Go Back   Pet forum for dogs cats and humans - Pets.ca > Discussion Groups - mainly cats and dogs > Dog training - dog behavior

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old August 14th, 2008, 01:46 PM
LaurenBev's Avatar
LaurenBev LaurenBev is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 74
crate: feeling guilty - should I?

Hi all,
Looking for some insight into my dog's psyche and his feelings about his crate. When we first got Leo (3 weeks ago) I was able to leave him home alone for a few hours at a time, not locked in his crate. However, abut a week and a half ago, he started to poop and pee in the house. I attributed this to separation anxiety and the anxiety of settling into a new home (Leo is a rescue dog, who likely spent the vast majority of his time in an outdoor wire kennel, evidenced by the fact that his front teeth are worn down to tiny stumps, presumably because he was chewing at his kennel to escape it - I digress). Anyway, I started putting him in his crate while I went to work (I work part time, so I didn't feel too guilty crating him for a few hours here and there) and it worked beautifully. No poop or pee in the house, and a seemingly calmer dog when he's free in the afternoons/evenings. But, now he's taken to peeing inside during the night (we let him roam free during the night, but close our bedroom door so as not to wake up with a drooly coonhound in our bed). So, the obvious solution is to crate him at night, right? Well, I'm just feeling guilty about crating my dog for such a large percentage of his life. He seems to be fine in his crate, and I always give him a Kong stuffed with delicious treats to occupy him. I guess in theory, the crate is the obvious answer to solving both our problems (his anxiety at being alone and my stained carpets) but in practice, keeping him crated is making me feel like a bad dog owner! What are people's thoughts on this? Oh, and Leo gets 2-3 walks a day - morning, when I get home from work at 2 and an after dinner walk, so he IS getting exercise while out of the crate. Sorry this is a long post - thanks for reading!
-Lauren & Leo (The Crate Dilemma)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old August 14th, 2008, 02:07 PM
aslan aslan is offline
-
Asteroids Champion, Starship Legend Champion, Rabbit Hunter Champion, Magic Ball Champion, Candy Tetris Champion, Bounce Back Champion, Breakout Champion
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: toronto, on
Posts: 15,600
Leo is absolutely fine in his crate at night, he needs to learn how to hold his business... Dogs are like wolves and are quite fine in a den like environment. He also needs to get accustomed to your sleep and work patterns. Don't feel guilty he is just fine aslong as he gets plenty of love and exercise when not in his crate.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old August 14th, 2008, 02:12 PM
luckypenny's Avatar
luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
We crated our Lucky at night when we first brought him home as he peed all over the place too . It only took a week or so for him to learn that outside only was for peeing. Is he neutered by any chance. Lucky wasn't so we attributed his peeing to marking as well.

Maybe if you brought his crate into your room, you'd feel a bit better about it?
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old August 14th, 2008, 02:14 PM
rainbow's Avatar
rainbow rainbow is offline
-
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Beautiful BC's Kootenay Country
Posts: 34,757
Yep, I agree.

I only crate trained one of my dogs (the second one) which turned out to be a blessing when he had his operation. I really wish I had crate trained the first one now.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old August 14th, 2008, 02:21 PM
LaurenBev's Avatar
LaurenBev LaurenBev is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 74
Leo is being neutered tomorrow, actually, luckpenny - that could be part of it, too.

Thanks, all, for your input. I'm already feeling better. Seems crating a dog is harder on the human than it is the dog!

**As I type, Leo is asleep at my feet, snoring and farting. It's so cute, albeit a little stinky.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old August 14th, 2008, 02:24 PM
rainbow's Avatar
rainbow rainbow is offline
-
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Beautiful BC's Kootenay Country
Posts: 34,757
Quote:
Originally Posted by LaurenBev View Post

Seems crating a dog is harder on the human than it is the dog!
Yep, it is......that's why I didn't crate train the first one that I'm so kicking my butt for now.

Hope the neutering goes well.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old August 14th, 2008, 02:24 PM
luckypenny's Avatar
luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
Great, now that we made you feel better about it, we're expecting lots more pictures in appreciation .
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:06 PM
aslan aslan is offline
-
Asteroids Champion, Starship Legend Champion, Rabbit Hunter Champion, Magic Ball Champion, Candy Tetris Champion, Bounce Back Champion, Breakout Champion
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: toronto, on
Posts: 15,600
ohoh lp wait til you see him, he's soooo cute
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:13 PM
Dog Dancer's Avatar
Dog Dancer Dog Dancer is offline
Senior Contributor
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, BC
Posts: 6,667
I'm with the others too, so long as you only use the crate in a positive manner he won't mind it at all. And probably after a short settle in time he'll get the hang of it and be trustworthy to hold his bladder through the night even if left out. And yes, it's definitely harder on us than them. Good luck with it, and thank you for rescuing your pupper.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:23 PM
LaurenBev's Avatar
LaurenBev LaurenBev is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 74
pics

Here are some pics of my floppy, drooly pup...
Attached Images
   
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:28 PM
luckypenny's Avatar
luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
Ok, I take back what I said....he will never be clean in the house :sad:.

Please PM me your address and I'll gladly take him off your hands as we only have concrete floors and furniture and drains in each room. I'll...I mean...he'll be in good hands .

He's so freakin beautiful!!!!!!!!

__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:29 PM
luckypenny's Avatar
luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
Oh, more pics please .
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:34 PM
luckypenny's Avatar
luckypenny luckypenny is offline
Doggie Wench
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Philippe-de-Laprairie, Qc
Posts: 11,812
Omg, look at those ears , I can't stop coming back to look at him .
__________________
"Education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." -Will Durant
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:36 PM
aslan aslan is offline
-
Asteroids Champion, Starship Legend Champion, Rabbit Hunter Champion, Magic Ball Champion, Candy Tetris Champion, Bounce Back Champion, Breakout Champion
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: toronto, on
Posts: 15,600
told you so....
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old August 14th, 2008, 03:37 PM
breeze's Avatar
breeze breeze is offline
Half Way To Crazy
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,716
can I hug him too......


where's the rest of the pictures??
__________________
Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old August 14th, 2008, 04:45 PM
LaurenBev's Avatar
LaurenBev LaurenBev is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 74
Yes, he's handsome, isn't he? Here he is on the 4th of July, in his Uncle Sam hat, and later, having a snooze in his crate.
Attached Images
 
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old August 14th, 2008, 04:48 PM
LaurenBev's Avatar
LaurenBev LaurenBev is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 74
Oops - here is Uncle Sam...
Attached Images
 
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old August 14th, 2008, 04:49 PM
aslan aslan is offline
-
Asteroids Champion, Starship Legend Champion, Rabbit Hunter Champion, Magic Ball Champion, Candy Tetris Champion, Bounce Back Champion, Breakout Champion
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: toronto, on
Posts: 15,600
ummm nice hat..
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Forum Terms of Use

  • All Bulletin Board Posts are for personal/non-commercial use only.
  • Self-promotion and/or promotion in general is prohibited.
  • Debate is healthy but profane and deliberately rude posts will be deleted.
  • Posters not following the rules will be banned at the Admins' discretion.
  • Read the Full Forum Rules

Forum Details

  • Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8
    Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
    vBulletin Optimisation by vB Optimise (Reduced on this page: MySQL 0%).
  • All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:01 AM.