Having troubles with wolf-dog in crate and in car, can someone help me?

btp83760

Ok well we have a wolf dog pup. when we got her she was 11 weeks old. She absolutely hates the kennel! We would take her outside to go to the bathroom and she would go then we would put her in her kennel and she would just throw a huge fit biting, rolling, doing what ever to make a ruckus or get out. When she would throw her fits they would last for HOURS... now for some reason she will poop and pee in her kennel even if she just did it outside. also she throws the fits while going to the bathroom in the kennel so it is all over her body from head to toe. it is AWFUL! She does right when she gets in the kennel. we don't know what else to do. months later she STILL does it... she does the same thing when we put her in the car to go to the vet... she poops pees and throws up EVERYWHERE... we talked to the vet about it and he said it was normal. But it happens every-time and gets worse each time. so recently we don't use the crate anymore because we can't keep cleaning her every time we put her in it. but we need to be able to when we go somewhere so she doesn't chew up anything or potty in the house cause potty training is still in the process...getting better though... slowly. Does any one have any advice for me? if so that would be AWESOME! Thanks.

Answer
Your dog is showing resistance due to being forced to comply with something that you've demanded. In simpler terms, you've gone about crate-training the wrong way, and your dog is reacting.

Have you begun any obedience training with this dog, at all? This is where you start. Through training in obedience you will gain respect, through this respect you will gain a dog who will feel secure enough to know that you are the leader and you will never cause her harm. And timing is everything... I can't stress that enough. Knowing when to reward, and when to release her from any negative pressure is so important. But to understand this, you must understand her body language WITHOUT fault. Are you familiar with her body language? Can you tell just by the move of her eye, or a twitch of her lips, when she's relaxed or when she's beginning to feel stress?

Training wolf dogs is not simple. Gone are the days of alpha rolling and 'showing him whos boss.' These are outdated techniques that get many, many people hurt. Training wolf dogs consists of positive reinforcement/positive motivation. This applies to crate training, as well. It MUST be a positive experience - always.

As with any dog - wolf dog or not - you begin training as early as you can. Again, using postive motivational methods, you will get your dog to enter the kennel, and exit on her own accord. She says "Wow, that wasn't so bad." Reward her for going in, not shutting the door THEN rewarding her.

You must start from the very beginning. There are plenty of websites for you to visit re: crate training. As I said, it doesn't matter what your dog is, it's the method you choose. Forcing is not the method. You will lose.

The same applies for car rides. Although I am familiar with my fair share of wolf dogs who have chosen to think that the car is some big monster that's about to swallow them up! I no longer need to take my dogs everywhere I go - they're safe and happier in their enclosures. But when I do have to take them somewhere, it's nice to know that it will not be a ride from Hell for the both of you.

Again... make it a positive, rewarding experience. In and out of the car, in and out, in and out, and over and over and over again. Leave her in as long as she wants, let her come out when she wants. NEVER force this upon her. If you force her, she will rebel, as you've noticed.

You may not think that you've forced her, but your timing - as minute as it was/is - was bad timing, and she knows this. You shut the door too soon, you didn't reward fast enough, you kept her in too long, and drove too far, etc., do you see what I'm saying? To her, timing is everything! And to time a reward, or to release negative pressure (closing the car/crate door too fast) is key.

Anyhow, Google 'positive crate training' and you should find some helpful methods.

If you need help, you can email me any time.

ADD: I'm sorry, I should have added an important tidbit. You must know when to quit, too. Wolf dogs are extremely intelligent and get bored quickly. When trying to train for crate and/or car rides, don't make it an hour-long lesson. Once you get the desired result, even if it's just ONE paw in the crate, or ONE paw in the car, STOP. Reward. Then call it a day. You can typically do a few lessons a day, but always stop while you're ahead. Never ask an animal who is trying, to keep trying. Don't forget this.

Best dog crate for the car?

KmmK

I'm looking to purchase a dog crate for the car. What's the best one to get?
dunleavyblows - do you have a link to the brand? I think I'd like a seatbelt loop.

Answer
It depends what size you need. I recently bought a new one because the one I had was a little too big to sit flat in my car. The new one I bought, I got from walmart. It works well and even has a place to put the seatbelt through if you would need that. And you can take it apart for storage. I have a jack russell so I only needed a med. sized one.

