Crate Aggression

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

We have two doodles, and 5 dachshunds. All are crated for feedings. Lately, Casey (doodle) has started growling and lunging at Cody (crate next to Casey) or at any of the dachshunds if they get out of their crate and walk across the room.  Since he is closed up in his crate, he can't get to anyone or hurt them. Once everyone is finished eating and we remove the bowls, Casey has started guarding his crate, too. We have had to make him come out of his crate and close the door. Once that is done and no one can get into his crate, he is fine. I'm not really sure what to do about this behavior.

[Deborah Brown]

Penelope went through a stage like that.  We chose to change our routine and the problem was quickly resolved.  Can you feed Casey somewhere else that is not in close proximity to the other dogs?  Maybe for a few days on the back porch or a different room so that he feels safe and not threatened while eating?

My first guess on the crate guarding is that it is related to the food.  If you move the food out, you may solve that problem too.  If not, you can look at the resource guarding issue in more depth.  Sometimes they feel empowered to act out when they are safe behind the crate bars.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Thanks for those suggestions. I will certainly try feeding him in another room and see if that helps.  He is SUCH a sweetie at other times, but acts like a little devil in his crate. :)

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

How are things going since March, Joyce?  I have this with my dog who is 4 YO, but it has been an issue since he was a young puppy. Could be that he was the runt and had to fight for everything?  Not sure.  But his crate guarding, with or without food, is obnoxious.  He doesn't lash out at me or when I'm around (I guess I'm his pack leader), but as far as anyone else or my doodle are concerned - get within 3 feet and he's growling.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Actually, not much has changed. We tried moving him into another room to feed him, but he really didn't respond well to that. As long as he is in his crate, he continues to growl and lunge when any of the other dogs get close to his crate. So, we close and lock his crate when he isn't in it so that he can't get back in it. I'm afraid that if he was just lying in there without being locked in, that he may really lunge at and attempt to hurt one of the other dogs. However, when he isn't in the crate, he is sweet, gentle and a total love. He NEVER growls at or is aggressive toward anything unless he is in that crate.

[Theresa and Doodle Dagny]

I guess I should clarify, get within 3 feet of his crate and he's growling.

Yours sounds like my boy. Sweet dog when not in his crate. If you do ever find a solution, please tag me :)  Thanks!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Can you turn the crate another direction and cover it so Casey can't see a dog approaching? I guess in the scheme of things you are adjusting to Casey's quirk and working it out which may be the best you are going to get.

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Covering his crate is a great suggestion. I will try that. I've been so busy lately with family illnesses that I haven't had the time to concentrate on Casey's crate aggression. But hopefully, by tomorrow I will have my husband off of IV therapy three times a day, and will have my mother out of the hospital, so may actually have time to breath and think about Casey again! I will try covering his crate. I don't think I can turn it so that he doesn't see the other guys. I also think one thing that may help is not allowing him to stay in his crate after the dachshunds get out of their crate. The dachshunds scarf down their meals in no time, while Casey will eat a bit, lay down a bit, then get up for a few more bites. It may take him 30 minutes or more to eat. I think I am going to go back to the older method of allowing 10-15 minutes, then picking up all food bowls and letting them out of their crate. Hopefully, he will learn eat and quit "playing."

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You have a lot on your plate right now, however you can manage Casey while you are doing such important health stuff is what you have to do.  With your added information about letting the others out while he is still eating is helpful.  Perhaps he is simply protecting his dinner and just warning them off????

[Joyce (Casey & Cody's mom)]

Perhaps you are right. However, he growls and barks at them even when his bowl is empty. Last night and today, I left everyone in their crate for 20 minutes, then let Casey out first. No problems from him. The funny part is that since he got out first, he followed me to the dachshunds crate and one of them growled at him. He looked at me like he was crushed that they would growl at him. So funny. As soon as I let everyone out, they were all fine. Perhaps I solved the problem with a very simple action.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Yay!!!!