Looking for a bit of dog training advice.
I've had my two year old lurcher for six months and took her to dog training last night with a local gun dog trainer. She's not a working dog, but the trainer has an excellent reputation.
One of the things he recommended was a crate to be used for internal kenneling going forward. When i'm out of the house or at night she pretty much has the whole house to roam. The idea is to create her small space within our large space.
Has anyone had any experience of crate usage, specifically for a dogs life rather than as a puppy training tool? She has no issues with toilet training etc.
We use one when we have people working oun the house or when we go on journeys. The dog loves to escape otherwise and disapears for hours when she does.
She cries a bit to start with but after that she's fine 🙂
What's your reason for using it? Or more to the point, what does the trainer think this will achieve?
Ours springer sleeps in a cage - he loves it and goes in radomly when he gets spooked. its like a small cave all covered over for him.
Doesnt get left in it during the day though - only overnight.
The reason is to reassert the her place in the household. She has been used to getting her own way when it comes to everyday life. She is petted, usually gets her food before my wife and I and is generally treated like a kid rather than a dog.
Don't get me wrong, she is obedient round the house, but you can tell from behaviour outside when we are on walks with barking at other dogs and running up to dogs before they get to us to defend.
She is also used to being up on "her" sofa.
Ours springer sleeps in a cage - he loves it and goes in radomly when he gets spooked. its like a small cave all covered over for him.
Thats what the trainer said. It shouldn't be used as a punishment, but should be seen as her own space where she can feel safe.
In that case, then yeah, sounds like a good idea. As a puppy mine had a cage that she went into at night. Now she's older it's not needed.
We have always used cages during puppy stage to keep them from trashing everything and to give the other dogs some peace. Don't see any reason to prolong this as it doesn't do anything.
The clues are in your mail. Being up on a sofa places her on equal level with you - she needs to be on the floor. Don't let her get her own way. You feed her when you want, not when she wants, etc.
My Springer loves his cage I have one in the car for traveling as well
but as the trainer said don't use it for punishment
Also try not to force them in to the crate at first. Just have the door open all the time and randomly put food treats of toys in it ,they will love getting in it after a while.