Some Bad News

[Cincy'sMom]

Originally posted by shais_mom
but crate training your dog is an asset, not a punishment.

I totally agree with this. Our dogs go very willingly into their crates. They do not feel they are being punished at all, ot I don't think they would run in, tail wagging.

My parents dogs also enjoy their crates, esp., their older dogs. They will go into them and lay down whenthe younger pups are getting to be too much.

Even at Dayschool, where we take our dogs to play, they are put into crates twice a day. This is not a punishment, but with 50 dogs playing for 8 hours a day, they need a break. It helps give every one a time out anda chance to relax....playing is toughin work

[shais_mom]

Originally posted by CattleDogMom
I am home with Casey all day. If I have to go somewhere, he goes with us. He is NEVER alone.

Then you have a luxury that alot of people don't have which is why crate training is such a good tool. Yes, there are some dogs that never see the inside of a crate and are just fine, but others need it. The biggest thing that people say about crates is that the dog thinks that it is their den and they need a place like that. Not saying that some dogs freak out in a crate, some just don't like it either.
Keegan doesn't mind it for the most part, but she is only in her's when I am not there, usually.

[shais_mom]

Originally posted by CattleDogMom
Ok...

Here is am example of what he is doing. I woke up to a horrible sound last night. I saw him chewing on the walls! He was literally chewing on the door frame!

It's getting to where I have to put him out back if I even want a moment's peace just to drink my coffee.
He chews everything in site...shoes, clothes, toys, ect. He goes thorugh about 5 rawhyde and pig bones a week, and has already shredded a BLACK Kong!

If he is exhibiting this behaivor while you are sleeping, crating him sounds like a good way to stop it.
Cattle dogs need a job to do, and herding and being on a ranch is great for them. But I don't agree with the dog being outside, I came from a family that only had outside dogs, and I wouldn't have one now. If they are truly a part of the family, they need to be included as such.

I do wish you luck in your decision, I know that your heart is breaking. Please accept my apologies.

[GoldenRetrLuver]

I think crating seems like a good idea. Its not a horrible thing to do for dogs. Im sure it will help some. Good Luck.

[CattleDogMom]

I have seen these crates at PetCo. About how much do they cost.? I will try it. Also, I don't know if this is the right thing to do, but I have been getting up with Casey every morning about 3AM to take him pee pee and poo poo. Like getting up to change a newborn diapper, right? My mate says I shouldn't let him get used to this.


Second, I agree with the staying outside thing not being good because that's when Casey is at his calmest, at night when the whole family in in the room watching a movie and he likes to lay with us, and also he sleeps with me all snuggely, and I think he needs that.

This couple did tell me to take as long as I need and they would not contact me until I contact them after I have made my decision. I must give them credit on respecting my need for time and space and all of that.

But I look at Casey and I CRY! He looks at me like, "I'm sorry Mamma, I'll try harder" and then I say "I CAN'T DO IT!"

or maybe I'm so stressed by this that my mind is playing tricks on me.

[binka_nugget]

I think that's very wise of you to be willing to try. Our crate cost about 50 dollars (canadian). It shouldn't cost more than 100 for you since Casey isn't a giant or anything. If you search ebay or some other places for used ones, you might be able to find a good deal on one.

About the potty thing, whatever works for you and Casey I guess. Kai goes out when I wake up. Sometimes, at 5am and other times at 2pm. Kai's very reliable in the house. We have a crate for him to eat in and go in if he needs to calm down or something. I've used it to punish him (in a way) by excluding him when he did something really naughty. I've also used it for good things like giving treats and playing with his toys in there. He goes in at his own will now.

Try everything you can before seperating with Casey. I know you said that obedience doesn't really work with you two but maybe try mixing it with some fun? Kai will very rarely 'down' on command but he'll ALWAYS go 'find ashley' or 'find nathan'. I figured that he'd always do the hide and seek thing rather than down because it's more enjoyable. It also calms him down on rainy days when I'd rather not walk outside. When I can't physically exhaust Kai, I mentally exhaust him. Never fails.

[HoRsELUvR]

good luck with your dog.i hope the crate works.

