Crate training can be a necessity for housebreaking. It also provides a place of safety for your dog and that may mean sanity for you. I often get calls about a “destructive” behavior that a well-behaved dog has suddenly been expressing.
It’s never too late to crate train. The biggest question is what behavior is making you ask this question in the first place? If you are wanting to housebreak a puppy or an older dog, crate training is a great option. You will have to use time and patience in both cases to acclimate them to the idea of being confined.
If you have a dog that is being destructive and housebreaking is not an issue, then you may want to use a play pen or something larger than what is used for housebreaking. This will provide a secure place for your dog and give them room to move around.
There are a lot of variables to crate training. If you are interested in learning more, I have written a Guide that explains the crate training process and how to housebreak any dog .
Yes, he does. I can almost promise you that some day and maybe when you least expect it, he’ll show you he’s a dog.
Dogs may be domesticated but that does not remove instinct or history. They are genetically and psychologically dogs. No matter how social, large, small, cute, non-dog you attempt to make them – they are dogs.
Sorry! Someone had to tell you the truth so that when FiFi jumps out of her cute little carry bag and bites another dog, you’ll remember. . .”Oh, that’s right! FiFi is still a dog.” It actually makes life much easier when we treat them as nature designed them because they don’t do well being “human.”
In the quiet of your own home, feel free to pretend and make believe that your dog doesn’t know. And, when in public remember and prepare for him to be a dog. (I’ll be waiting for your call for training!)
This is not an easy subject and still a bit raw personally. I feel the need to share. . .
I love that there are no-kill shelters. That is WONDERFUL!
They are full. All of the local shelters are full. What’s next for the dogs whose last stop was the local shelter and hopefully a no-kill one that is full? They are being abandoned along with their abandoned homes. It’s a difficult choice to make for their humans. An almost impossible one. So, leaving the dog behind or dropping them off in a neighborhood leaves more options for the dog, right?
Consider those options. . .starving or dehydration. Becoming ill and not having medical care. Being hit by a car. Feeling abandoned and lost without a clue of how to find food and water. Looking for a familiar face.
Those are a few of their options. Maybe someone will pick them up and bring them home. That someone may already be over their dog limit and financially strapped but feeling guilty to let this one go.
What are your options — keep your dog until you find a home or shelter that can take it. Don’t just put an ad in the local paper – ask rescues, ask friends, ask anyone. It’s better to experience a little sadness about re-homing your dog than the sickness of leaving them somewhere unsure of their future.
Ok – here’s the tough part. There are worse alternatives than humanely helping your dog go to sleep for a very long time. Most people have difficulty with death as is evidenced with our treatment of humans. It is far more humane to know the fate of your dog, than to leave it to chance or someone else.
I say this because I get a lot of calls from people who want to know if I can take their dog or help them find someone who can because they don’t want to take them to a shelter. There is a much better chance of adoption through a shelter where people are actively looking, than anywhere else. If, the choice has to be made by the already-over-filled shelter to “put your dog down” after a specific period of time, on behalf of your dog, I’d like to say there are worse things.
I hate writing this. I hate that dogs are euthanized by the thousands daily. What choice is there as long as people don’t spay or neuter their pets? That’s only part of the problem. The dogs that are being abandoned now may have been spayed and once came from a shelter. They deserve nothing less than humane treatment.
I welcome your thoughts, comments, and suggestions.
It’s time to eat, nap, play, receive affection, bounce, chew, destroy(?), hunt, fetch, eat, nap, annoy, bark, nap. . .
I think you get the point. While dogs live in the moment, they define the moment. They definitely seem to know when it is the time of day for a meal. They instinctively have the most energy at specific times during the day. I believe this goes back to a time when they would hunt for their food. Early in the morning and at dusk when the wildlife used to be searching for food, dogs were preying on them. (Believe it or not, they weren’t hunting kibble!)
They may be removed from this instinct as they don’t use the energy to hunt but will express it by being destructive – digging, barking, overtly rambunctious. This may be the best time to take them out for a long walk, run, or play. Exercise is important and you may find the evening or early morning hours the best time for your dog. We don’t always have success when we work against their timing as that may be based more on instinct than desire or schedule.
