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5month old Lab barks non stop in his crate, help

9 replies

Totallyfloaty35 · 31/03/2010 15:33

If i put him in it and go upstairs to dress dd for school,he barks and howls.If i put him in the crate when im in the room he complains a little but generally quiets down quickly.
Also when i go out i can hear him barking and barking.How do i make it stop?

OP posts:
reikizen · 31/03/2010 18:40

Perhaps a silly question but by crate do you mean one of those cage things? And why does he have to go in a cage? Especially if you are in the room with him? Just wondering as we have never had a cage for our dogs and I see them a lot now.

8oreighty · 31/03/2010 18:43

just found out about nicole wilde - amazing dog trainer, if you google her there are some really good websites with info on about things like this. to my totally un expert mind it sounds like attachment issues...but I am not in the least bit qualified to say!

Totallyfloaty35 · 31/03/2010 20:11

Well he has to go in the crate or he leaps over the baby gates and hurtles up and down the stairs like a loon( not good for his joints)
I put him in the crate if im in the room sometimes so he can see that i dont always leave him when he is crated.Or i come into the room and ignore him until he is calm before getting him out.
He is crated at night and settles well now.He goes out at 10ish and can usually go til 6 or 7am.
He is a real darling if someone is around,he just lies down to sleep but he cant be left alone for even 15mins when u have a shower as he gets up to mischief or does his stairwell hurdles.

OP posts:
Totallyfloaty35 · 01/04/2010 16:57

bump

OP posts:
beautifulgirls · 01/04/2010 17:16

aboistop collar - expensive but very effective. Sprays citronella at them in response to noise. They learn very quickly.

Totallyfloaty35 · 01/04/2010 21:37

Is that safe?

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beautifulgirls · 01/04/2010 21:57

Yes they are totally safe and totally legal and humane. It is simply a smell that is released under their chin area that they do not like. They quickly associate it with making the noise and stop.

midori1999 · 01/04/2010 22:01

Don't use an anti-bark collar. The dog is barking for a reason, possibly distress. The colar might stop the barking, but it won't stop the reason for it and you could end up with a very unhappy dog.

Sorry to make assumptions, but it appears that you have just put the dog in the crate, shut the door and hoped for the best? You need to train the dog to be happy/comfortable/feel safe in the crate. In order to do that, you need to not shut the door at first.

Get a new toy for the dog and tie it into the back of the crate so that the only way the dog can play with it is to get in the crate. (door open) Also, start feeding the dog it's meals in the crate (door open) and when you put the food bowl in say 'bed' as the dog goes in the crate. Also, start leaving some dry kibble/treats in the crate so if the dog wonders in it finds them and sometimes throw a handful of kibble/treats in the crate when the dog can see you. He should be happy to go in for them, and again, when he does so, say 'bed'. (I usually say 'in your bed' actually, and either is fine, one is just more of a mouthful for you) The idea of all of this is that the dog starts to make positive associations with the crate. It's no longer a prison where he is shut away, it is a place where there is always something nice going on/to find.

Once the dog is happy going in and out with the door open, you can move on. Find something really special that the dog will not be allowed any time except when he is in the crate with the door closed. Either a raw marrow bone or a Kong which has been stuffed with something really yummy (you can use both and both at once later on when you want your dog to stay in the crate for longer periods) like peanut butter, pate, fish paste, boursin cheese, raw minced beef etc. You can also freeze it before giving it to him later on and it will last for longer. Put the Kong/bone in the crate, dog will follow and say 'bed'. Then shut the door. Stay in the room and ignore the dog. After a few minutes, if he is quiet, open the door. If the dog is barking/crying, wait until he is quiet before you open the door. Be patient and ignore him (definitely don't look at him or make eye contact) while he is making a noise. If he really won't be quiet, chuck a few treats into the crate to distract him and when he stops braking to eat them, open the door. Then gradually increase the time the dog is in the crate. The idea being not only does the dog think the crate is a nice place to be, it also learns the door will not be opened unless he is quiet.

Again, once the dog is happy with that, move on. Put the dog in the crate with his bone/kong and leave the room. Just for a few minutes at first (although again, only return and let him out once he is quiet) and gradually build up the time.

It all sounds very long winded and complicated, but it shouldn't take longer than a couple of weeks, maybe less if you practice many times a day. It might also help if you put a towel or blanket over the crate so it is more 'den' like, some dogs feel more secure like that, but others prefer to be able to see out.

Good luck!

(oh, and as an aside, I don't like to leave collars on in the house, just in case, but I really wouldn't want to leave one on in a crate)

Totallyfloaty35 · 01/04/2010 22:32

Thanks Midori,he goes into the crate happily at night and he has a Kong stuffed with goodies when i put him in during the day.
He does go in sometimes of his own accord to play with his 'crate' toys.I had not thought about tying a toy to the crate though,thats a good idea.
I never let him out til he is quiet,but i think i will get him a nice big bone and start putting him in for a few minutes at a time and see how he gets on.Ta

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