We Finally Got It

[Jessika]

Oh yes, our old one did, we got a new one. He is much, much, much nicer and cooler and mature. And LESS MESSY!!

Well the good thing about the couch cushion, its weird... there is like a square cushion with an egg foam mattress ontop of the cusion. The egg foam is the only thing she tore up, I can easily get one from Walmart and cut it down to replace it. The zipper, however, is broken.

I don't think its not that he didn't want to get one so much that he didn't think it would be collapsable and store easily If he would have told me that was the ONLY thing holding him back..... we would have had one six months ago, easily!

[Jessika]

How would you recommend conditioning her to being used to being in it?? I don't want to ONLY put her in it when I leave because that will teach her that when she goes in, I leave. Should I put her in periodically during the day while I'm home too? Should I cover it? Leave it uncovered? Leave a TV/radio on?

When I am home and she is inside, should I tell her "NO" for barking/whining or ignore completely?

[lv4dogs]

How would you recommend conditioning her to being used to being in it?? I don't want to ONLY put her in it when I leave because that will teach her that when she goes in, I leave. Should I put her in periodically during the day while I'm home too? Should I cover it? Leave it uncovered? Leave a TV/radio on?

When I am home and she is inside, should I tell her "NO" for barking/whining or ignore completely?

Yes, putting her in there for a few minutes at a time when you are home should help, so will feeding her in it. ALWAYS make it a happy safe place.

I wouldn't really cover it unless she starts barking a lot and only leave it covered if it actually helps with the barking. And I;d only leave a radio/tv on if you are FOR sure that it won't go into static noise or have any other problems that may irritate your dog. If you do decide to leave it on then leave it on a very low volume level.

As far as telling her no or ignoring her, I guess you could do it either way. Personally at first I would try to ignore her. Because if you tell her no & she listens to you, but then she barks when you are not there, no one tells her no she may think it is ok to bark and bark and bark and bark. Of course if she is barking a LOT you may need to resort to the NO.

[Jessika]

Well we have a game we played... I am trying to associate "in" and "crate" with her going into the crate. Once in, I get REALLYYYYY EXCITED and close the door, and continue staying excited. Then I take treats and drop them down from the top of the crate. This is with the door closed.

Another game I play is I will leave the door open and start playing with a toy and get her attention, then toss it in the crate. When she enters the crate to retrieve it, I get REALLY excited.

So I shouldn't cover it unless I really feel the need to, alrighty. Annnd I think I will try to ignore her as much as possible, I told her one sharp "NO!" and she stopped barking/whining/digging instantly. When she calms down I will go get her and get very excited and let her out.

And Bob's Dad, Jamie and Charlie were not the ones peeing on the bed, it was our roommate's dog Peanut who was doing that, marking in the house, pooping in the house.... I think it was him that led Jamie to pee in the house as much as she did, maybe she was marking to cover him, I don't know. Because we had a friend over with another chi mix who marked in the corner Peanut would ALWAYS mark at, and Jamie didn't do anything, so I think it was just Peanut LOL The only problems I had with Jamie is that she would get very destructive when we would leave the house out of boredom. No matter how well we tried to puppy proof the house, every time she would find the ONE thing we forgot, or just be really bad and go straight for our brand new couch. lol

[lv4dogs]

I would not get excited when you let her out, then she thinks that being let out is SO MUCH fun, she may start to act up in the crate, barking, scratching, trying to get out, etc.. & who wouldn't when there's all that excitment when you get let out.

I would treat it just like anything else, if you follow the NILIF rules I would make her obey a command before she exits the crate, if not that just let her out like it is a normal everyday thing. Don't act excited, don;t act dissapointed, just act normal.

Personally I like to leave the crate uncovered if possible, for obvious reasons, there is more air circulation.

And you are on the right track, never ler her out if she is behaving in a manor that is not acceptable.

[BOBS DAD]

How would you recommend conditioning her to being used to being in it?? I don't want to ONLY put her in it when I leave because that will teach her that when she goes in, I leave. Should I put her in periodically during the day while I'm home too? Should I cover it? Leave it uncovered? Leave a TV/radio on?

When I am home and she is inside, should I tell her "NO" for barking/whining or ignore completely?

Wew ignored Ginger and now Bob's barking, when they were inside crate and we were home. Usually they gave up. If they got to crazy and really drove us crazy, we would say "NO" and maybe a pet on the head through cage and go back to ignoring. It helps to leave a chewing toy or two. Also leave your door to cage wide open so they can go into on own if they feel like it. When they do, if they do, praise them like they just did a "wonderful thing" anf=d give them a treat. Make sure to set the treat inside the cage. If they are still in it, then you will giving it to then for being in it. If they have come back out by time you got the treat, then you are encouraging them to go back in by placing it in the cage for her to get.

Sometimes when they go in and slump down, just casually go over and quietly , without making a fuss, close the door and latch it. They may stand up and act like they want out but if you ignore they will slump back down. Just arbitrarily go over at some time and unlock it and open but don't necessarily "call them out" This way they will get used to the fact that sometimes it's open, sometimes it's not - no big deal and they can handle it!!!

Some people like to leave on radio or TV - I don't. I am purist and I think it is a waste of electricity, not to mention the wear on your picture tube.

I would not cover it as it seems to make them even more anxious when they hear something and can not see it.

[Jessika]

Hmm good points, guys, thanks a bunch

I do make her sit before opening the door to let her out. And good point about not being excited when I let her out - I had never even thought of that

Anyway any pointers from ANYONE is great and appreciated! Thanks a bunch, guys!!!

EDIT: OH crate placement. We have it in our living area now. Is that recommended? Our room would be perfect, but with the moving and new couch we have a chair up there and there is NO room for the crate lol I prefer it being in the living area, anyway, because that's where we are most of the day and where most of the activity happens.