Obi has decided that he hates crates. He broke out of the fabric travel crate whilst on holiday. He's struggling to settle in his crate in the kitchen. Barking til about midnight when after trips down he eventually settles. He starts up again around 6:30. We're having building work done so his crate has been moved and the room looks and feels very different. I know what I'd tell someone else which is tough it out and not go down in conjunction with trying to make the crate a great place to be however.....Obi can keep up intermittent barking for hours, when he's barking he won't touch a Kong (frozen chappie filled) if he has human company he'll settle and if he's out he'll settle. I'd really, really like him to be happy in his crate, it's so useful but am I on a hiding to nothing and I should just give up or maybe give us all a break til the kitchen is finished and then start again with a proper plan? I have a puppy pen too but not enough space to leave it out full time. Thoughts........
He's a terrible wriggler so we'd have to get used to the noise and he would want to be up on the bed. He might learn to settle though. My husband would prefer the dogs to stay downstairs and I worry we'd be fueling his desire to be with people and he'd get worse at being left generally. I had a few problems when he was younger just leaving the room to go somewhere else in the house which produced barking. If I can help him learn to relax downstairs I'd rather do that.
I just either do't tell my OH or just do it. My middle Lab was a bit like this though we got through it eventually its hard to know what to do for the best though. Like you I was often torn and tried loads of different things I just think some pups just take time and are less easy going than others. She is one of the most intelligent labs i've ever had though Rory was a real problem and had to stay in his crate at night. He tried even to eat a washing machine. Hes 2 and a bit now and I have been leaving loose at night for about 3 weeks now and my OH hasn't realised yet. he he, he's been good so far.................
Yes that's exactly how I feel He's far too clever for his own good and nowhere near as accommodating as Riley.
Homer was quite happy to sleep in his crate until he was about 2 years old, then almost overnight he stopped wanting to go in at night yet was happy to go in during the day. So we simply shut him in the kitchen at night and eventually too the crate away. About a year later he started refusing to be shut in the kitchen and would start to get nervous or hide upstairs as it got closer to bed time. Forcing him into the kitchen at bedtime became stressful for everyone, and no amount of luring with the juiciest treats helped. So he now has the whole house to choise where to sleep, sometimes he gets up on our bed but will often find somewhere else to sleep. He's still happy to be shut in the kitchen during the day while he waits for his dog walker and will go and settle on his bed there as soon as I put my work shoes on.
Maybe leave the radio and nightlight on and a worn T Shirt of yours near the crate like we do with pups? .
I think I may give us all a bit of a break while the house is in upheaval and then start again from scratch as with a puppy....
That's exactly what I would do with a view to you having building work done,if you weren't, I'd be more on the tough it out side.But,house changes are disruptive,you are both needing to be up for work and have Lizzie's sleep,to consider ....get the house settled and start again....
I'm typing this and looking at our fabric one that currently dominates the lounge .....breaking out must have taken some doing ,he really meant to get out didn't he! Don't let him tell Dexter,he thinks his is made from steel ::
Will he settle in his pen? In which case, I'd leave him in his pen (even if it's a faff putting it up and down), have one more go at crate training from scratch (without leaving him in it overnight) and if that didn't work, then rethink. He's a norty one!
If it is any consolation Barbara, his sister is exactly the same! Amy will sleep in her crate at night but will create hell if I put her in there during the day. I have given up. She is loose in the kitchen with the others.
They are sooooooo alike I left him out in the end last night. I need some sleep!!! He's not noisy or destructive if I leave him out so I will try again when I have time and no builders in the house. It's just so useful for travelling if they'll go in a crate...... bonkers dog! lucky I love him
