Crate training

[Fiona]

Hi,
Just picked up our adorable boy yesterday and he's settling in nicely. We've just started crate training, however contrary to what the book said (!) stuffed chew toys don't make him want to go in to the crate. Does anyone have tips on how I can make the crate more attractive for him? Also, naturally enough he's nipping the kids. Normal behaviour I know but I guess I should be trying to stop this behaviour now? Anyone got any suggestions? He's just not interested in the chew toys.

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We used AnnaBelle's kibble as rewards for crate time.  She quickly learned that going in her crate earned her a few yummies.  She would run in turn around sit down and look at the little treat bag.  We didn't so much train during the day for crate time.  Just night time.  The crate was raised on a chest right beside my side of the bed where I could put my hand out and soothe her if she was restless.  If I put my hand out with a few little shhhhh, and it didn't work then I knew we needed to go out for a potty break.  I wouldn't keep a lot of "stuff" in her crate.  They seem to get hot.  We had an exercise pen set up in the main part of the house for during the daytime.  If she got a little too rambunctious then I'd just put her in the pen with something to chew on for a little while.  If she doesn't seem interested in chew toys it is going to be a little more challenging.  Try a few different types of them.  Some have a preference.  Get some puppy nylabones or something like that.  As for the nipping you are going to have to train everyone in the house.  Normally you would redirect it by giving a toy.  One of the main things is going to be consistency.  No one can encourage it or allow it.  Don't run from him or if he gets the pants legs, don't drag him and try to get away.  All these are going to be perceived as playing.  Many recommend that you put the puppy on a leash and tie him to your belt loop so that he is always with you and you can correct his behaviors.  I have not had to do that as we don't have children in the house and we've been able to manage it.  I would not however let him have complete access to the house.  I'd get some puppy gates and make a small area.  One resource you might consider is Doggie Dan  ( theonlinedogtrainer.com )      He has a complete series on raising the puppy with videos that address specific issues.  He gives the problem and then shows a video of putting the solution into action while training his little puppy Moses.  He is very good.

[Fiona]

Thanks so much for your advise. Yes the lack of chew toy interest is a problem because I have nothing to redirect him to. Day 2 down and his nipping is definitely causing concern. He's a singleton so I feel like I'm already on the back foot on bite inhibition. He goes bananas when he sees the kids, especially the 5 yr old who he seems to see as his equal. When she's in the picture he gets v excited v quickly and within minutes he's chewing hard at her ankles. His teeth are sharp and it hurts. I'm really keen to handle this properly for obvious reasons. I had to prize his jaws apart a couple of times today to get him off her. They are v fond of each other so I don't want to keep them apart. Have you any suggestions on what I should do to when he goes for her like that?

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

One of the things that they talk about for biting is to yell "OUCH" really loudly when he does it.  Tell him "NO BITE".  Be sure to reward him when he doesn't.  Also "Be a Tree".  Teach her to turn her back to him, and cross her arms in the front and stand still.  If there is no response to the nipping, then hopefully it will stop.  Also, be sure the kids aren't running of place to place.  Walk slowly.   You can also involve the kids in the feeding and treating so that the puppy learns that they are not part of his pack, that they are part of the alpha team because they control the food.  The good news is around 4-5 months the teeth will start coming out.  If he is being just really crazy (picture an over tired toddler) then it is crate time for a little time out and nap.

[Fiona]

Thanks for that. I tried it a few times today and it worked well. I'm actually really enjoying the time when it's just me and him. Training and playing is fun. It all goes pear shaped when my 5 yr old in the picture. I told her today to turn her back and stop play when he chews at her ankles. She did just that and he went straight for her calf while she was turned and bit hard, breaking the skin and leaving her in tears. He just wouldn't let go and I had to separate his jaws to get him off her. I really need to find a way to get her to show him she's boss and not an equal. I'll definitely give to treats things a go and make her move around a bit slower too. Thanks again.