[CattleDogMom]

I CAN'T DO IT!

I just can't. I can't give up on him after I nursed him back to health when he had NO ONE. I'm all he has. And, other than the jerk that abandoned him, I am all he knows.

I am looking at crates. I know if I stick with him he will be the greatest dog when he isn't such a baby anymore.

Regards, Crystal

[Karen]

Oh good! Any doggie daycares near you? Maybe he'd like to be trained as a Therapy Dog, and visit schools, nursing homes and hospitals? Agility classes/teams nearby?

Give that dog a job! And a nice crate to rest in - maybe Kim can tell you where she got Kia's, as Kia and Casey are probably similar in size ...

[Cookiebaker]

Casey's only 6 months old and still a puppy. You can't expect that he's going to suddenly KNOW everything, he needs to be TAUGHT. And that takes lots & lots of time and energy. (I know I have a 1 year old. I'm still in the process). Don't give up on him. It DOES get better.

I for one, would have gone loony a long time ago without the crate. I was against it at first, because I didn't think it was humane to cramp up a dog's life. But I found that it gave me total & complete piece of mind that I knew where Malone was, and that he wasn't getting into trouble. And also, we put effort into teaching Malone new things so that his mind was stimulated everyday. He is still naughty sometimes, but he's still a puppy.

Also, I read in your first few posts that you didn't think that puppy classes were doing much good. Take them again. And again. And again. This August we are headed back into beginning classes for the second time. Malone STILL doesn't have it down pat. But we keep working with him, and trust that the end result will work out.

Best of Luck with Casey. And I mean that! Work with him everyday, and when you get frustrated put it aside for 15 minutes. And then pick up again.

[kingrattus]

I'm 100% with the crating idea. It did wonders for Max. Max was a puppy terror, chewed everything he saw, even while we were there. Dad bought a metal crate (we called it a kennel), & every time we were gone he was either in it or locken in the kitchen with his kennel. At night he was always in it. We never fed him in it. & for the first few years he loved it, it was his home. After 1 year he was never locked up in it, he slept in there on his own, & if he got in doo doo, we told him to go to his kennel & he did & stayed there for awhile.

We only took the kennel away when he was too big for it. The pet store said he would be about 30 pounds & well he grew to 80 pounds & the kennel was for a med dog, not a large. Now he has his own couch/chair (depends where hes sleeping at)

[CattleDogMom]

Well, I havn't put him in any classes because the only guy around here wants $150 per class! HOLY COW! So I had bought a bunch of used dog training bookd for dummies from ebay and read them and am trying to do it myself. Is that bad?


OH! I just snapped this a few minutes ago.



and, I just bought this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=2334831828

is this what you all were talking about?

[Karen]

Originally posted by CattleDogMom
Well, I havn't put him in any classes because the only guy around here wants $150 per class! HOLY COW! So I had bought a bunch of used dog training bookd for dummies from ebay and read them and am trying to do it myself. Is that bad?

Well, keep looking, as Sacramento's a big city ... a "class" has the added value of socialization with other dogs. Call the local Humane Society, and ask your vet, too, if they know of any classes ...




What a great picture!

[CattleDogMom]

I'm not in Sacramento...I'm in a small town called Roseville about an hour away going toward Reno.

I take him to the Bark Park everyday to try to get some socialization in. He does very well, he does best when other herding dogs are there. He does NOT like Labs, though, for some odd reason.

[Twisterdog]

First off, I feel like I'm sort of being attacked and judged by you.

Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel bad ... but I tend to call them like I see them. I seemed to me that whenever anyone suggested something to try, you had a reason ready as to why it wouldn't work, or that you'd already tried it, or that you couldn't afford it, etc. Just seemed to me that you really didn't want help and suggestions after all, since you seemed to be shooting down every suggestion without even giving it a thought first.

I also missed it the first time, I suppose, that your dog is only six months old. (Probably a good thing I did! ) Six months old is right in the middle of the rebellious teenage stage dogs go through ... just like a sixteen year old kid. Almost ALL dogs act up at that age!

I'm glad to see you are willing to try crating. You can find used crates at yard sales almost any weekend for $5 - $10.