To start I got Bandit at 11 weeks old, we bonded and he followed me all over the place. He is 18 weeks old now and suddenly terrified of me and I have never given him a reason to be scared of me. He refuses to leave his crate even after he has indicated he has to go outside to potty and I have to physically remove him from the crate by opening the top and lifting him out. Then he refuses to go outside so I have to physically pick him up and put him outside to go potty. Then again Physically lift him up to get him to go in to the house. These are the ONLY time he acts like this, he gets excited to see me when I get home from work, and still follows me around. I have tried to retrain for the crate again. Today I got him to come out of the crate using a fresh beef bone and then back in the house again using the bone. Is this normal behavior to become scared of something that he was never scared of before?? HELP! I absolutely love this furry idiot.
Hi,i can't help with your question in afraid,hopefully someone experienced will come along to help. Just wanted to say it's crazy isn't it,we love them sooo much but it's a minefield getting it right,training our pups!
Ok, so we're inderstanding, it's just when he need to either come out of his crate or go in or out of the door to outside? It's difficult to pick what it could be but it's possible that "something" has spooked Bandit when going through these openings. What he decided was scary could have easily been something so small that you wouldn't have even noticed. What it was probably doesn't even matter now, just focus on how you make it fun for him again. Just an idea (I'm definitely no expert) but perhaps look at playing some crate training games - send to crate, treat, release from crate, quick game of tug or similar, send to crate etc. So that he starts to associate the entry and exit of the crate as a positive. The only other thing is, if I've misinterpreted your post, and the incidents only occur during toileting, I'd check it out with the vet to make sure there's nothing else going on there.
Hi @JayJay13140 I would discontinue all the picking up. I think @Emily is right. Try to make going in and out of the crate rewarding and fun. You had a good idea of using a lure to encourage him in and out. I'd use lots of tasty treats rewarding for movements towards getting out and in. Bone doesn't favour multiple treats. Susan Garrett's https://www.susangarrett.com/crate-games-online/ might be worth investigating. Her DVD on crate games is rated highly.
Just when asked to go in and asked to come out of crate. He was great at it, all I had to say was 'Crate" and he would go right in cause he gets a treat every time he enters it. Same when He goes to go potty treated as soon as we come in the house. Today was weird he seems back to his normal self. Was excited to see me and jumped on me and was loving. Darn Ditzy dog.
