Best Dog Cage for a pitbull?

pitbullbab

I have a lot of experience with pitbulls but with this new "puppy" I rescued I am completely stumped. My other dogs have been able to get out of their metal cages and we have solved it by placing a padlock on a corner of the cage and that usually solves the problem. After awhile they learn they can't get out and we are then able to take the lock off. This new puppy who has no previous training at all needs three locks on his cage, we bought a new cage for him thinking that maybe the other one was just bent enough that he could always get out. Even though we have had him for about a month he still whines and barks for at least an hour when we put him in his cage. I have wondering if anyone knows of any cages that a pitbull can't break through. This dog is going to be neutered in about three days, and I was also wondering if anyone knows if we would see a difference with his cage behavior.

Answer
With my foster pit bulls I have always had better luck with high quality plastic airline crates. Although I did have one dog that learned to pull the door off, and even broke his tooth doing it. After talking to a number of other bully breed owners and trainers I eventually began to tether him. But that requires a bit of training first. http://www.happyhoundnashville.com/tethering.html
How old is this pup? Is there a unspayed female nearby? That could very easily be the cause of his issues if he is matured by not yet neutered.
Also when you put him in the crate add a loaded/stuffed kong in with him. Pack it full of treats, dog food, and peanut butter, so he has to work for a while to get it all out. That always keeps my pack happy for a while, and they forget to cry and bark.
I know they do make super strong metal crates, my friend bought one online for her dane, but they are pretty expensive and extreme. http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Indestructible-Steel-Crate/dp/B000Y91K3S but it would work!

How can I train my dog not to destroy everything I own when I'm not around? And why is she acting like this?

Nicole

Every time I leave to go out my 1 1/2 year old pit bull terrier goes nuts and destroys everything she can get her paws on but when I'm around shes the calmest little angel you could ever meet. I don't think taking her to a training class would help because they usually only train commands and what not. Could someone please point me in the right direction? Because I really love her and I'm at a point where I either need to choose my dog or my stuff.
Forgot to write that she has gone through 5 different crates mainly because she breaks the plastic tray and can bend the bars and squeeze out.. and knows how to unlatch the latches so I tried locks but the main concern is the plastic tray on the bottom, so then she walks the cage to whatever she wants and tears up the carpet, couch, pillows...

Answer
See if you can find a crate that is close to 20 gauge steel, she wont be able to bend the bars. That is about the strongest crate available on the market today. Get some heavy duty locks for the crate. Obviously just crating her isn't enough, she needs something to keep her busy while you are away - like a frozen peanut butter stuffed heavy duty kong (Extreme Kong). First, I would take the tray out of the bottom and get squares of heavy duty patio block for the bottom of the crate. She won't be able to move all of them AND move the crate, too. It would also help if you can take her for a good walk her before you leave.

My dogs are huge and powerful, ranging from 135 pounds to 155 pounds, they could easily bust out of their crates if they wanted to. They don't, they don't even try. They *love* their crates.

Condition your dog to love her crate. While you are home, crate your girl for short periods of time. Every once in awhile, walk by the crate and drop some kibble in the crate. Don't talk to her, just drop a handful of kibble in the crate and keep walking by. Only reward with kibble when she is quiet, otherwise she will associate her noisiness with the kibble treats. Praise her often while she is in the crate. Do this several times a day for short sessions while you are home. Another thing you can do to get her to love her crate is to open the door and feed her in her crate with the door open. She will begin to learn that good things happen when she is in her crate.

A couple words of advice when crate training. Never praise or reward your dog when you open the door to let her out. That makes the exit the reward and she will associate *getting out* of the crate with rewards, instead of associating being IN the crate with good things happening. Don't open the door to let her out if she is whining or crying, either.

Training classes wouldn't hurt, even if they just teach basic commands, although good trainers are able to help owners solve problems that arise while raising a dog. Classes will teach your dog discipline and respect. She will learn who is in charge and the two of you will build an even stronger bond.

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Tips on crate training my 2 year old golden to not panic in the dog crate once I close the door.?

jackson

I will be flying with my 2 year old golden in one month (6 hour flight) no other option. I have been crate training in preparation for this. He is not afraid to go into the crate, but when I close the gate after a couple of minutes he begins to appear to start to panic. Drooling excessively, licking on the gate, whining and barking a little and not lying down. I've been doing this for a week (minutes at first and leaving and now up to 30 minutes), but he is the same. I am not suppose to give him a sedative when he flys, but I am concerned he is going to injure himself or have a heart attack. I leave the crate in the room and the door open and he goes in and out (but never stays in long) on his own. So he is not afraid of the crate - just being locked in I guess??? I'm confused - any help would be so appreciated! Thanks.

