First Time Out of the Crate for Vern and Fudge!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Fudge and Vern only get crated when we leave to go somewhere. My goal in 2011 is to get rid of these two huge crates in my foyer. Tonight, we went to dinner, closed up all the bedrooms, put all the food out of reach and decided to see how they would do out of the crates while we were gone. I had them go into their crates when we left and put a peanut butter kong in the crate with them, but left the door slightly open. When we got home, I peeked in the window and Vern was still in his crate. I don't think he ever left the crate. Fudge was out and seemed perfectly fine. When Vern saw me, he looked terrified and started barking. Fudge was too busy confiscating both kongs and did not appear worried in the least.

 

This is what a stressed out Vern looks like. I took this picture after we had been home a bit.

The first thing I saw when I got home was his blanket that was in his crate with him. He has NEVER chewed it before.

He must have chewed it the entire time we were gone and we did not find any of the pieces. The rest of the house was undisturbed. The blanket did not survive :(

My plan of action is to continue to try short periods of time out of the crate while we go somewhere,  no more blankets in the crate, and leave a marrow bone or something when we leave. Does anyone else have any suggestions? Or should we just continue crating. I am not even sure Vern knew how to get out of the crate or to push the door open, but probably realized Fudge was out. For all I know, Fudge realized she had the advantage, grabbed his kong and ran and he was stressed about that too. All my DH said was, "Some people get smart dogs and some people don't," so he was no help :) Has anyone else had problems when they stopped crating with a dog being afraid or should I just not worry about it??

[Jennifer and Jack]

When I stopped crating Jack, I just stopped,  His crate was always left in my bedroom which he never has access to when I am not home. I keep my office and bedroom door closed at all times because I am afraid of him getting into my medications. Not that he ever has but I don't want to take any chances.

 

I would assume Vern was nervous because he though Fudge was doing a no no and he was trying his hardest not to. I would suggest not putting them in the crate if you are leaving the house, otherwise you are sending mixed signals. When I leave the house, I leave the radio or TV on, I make sure he recently pottied, and I shut the doors I want shut and I leave. No good byes ever... If he happens to see me leaving, I give him a treat but I never send him to his crate,  because he is only released from his crate if I say so. BTW  I don't crate anymore ever. but it is still in the house.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Jennifer. I think Vern just feels more secure in his crate and Fudge is fine either way, so I think I will just crate.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Mine still get crated and I think we all feel better. I'm rarely away for more than a few hours and they have water bottles. If I go out momentarily they are always on the lookout for me when I return. They do the same thing in the car.  In the crates they relax and snooze. So my dining room looks like the zoo, good excuse not to have much company : )

[Jennifer and Jack]

lol at f

[Jennifer and Jack]

My issue with crating is a personal one. I most definitely should not post this on the internet but when I leave the house, every one of my neighbors knows where the key is to get in. I believe if a dog is more likely to get into trouble then a crate is more safe.

 

My brother who lives in NC recently had his neighbors house burn down to the very ground. He happen to be home. He knew the people had five dogs, three cats and some kind of rat type creature. The house was burning ablaze, my brother selflessly broke through the windows and started calling for the dogs, all the dogs were crated on the other side of the house where the fire was blazing. He crawled through glass and got all five dogs out, none of the cats or rat type creatures, but it came at a great risk for him.

 

If those dogs were loose in the house, when my brother broke the window they most likely would have come to him because they knew him.  Jack knows all my neighbors and if anyone of them called him, he would go running to them.

 

I would not expect anyone of my neighbors to risk their life for Jack, would I want them to, YES. I am just being honest, but not really, They all have kids, and families etc. They could not nor would I want them to crawl through my house to get my trapped baby out.

 

Maybe if it didn't happen so close to home, I would feel differently. My brother could have died, the whole house collapsed.

 

Now if your dog is likely to eat poison, choke on something bad, or do something then you have to weigh the risk. For me Jack is with me as much as possible now that he is training to be my working dog. But when he is home, he is not crated.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

We live in the boondocks and god forbid, we ever had a fire, I would worry about them in or out of the crates. Your brother did a good thing!

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

Five years ago, my family did suffer the loss of our home due to a house fire.  When Wally is home alone, I leave all of the interior doors open, so that he would be able to get as far away from any danger as possible.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

What a terrible thing to have happen to you. Our daughter's fifth grade teacher went to an amusement park for the day and came home to find her home burned down. Thank you for your good advice.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Getting rid of the crates just may be a dream. I think Vern needs the security of the crate. Fudge would be fine either way.

[Linda and Murphy]

Laurie, the only time I have ever had trouble with Murphy is if I leave the house after I come home from work. Last week he chewed up the book I was reading after I left for a meeting. In the mornings when I leave for work, I give him a hollow bone with peanut butter. He loves it and knows I am leaving for  awhile.  His crate is back in the house but only so he can get away from DS puppy.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sometimes, I think Fudge likes it too, because I leave her food in there and Vern can not bother her while she is eating. Murphy said, "I'll show her what happens to her book when she leaves. " LOL

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

What if you told them to go in their crates but then left the door to the crate completely open?  If they wanted to go back in during the day they could, but then Vern could definitely have a way out :)