Before we get excited about being able to take our dogs every where we go, consider them and those in the environment where you’ll be taking your dog.
In some States, leaving your dog in the car is not an option as you will be fined. I agree with this to a point. Because those who are less responsible are once again defining the restrictions and regulations put on everyone, we need to understand why such a law was passed. Dogs (and children) have died in cars due to intense heat. Living in the desert, I understand that and appreciate the penalty. However, it makes it challenging to take your dog with you when the temperatures are cool and comfortable, because the law still prevails.
Here’s some other food for thought on whether or not you should take your pup as you shop!
The secret life of dogs occurs when we least expect it. If we pay attention, we will begin to see there are patterns or times when this life exists for them.
This life manifests in our dogs when they freeze in time and space as if to hear something being said only to them. Or, they may get a glazed look as they stare into space as if looking into another dimension. Some of you might be thinking – this isn’t a secret life, this is them ignoring us. Think again! You need a new perspective!
When they bark incessantly at something that doesn’t exist in our reality, it might exist in theirs. They could be listening to a life that dwells on a frequency we can’t yet visit.
This obvious ability of theirs occurs quite frequently in my neighborhood in the very early hours of the morning. UFO’s perhaps? I know, it’s most likely a distant coyote, but whatever it is, when it is heard by only one dog and the most vocal dog in the area, I try to see it as their “gift.”
My lack of sleep can be seen as an opportunity I was given to share in the secret life of this dog.
My dogs didn’t hear a thing. Perhaps, they are less gifted. I know our neighbor’s dogs don’t just bark to annoy us. Surely they hear something in the ether that we can hope to some day experience.
Does your dog respond with a hesitant motion as he approaches you when called? Did you notice that when you first called him to “come” your tone was sweet and approachable? The longer your dog appears to be ignoring you, the firmer your tone.
First, make sure your dog understands the command. I am writing this post not to talk about teaching the “come” command, but rather the danger in grabbing your dog’s collar every time you want them to go where they don’t particularly want to go. Does he flinch a little when you reach for him because he knows you’re going to grab his collar? He’s telling you “don’t touch me there!”
If every time you call your dog to you, you grab their collar, I can almost guarantee you that soon they will avoid your hand even if the intention is just to pet them. Take the time to call your dog to you without an ulterior motive. Don’t grab them every time they approach, even if it is in your mind for something “good.”
They learn very quickly to get close enough to you that you can’t reach for them. If I’m repeating myself on this subject, it is because it’s worth repeating. Watch how rapidly your dog approaches someone who hasn’t conditioned them and is eager for their hand to reach toward them.
It’s the equivalent of your being called to come to someone and when you eagerly get to them they grab your collar and lead you somewhere. That probably wouldn’t happen twice!
–I will add that if you dog is in harm’s way and they respond when called to you, grab their collar, scruff of the neck, tail, anything so that they can’t be hurt. You can “fix” the emotional scarring later. =) —
I don’t think a video or photo is necessary for you to understand what “that” is. It is extremely important to have your dog spayed or neutered for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons is to help reel in their desire – uh, attraction – to females in heat.
I have recently learned that you can remove the equipment, but that doesn’t necessarily remove the animal instinct or memory of what to do. This is just a bit of advice and further reason to “fix” your pup.
I’m not talking about the posturing they do as a demonstration of dominance because male and female dogs do this fixed or not. When a dog mounts another dog (often this happens during or after play), they are attempting to say “hey, look at me, I’m alpha!” Usually, wishful thinking!
I’m referring to keeping a neutered male with a non-spayed female. When she is in heat, the dynamic may change. He will go into the “I’m your man” mode and be protective of her. He may become aggressive to other males in the family. She will be othe object of his affection and she will like it! There will be no puppies out of their relationship, but their dynamic will be as if there were.
Be aware of changing behaviors and since you spay and/or neuter your dogs, this will be an education that you don’t need!
