I_am_that_girl
New Member
Do you have any tips for crate training? I have tried his fav toys, treats and,things to occupy his time and all he cares about is being put in the crate. Is there anything I can do to make him like the crate?
Behavioral Issues
- Thread starter I_am_that_girl
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Do you have any tips for crate training? I have tried his fav toys, treats and,things to occupy his time and all he cares about is being put in the crate. Is there anything I can do to make him like the crate?
I_am_that_girl
New Member
ICit
Jam out with ur clam out
pm me and we can work with your dog
I_am_that_girl
New Member
awe sweet thanks,
You definitely don't want to muzzle when you are not home; can be dangerous. I had a client's dog who began spontaneously digging at the carpet...turns out there were little critters under the house.
Try feeding your dog in the crate, at first with the door open, then close while eating. Food= good thing.
PsyOps
Pixelated
If the dog has suddenly started doing this you have obviously changed something you are doing: schedule, sleep, exercise, chang of food, a pet that is no longer in the house...
I completely disagree with muzzling and spraying stuff at the dog. Distractions, like toys, typically don't work for very long.
Do you walk your dog or do you just let it run wild on your land for exericse? It matters because you have to do things that show you are in charge. A controlled walk on a short leash for about 20-30 minutes just before you leave the house should be done to get the energy out of him.
If the dog has separation anxiety you can break him of this by practicing leaving the house. As you leave the house you have the dog sitting there watching you leave. Do everything as you normally would if you were leaving. If you rattle your keys or get your purse, do those things as if you were really leaving. Don't pet the dog or give it any sort of attention. Leave for about 10 seconds then come back in. If the dog behaves, give him praise or even a treat (although treats aren't really necessary). If not, ignore him. Then extend the leaves to longer and longer periods. You may have to practice this exercise for a long time (could be days or weeks) until the dog realizes that leaving is not a bad thing.
But exercise just before you leave may also prove to be very important.
I know this seems like a lot but dogs require a lot of work to break them of bad habits and obsessions. This sort of behavior could lead to aggression if you don't get it under control.
I_am_that_girl
New Member
I have tried the ignoring part. When I put him in his crate before leaving I don't speak to him per his doctors advice. When I return I don't make it a big deal that I am home and when he jumps for attention I do ignore him until he has completely calmed down. There was a time when he had open range to run free on the farm however when he started coming home with minor injuries we put a stop to the running free. I do think that he is stubborn where that is concerned because he was so used to just going when he pleased. I do think that he thinks he rules the roost and I am having a hard time getting him to understand that he "doesn't pay rent". I think that maybe I am trying so many different techniques that I am confusing him. I need a good solid routine and see if that works. His doctor did say that since he injured himself in the crate by breaking his teeth that we may have to try the anxiety medicine for the rest of the training process. I just don't want him to get hurt anymore.
PsyOps
Pixelated
We like to apply terms to dogs that relate to our own behavior: Stubborn, anxious, angry, etc... Dogs establish a hierarchy of pack mentality. Every dog and person in the house is part of the pack in their eyes. They don't understand concepts like who pays rent or who owns what. You are not a human. So the dog is telling you that he is the leader of the pack with his behavior. You can be clued in with other things happen around the house. Does the dog get on furniture when not invited? Does he stake claim to certain things? Your dog should possess nothing that you don't give him permission to. When you walk your dog does he pull you and lead you? When you feed him is he possessive over his food and you fear having the ability to take it away from him (not that you should have to)? Is he aggressive and possessive with toys and chew treats? Jumping on you is not a sign that he is happy to see you. He is telling you that he is the pack leader and you are subservient to him.
Here are a couple of videos that may be helpful.
YouTube - Don Sullivan The DogFather The Shocking Truth About Separation Anxiety
YouTube - Sessions with Cesar: Tips on Dog Anxiety
YouTube - How To Relieve Your Dog of Separation Anxiety
I would also recommend finding Cesar Millan's (The Dog Whisperer) videos and watching them. He has segments that deal with separation anxiety. I think his techniques are great (although your issues may have more to do with other things than just separation anxiety).
We adopted a dog (at age 8) that came in and immediately tried to take over as the house pack leader. She was aggressive towards our other dog and bit me twice when I tried to separate them in a fight. I was ready to get rid of her. Then we watched Cesar on how to deal with this and we had her under control in a matter of days. It was an amazing transformation and she became a wonderful part of the home.
Currently we have two dogs and have a problem with barking; especially when the doorbell rings. It's really a task because once a dog gets something in them it's hard to break them of it.
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PsyOps
Pixelated
Forgive me if it sounded like I was promoting someone for the intent of buying his product. "The Dog Whisperer" (on the NatGeo station) and "It's Me or the Dog" (on Animal Planet) are aired often have different approaches to rehabing dogs and I think they are both effective in their own ways.
cattitude
My Sweetest Boy
You need to train them that when the bell rings they are to go to a "spot." Might be harder with two, but if you have more than one person, it shouldn't take too long to reroute the enthusiam, especially if they're treat motivated.
PsyOps
Pixelated
The problem is, they forget over time. If we spend a lot of time and get them in that mental zone of expecting from us rather than what's on the other side of the door they soon forget this and the process starts all over. And it's not just the doorbell. It's almost any sort of unusual noise. When I come home and they hear the garage door open they go nuts. And, as you eluded to, because there are two one feeds off the other adn it becomes a ping pong match of barking. I think barking probably THE most difficult thing to correct in a dog.