You’ve crate trained your dog and yet he still manages to escape and tear up your entire house. You don’t want to get rid of him but you are at your wits end. It is enough to make you want to wash your hands of the entire dog owning thing. One dog owner finds out the hard way that crate training never stops.
Question:
My dog is crate trained and he manages to escape at night and when we are gone from the home and tears up the house. He has done this SEVERAL times…I am hoping that someone might have an idea of how I can train him NOT to do this. I love him dearly but I can’t keep dealing with these messes.
Answer:
I can totally understand and appreciate your frustration in this situation. It is never nice to wake up to a house that has been damaged by your loving dog.
My first concern is the type of crate you are using. Generally, well-designed crates are almost impossible to escape. If you have a plastic crate, you will definitely want to invest in an all-metal crate with a plastic pull out bottom and double locking door. This is the best type of crate for Labrador Retrievers specifically because this particular dog breed is not only highly cleaver but also an avid chewer.
When you have a plastic crate, Labrador Retrievers can easily chew their way out of the crate or create an opening large enough for them to pull themselves through. The problem here is that you not only have a dog that has escaped but also those piece of plastic may be fatally ingested.
The most highly ranked dog crate, regardless of breed, is the Midwest Life Stages Dog Crate. Dog forums and dog owners alike love this crate because it is safe, functional, grows with the dog and is almost impossible to escape.
With your new crate, you will also want to begin crate training your pup again. Although he may be considered create trained in your house, his escapes show that he is not fully crate trained. For further information, please read this blog post on crate training your dog.
Between the new crate and consistent training, this problem should be easily resolved and there will be no reason to remove your beloved dog from your family. Just remember to stay persistent in your training and let your dog know the difference between good and bad behavior in your pack.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I have this exact crate & my black lab/australian shepherd mix can still escape. He hurts himself in the process AND destroys my house. I’m at my wits end & do not know what to do.
I just adopted a lab/shepherd mix, and the second day he got out of the crate when I was at work. The top latch was undone, not sure how he did that, but i guess he squeezed through the tiny opening. He is 55 pounds so I am not sure how he got through there. any thoughts.
Greg – It depends on what type of crate you use. We use the Midwest Life Stages Dog Crates, which have a double lock and are made of wire. This is usually better for escape artists and aggressive chewers.
What Are The Benefits Of A Midwest Dog Crate
If you are reading this I am guessing you have a dog or new puppy and are in need of a Dog Crate. It must be very confusing with all the products out there to make sure you get the best for your pet. In my humble opinion I feel the Midwest Dog Crate is one of the finest out there. Why you ask? It is a very well made and good quality crate. Also, you will find a variety of styles and sizes to meet your needs. If you have a puppy it is a great way to help housebreak your pet. With the Midwest Crate you can buy the correct size crate you will need for your pet when he is full grown, and adjust the size to accommodate your puppy as he grows with a divider panel. The benefit of this is you only need to purchase one crate. You may have a puppy that is a large breed such as a Newfoundland or Great Dane, or maybe you have a small breed like a Yorkshire Terrier or Toy Poodle. Whatever the size, weight, or breed of your animal, a Midwest Crates can accommodate your needs. Not only is the size of the Crate important but the strenght of the Crate is also important for different breeds. These crates come in a variety of wire thickness and placement to create a strong, durable, and safe design. They have rounded corners for your pets protection. All styles are easy to set up and many come in a fold and carry configuration. Another fine feature you can choose from is the door placement or the amount of doors you want on your crate. You have the choice of a single door, double door, or even a triple door crate. Each of these doors comes with a safe and secure slide latch bolt to make sure the door stays closed.
Now that I have stated why I feel the Midwest Dog Crate is one of the finest made, let me offer a few benefits of using one.
1. Crate Training is a great technique for housebreaking your new puppy.
2. Crate Training is a great technique for saving your house from being
destroyed by a destructive puppy.
3. With a Crate you can create the den-like atmosphere that your pet requires
to feel safe and secure.
4. Most Midwest Crates come in a Fold and Carry configuration which requires no
tools for setting it up. This makes it easy to move from room to room.
5. Most crates come with a divider panel which allows you to adjust the
length of the pets living area as your puppy grows into adult size.
6. All Crates with the exception of the Large Breed Crate (sold separately)
come with the plastic pan for the bottom of the crate.
If you are planning to purchase your new Midwest Crate online, make sure you shop around. Prices can vary. Also, watch out for “Free Shipping” offers. I have found that most (not all) “Free Shipping” is not so. The cost of shipping is actually added to the cost of the Crate, so do some comparison shopping before you make your purchase.
{ 2 trackbacks }