[Leslie J]

I wouldn't give up on the crate training, even if he doesn't like it! I have young children, and I am so glad Cocoa is crate trained. Sometimes when the kids are playing actively she gets over excited and I pop her into the crate. Sometimes we'll have kids over who are afraid of large dogs or Cocoa is too excited about the visitors and again she goes into her crate. Usually she can settle down after 5 minutes or so and I open the door again (this was not the case when she was a puppy, though).

[Fiona]

Thanks Leslie. I'm definitely not giving up, it's so important I have somewhere to put him when he gets over excited. Did you have problems with him initially going for the kids pants? I'm conscious of how important socialisation is at the moment, but I'm afraid to ask kids over because he's chewing too hard on my own kids and I wouldn't want to upset the other kids or for them to be afraid of him. Is this normal for 8 weeks? Any suggestions on how I get him to leave their legs alone apart from pulling him off them?

[Leslie J]

I kept Cocoa tethered a great deal of the time. I stayed in the room when she was tethered to make sure everything went well. If she was playing nicely, the kids would stay near her and pet her. When she got too excited they would move away. If she started to nip they would move away. She didn't have the chance to nip their pants because she rarely was off leash when they were about. I think the cause and effect of losing their attention if she didn't play nicely helped her learn. They also felt safe because they could move away easily.

I also taught them to always bring a toy when they approached her so if she was nippy they could slide the toy into her mouth. If frequently stopped the nipping. I found that I spent most of my time training the kids how to act around her, not training her how to act around them.

[Fiona]

Thanks Leslie. I tried the tethered thing today. The kids were delighted, the dog was not! But it does seem to be the only way of controlling him around them. So did you keep play and exercise sessions to just you and Cocoa or were the kids able to get involved at all?

[Wendy and Myla]

Fiona, I would definitely join the Puppy Madness group - there is soooo much advice there about crates, nipping etc.  I have had four different puppies and I have to tell you that Myla was the absolute worst for nipping and biting!  She had me in tears many times (and I don't have young children any more, only grandkids once a week).  The nipping lasted until she was four months old and that was the worst period ever!  The teeth hurt and my feelings also were hurt!  I really think that with three young children, tethering him to you is your best bet - at least you can control her when the kids are around.  What worked for me with Myla (and all of my previous dogs) is that the living room is out of bounds.  I know this sounds weird but Myla has full run of the rest of the house (family room, kitchen etc) which is where we spend most of our time.  The nice thing about the living room being out of bounds is that when our grandkids are over and they needed a break from the nipping, they just played in the living room and when we have company, we don't have to worry about Myla's tail knocking over drinks or if any of our visitors don't  love dogs. .  It was easy to train Myla not to go in the living room as we did that right from the start!  It's actually funny how Myla knows that she can't play with the kids once they're in the living room so she tries to "herd" them before they get there.  It's the kids "safe space" and Myla just lays at the edge of the carpet and watches everything and her tail starts to wag as soon as she thinks they're going to "her territory".  I know this isn't for everyone, but it definitely works for us.

[Fiona]

Thank you! I'll try the tethering thing and see what happens. To be honest I think as soon as he sees the kids he'll try to get to them, tether or not! The nipping does hurt, mentally and physically - those teeth are sharp! My five year old was in tears twice today and I felt so bad because she has been waiting so long for him and the last thing I want is for things to turn sour. I only give him access to one room at the moment (and the garden) so the kids have options if they need time away from him. To think this discussion started as a crate training query, now it has morphed into a biting inhibition cry for help! I just joined the puppy madness group. Fingers crossed.

[Stella]

I had to spray my hands and legs with Bitter Apple to stop my LD from biting me when he was a puppy. He was ferocious and this was one of the only things that helped! If you can get hold of Susan Garett's Crate Games DVD, it really helped my crate phobic second dog.

[Fiona]

Thanks, I'll see if I can get my hands on the DVD. And the spray!