Answer
Most dogs do this at first when they are learning... For at least a few days, take the door off. Or atleast do not close it. The dog needs to know the crate is his "safe place" and his den. When you are home from work, practice for a very long time... Lure him in with a treat.. as soon as all 4 feet are in the crate and reward, reward, reward. Be super happy and clap your hands, give the dog tons of positive attention. Keep doing this over and over... with the door not shut. During this time, do not give him treats at any other time other then during this training. After a week, start closing the door and leave him in there for just a few mintues at a time. Do the same thing.. treat lure.. when he comes out after the door is opened, reward reward reward... The dog will get it, and realize that this is a happy place.. not a scary place. Aswell mentioned above keep a Kong or other chew toys to keep the dog busy.
I used an item from the health food store called "Rescue Remedy", it is a liquid you can put in thier water and it will calm them down. My neighbor whom rescues dogs uses it all the time when she picks up a new dog. It just calms then down naturally without sedation... Try it a few times before you actually go.

Good luck I am sure with the above technique the dog will Love his crate!!

Get my dog to stop whining in his crate!!!?

Angela Rad

Our newly adopted 11/2 year old lab mix currently uses a crate while we are away. We leave her in there for no more than 3 hours a day. The problem is that she whines in her crate for about a half hour and then she quiets down and is fine the rest of the time....the problem is that we live in an apartment and our neighbors have called our apt. manager and threatening to call the police. I tried talking to them and let them know its only for a half hour (its not constant), but they dont care. I can't leave my dog out of her crate because she chews EVERYTHING and poops in the house.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can get her used to her crate with no whining so we dont have to get rid of her?!?
Thanks in advance!

p.s. I dont need to hear about how crating is cruel and is like a cage. Dogs are den animals and need that safe place..ask any reputiable vet or dog trainer.

Answer
crating is not cruel and I'm with ya there on how stupid people are who think crating is cruel -- most dogs learn to LOVE their crate, my dog sleeps in his even when he's roaming around in the house. Take it from me, I adopted my dog about a year ago, and the first week or so he would scream, howl and bark (I live in a townhome complex), and the neighbor knocked on my door and said he could hear him and asked if we could quiet him down...Everything I am going to tell you do do is what I did, and my dog now LOVES his crate.

If I were you, I would go to the pet store and buy a Kong dog toy (this has no risk of breaking up into small pieces so its safe to leave it with him unattended), and put some kong "stuff'n" in it, or simply some dog treats/peanut butter to keep him busy those first few minutes in the crate.

Make sure he has a nice comfortable bed in there, and be sure to make him think his crate is a GREAT place, like his den or something. NEVER EVER put him in the crate as a form of punishment (he will then start to associate the crate as a bad place), your goal is to make it a positive experience for him. Make him feel his crate is a safe haven....somewhere where he can go to relax...when you are home and he doesn't have to be in the crate, leave the crate in a room where people are the most (living/family room) and leave it open at all times for him to access it if he wants.

Before you leave him alone in the crate, talk happily to him with his kong treats and coax him into the crate with that rather than forcing him in.

The reason he's crying and everything is because he's in a new environment, is uncomfortable with his new surroundings including sounds, and he may have never been crated before so this is all new and scary to him....and since you adopted him, who knows what kind of past he's had....I feel dogs, until they get to know your home routine, feel as though they are going to be abandoned when you leave them in a crate. Be glad he only does it for a short period of time - because that's a good start actually! It's shame your neighbors are such jerks who are not understanding of your situation.

All I can say is treat him with a kong with treats to make him feel the crate is a good place, and hopefully it'll keep him busy....And believe me once he gets used to his home, the sounds, the smells, and your family....he will be okay....hopefully eventually enjoying his crate.

**Also I forgot to mention, you could try to put a plug-in called "comfort zone" which is a natural pheromone that helps to calm down anxious and nervous dogs, it's supposed to be VERY effective....check it out here (another thing you can only buy a pet store or online): http://dogcomfortzone.com/

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