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Are there dog crates that will accommodate two dogs with a divider and two doors?

The Truth

We have limited space and I was wondering if any of you have seen dog crates made specifically for two dogs, with a divider between the dogs and two doors.

Answer
There ARE crates that would work like that, but you would have to do a solid divider (like a thick slab of wood) or two wire dividers set inches apart from one another to prevent the dogs from reaching through and getting at one another.

One wire divider would leave enough room for them to get at one another if they get agitated (which can happen), and ears/tails can be injured or lips torn up. My dog's crate has three doors - one in the middle front and one on each end. I could put dividers in there and be able to put one dog on each side no problem.

This one would work just as well (one door on each end):
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3512172&lmdn=Crates+%26amp%3B+Kennels

Please remember that the crate should be only big enough for a dog to sit, stand, turn, and lay down comfortably. That may be difficult to do if you divide one up like that. You may end up with a space that's too big, which may lead to elimination in the crate if the dog(s) can sleep away from it.

And i would NEVER recommend letting two dogs share a crate - if they're shut in and get agitated (again, VERY possible) then they'll fight. Also, a crate should be a dog's personal den. Some dogs can get defensive over their spaces!

Advice for crate training 8 month puppy?

Q. Do you think its too late to crate train my 8 month old Neapolitan Mastiff??

When I first got him he would just cry and cry and cry, so I just let him sleep next to me on the floor. But he gets up in the middle of the night and start playing with whatever he can find. So he's been sleeping outside, but don't worry he has a big back yard and a garage that he has axcess to at anytime of the night, and a big soft mattress to sleep on. But winter is just around the corner, and I don't want him freezing at night. So do you think its still possible to crate train? And if so, whats the best way going about this???

And if you think its too late to crate train, what should I do to get him to sleep at night? I walk and play with him every day. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Dogs like small, enclosed spaces because of the security it offers them. Crating is not jailing your dog, and the crate should never be used for punishment. Instead, it draws on your dogâs preference for small spaces and allows you an extra measure of control over your dog. If you practice preventative training, your dog will spend time in the crate when you arenât around to set boundaries.

One benefit of a crate is in potty training. Dogs try not to go to the bathroom where they sleep. If you keep your dog in a crate when youâre not together during potty training, your dog will try to hold it until you let him out and take him outside. Your job is to keep a reasonable schedule with plenty of chances to play and eliminate.

Choosing a Crate
Choose the right size crate for your dog. Your dog should have enough room to stand up, turn around and lie down. Anything bigger and he may eliminate in one end and sleep in the other.

If you have a puppy that will grow into a big dog, you will either need two crates of different sizes or a crate with a divider that you can move as your puppy grows.

If your dog is past the chewing stage, make the crate comfortable with a blanket or pad. You want the crate to be a place your dog wants to spend time but you wonât want him to spend his time ripping up bedding. Some pups never chew bedding, others do. Never use carpeting or anything in the crate that could be dangerous if swallowed.

Practicing Crate Training
Introduce your dog to the crate in a low-pressure situation, not when youâre about to leave. Leave the door open and let your dog explore.

Remove all collars before you crate your puppy.

If your pup is frightened by the noise of a metal crate on a hard floor, put a towel or mat underneath the crate to muffle noise and prevent slipping.

Toss a treat â ideally a kibble of food â into the crate, then use a simple word like âkennelâ to get your dog to enter.

Praise your dog and close the door. Open it after a few moments.

Slowly increase the time your puppy spends in the crate with the door closed.

Donât open the door because your dog whines. It will only teach him to whine more.

A general rule for determining how long your puppy can be confined is one hour for every month that your puppy is old, plus one hour. Most three-month old puppies can stay in for four hours.

Do NOT crate your dog for more than eight hours. It is unfair to leave the dog without a chance to eliminate or exercise any longer than that.

The more confinement your dog has to cope with, the more exercise he needs daily. Crating is a tool that should never be used to avoid training, exercise and spending time with your best buddy.

Maintain a regular schedule of trips outdoors so he can relieve himself. And so the reason for the trip is clear, always take your puppy on a leash to the same place.

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