water so I have a water dispenser on the door of the kennel which he loves.
deesboxers
Boxer Booster
In the crate !@#$?
Justice loves her crate, she will not eat outside the crate, and quite often she will go in with-out being prompted. When we go to bed at night she heads for her crate, and doesn't come out until I wake her in the morning for potty time befor I leave for work.
Lt. on the other hand will not go into a crate for any reason. He will go without food or water even if it is at the very front of the crate, with out a door. He loves to be outside, witch here in georgia, is not much of a problem, except in the mid of winter. He would rather sleep on the porch than inside, he drove me nuts waking me to go out, repeatedly, for the first week I had him. Finaly I figured I would let him stay out until he wanted in, which made for a uncumpfy night on the couch! He never once wanted in, I got up several times through the night and checked on him, even opened the door and all he did was look up at me, then turned back and went back to sleep. End problem with Lt., he stays out unless it is under 45 degrees, or is shivering due to cold. He will knock to come in during storms, cold, and extreem heat.
I've noticed no food agression problems with Justice, but then, I test her about every 4 days. How ever she will not let any other animal, cat, dog, or other near her food or water bowls even when empty. She plays excellent with them, and is the first to share her toys, just not HER BOWLS !!!!!
I think time in the crate is really up to the dog itself, some love 'em, some tollerate 'em, some just won't have anything to do with 'em. Just make sure they get thier excercise, potty breaks, and training time. Even training them to stay alone for a normal work days time.
Having a boxer is great, knowing your boxer is grand, loving your boxer is heaven!
Justice loves her crate, she will not eat outside the crate, and quite often she will go in with-out being prompted. When we go to bed at night she heads for her crate, and doesn't come out until I wake her in the morning for potty time befor I leave for work.
Lt. on the other hand will not go into a crate for any reason. He will go without food or water even if it is at the very front of the crate, with out a door. He loves to be outside, witch here in georgia, is not much of a problem, except in the mid of winter. He would rather sleep on the porch than inside, he drove me nuts waking me to go out, repeatedly, for the first week I had him. Finaly I figured I would let him stay out until he wanted in, which made for a uncumpfy night on the couch! He never once wanted in, I got up several times through the night and checked on him, even opened the door and all he did was look up at me, then turned back and went back to sleep. End problem with Lt., he stays out unless it is under 45 degrees, or is shivering due to cold. He will knock to come in during storms, cold, and extreem heat.
I've noticed no food agression problems with Justice, but then, I test her about every 4 days. How ever she will not let any other animal, cat, dog, or other near her food or water bowls even when empty. She plays excellent with them, and is the first to share her toys, just not HER BOWLS !!!!!
I think time in the crate is really up to the dog itself, some love 'em, some tollerate 'em, some just won't have anything to do with 'em. Just make sure they get thier excercise, potty breaks, and training time. Even training them to stay alone for a normal work days time.
Having a boxer is great, knowing your boxer is grand, loving your boxer is heaven!
Thanks everyone!
I appreciate all of the information. I will start feeding him some by hand. He has shown no aggresion so far- so I guess I'm not doing so bad. I'm sure this won't be the last time ya'll hear from me ( I have a feeling I'm going to need some help here to keep myself sane)- now if only I could have someone train my skin kids!
I appreciate all of the information. I will start feeding him some by hand. He has shown no aggresion so far- so I guess I'm not doing so bad. I'm sure this won't be the last time ya'll hear from me ( I have a feeling I'm going to need some help here to keep myself sane)- now if only I could have someone train my skin kids!
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