Question about crating

[3girls2dogs]

We are about to move into a brand new house on base here. We are going to be responsible for every little teeny mark when we leave.

I have never crated my dogs before, but now that I am working full time, they seem to have been getting angry at being home alone and getting more destructive. Do you think it is too late to start to crate train my dogs. They are adult dogs now, not puppies, and although we have an outside area for them now, it gets too hot in the summer to leave them out there during the day. So I have thought that maybe crating them would be a better option for them.

I feel guilty about crating them, but many have told me it is better for them behavior-wise. Any feedback would be appreciated.

 

[Dagna]

Crating is the best option, much better than leaving your dogs outside unattended. Dogs in backyards can escape, be let out by an unhappy neighbor or worse, and can also destroy your backyard. So crating is a fabulour option.

The first thing you have to do is have the right size crate. There should be enough room for the dog to stand up, sit, lay down and turn around, so try to find that size. Shouldn't be smaller or bigger than that. Have one crate per dog, for safety reasons.

To start training your dog, bring it home and leave it open. Put your dogs bedding in there and start putting your dogs food and water dish in the back of the crate so he has to go in to eat. Never use the crate as punishment, his crate should be his "safe" place. Make it fun for him by putting his toys in there. Once he's comfortable eating in the crate, start putting him in it in short intervals, with you home. Gradually increase the time. Once he's ok with that, start leaving him in it for short intervals with you not in the house. 5 minutes, then 10, then 30, etc etc. It can take time depending on the dog. Some just instinctively want to go in the crate once they realize it's "theirs".

And to be honest, I've had a harder time training puppies to enjoy their crate than I have adult dogs, for what it's worth. Good luck!

 

[littlecoda]

I also crated an older dog that had been hit and left wandering,she was way destructive plus wet all over my couches the first week.. I started with 4 hours at a time. She did great only after a few days, and now she feels lost without her crate when I leave.It's her spot.

 

[K9_Trainer]

The distructive behavior is built up frustration. The dogs need more exercise. What happens with alot of dog owners, is that we get to busy to take our dog out for a walk.

They are expected to stay home and sleep while we're gone for 8 hours at school or work, then we come home and we're too preoccupied with homework or cleaning. Done with that and then we're too tired. Alot of times, the only exercise a dog gets is during the weekend. Not enough. A dog with lots of built up energy needs to release that energy. If you don't provide a way to release that energy, he'll find his own ways and that usually means destroying your stuff and yard, digging, barking or developing unhealthy obsessions like pacing.

They are not angry at you, they just have alot of energy and no way to release it.

Walk them every day, at least 30 minutes. If you don't have time, you can do a 15 minute walk then 15 more minutes on a treadmill plus a bit of fetch in the back yard. If you have a high energy dog, and don't have time for a 45 minute walk, then even it out with the treadmill.

Got roller blades or a bike? Take them running. I take my dogs out with my roller blades on and we go for about 2 miles...every day.

Crate training is great, I agree, but the dogs need more exercise. Before you put them in the crate, go for a walk so they're sleepy. Provide stuff to do in the crate like a stuffed kong, everlasting treat ball, buster cube or nylabones.