Question:
We have a 7 month old English Cocker Spaniel (male, fixed) that we keep in his crate for 5-6 hrs/day and 6-7 hrs/night. We have tried to make the crate as comfortable as possible by putting either blankets or pillows in it for him. Unfortunately, he has taken to destroying these items in record time ( < 2 days). He is generally a reasonably well behaved dog (particulary for 7 months), but he is very destructive in his crate. Any suggestions on how to reduce the behavior, or is there an indestructible blanket/pillow we could put in the crate?
Response:
> We have a 7 month old English Cocker Spaniel (male, fixed) that we keep > in his crate for 5-6 hrs/day and 6-7 hrs/night. We have tried to make > the crate as comfortable as possible by putting either blankets or > pillows in it for him. Unfortunately, he has taken to destroying these > items in record time ( < 2 days). He is generally a reasonably well > behaved dog (particulary for 7 months), but he is very destructive in > his crate. Any suggestions on how to reduce the behavior, or is there > an indestructible blanket/pillow we could put in the crate?
Go, Cocker! You keep him confined to a crate for 11-13 hours per day? Uh, gee, I don’t know why he’d be frustrated by this. I certainly can understand some daytime confinement, esp. if he’s destructive. But why at night? Is the crate near you, or at the opposite side of the house? Is this guy neutered or not? Not that it makes a large difference, IMO, but if I was locked away in a cell for 1/2 of every day, I’d chew my "crate" too! How big is the crate in relation to the dog? –or vice-versa!– It shouldn’t be too large, or that also gives him room for destructive behaviors. He sounds bored to me, have you tried a Kong dog toy? Fill it w/p butter or milk bones, and let him work out his hostility thru that. Also, is he getting enough exercise when he is granted a reprieve? I take my guys on long "jaunts" 2x/dy. One in the morning, right before I get ready for work, one right before I go to bed. They’re pooped afterwards, and more than willing to hang out in a crate for a few hours. Well, actually, that was just during puppydom, although their crates are still accessible, both dogs/3cats have full run of the house these days, without a single problem. I also come home daily for lunch, and get them out for at least 10 mins then as well. If you can’t exercise him that much, look into a pet sitter/dog walker. I take my dogs separately, so they each get "a piece of me" alone, but then I need the exercise more than they do (smile). See if some choice toys and extra attention outside the crate relieves the problem. I found a regular "human" comforter or thermal blanket(a nicer one) to be very sturdy during puppydom, the thermal blankets are woven really nicely, and it seems hard to destroy. Good luck, and please, consider the length of time this guy stays alone confined. He won’t be a "good citizen" if he’s an anti-social. –although a huge animal lover, and a pet-sitter as a moonlite profession, I am not an expert technically, but I have tons of practical experience–every dog’s different, but try looking at it from his angle.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> We have a 7 month old English Cocker Spaniel (male, fixed) that we keep > in his crate for 5-6 hrs/day and 6-7 hrs/night. We have tried to make > the crate as comfortable as possible by putting either blankets or > pillows in it for him. Unfortunately, he has taken to destroying these > items in record time ( < 2 days). He is generally a reasonably well > behaved dog (particulary for 7 months), but he is very destructive in > his crate. Any suggestions on how to reduce the behavior, or is there > an indestructible blanket/pillow we could put in the crate? > Go, Cocker! You keep him confined to a crate for 11-13 hours per day? > Uh, gee, I don’t know why he’d be frustrated by this. I certainly can > understand some daytime confinement, esp. if he’s destructive. But why at > night? Is the crate near you, or at the opposite side of the house? Is > this guy neutered or not? Not that it makes a large difference, IMO, but > if I was locked away in a cell for 1/2 of every day, I’d chew my "crate" > too! How big is the crate in relation to the dog? –or vice-versa!– It > shouldn’t be too large, or that also gives him room for destructive > behaviors.
He was neutered 5 days ago, but the problem has spanned the neutering. I know 11-13 hr/day sounds like a lot, but 6-7 of it is when I’m asleep and I’m confined to my bed. The night time confinement is for 2 reasons: (1) we are worried about destructive/dangerous (to him) behavior at night, (2) he throws a huge fit (whining and barking) when we leave him alone in the house outside his crate. This happens even if I just go outside to get the mail (for example). The crate is on the first floor while I sleep on the second. When he was a pup I kept his crate in the bedroom while I slept, but I don’t want to move the crate up/down stairs every day. The crate is medium-sized. He can stand up, and lay out length ways in it, but there isn’t room to do much more. > He sounds bored to me, have you tried a Kong dog toy? Fill it > w/p butter or milk bones, and let him work out his hostility thru that.
Have not tried this specified toy, but will look into it. Thanks. He always has a nylon bone and a rubber chew toy, but that obviously isn’t sufficient. > Also, is he getting enough exercise when he is granted a reprieve? I take > my guys on long "jaunts" 2x/dy.
Our routine is as follows: 6:30 AM - 1.5 mile brisk walk / play outside 7:00 – breakfast 7:30-10:30 – general play, etc. 10:30 – 4 - crate 4:00 – 1.5 mile brisk walk / play outside 4:30 – dinner 5 – 11 – general play, etc. 11 – 6:30 – crate – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> One in the morning, right before I get > ready for work, one right before I go to bed. They’re pooped afterwards, > and more than willing to hang out in a crate for a few hours. Well, > actually, that was just during puppydom, although their crates are still > accessible, both dogs/3cats have full run of the house these days, without > a single problem. I also come home daily for lunch, and get them out for > at least 10 mins then as well. If you can’t exercise him that much, look > into a pet sitter/dog walker. I take my dogs separately, so they each get > "a piece of me" alone, but then I need the exercise more than they do > (smile). See if some choice toys and extra attention outside the crate > relieves the problem. I found a regular "human" comforter or thermal > blanket(a nicer one) to be very sturdy during puppydom, the thermal > blankets are woven really nicely, and it seems hard to destroy. > Good luck, and please, consider the length of time this guy stays alone > confined. He won’t be a "good citizen" if he’s an anti-social.
Given how badly he destroys anything in his crate, I’m very concerned about giving him the run of the house when I’m not there. I would LOVE to let him stay out of his crate. I guess I could let him loose in one of the spare bedrooms and see what happens, but that really won’t give him much more freedom. There really isn’t much else he can do when I’m not there to entertain himself. It’s not like he’ll be grabbing a beer from the fridge and watching Oprah if I let him out of the crate. Won’t he just get bored outside the crate and eat my couch?
Response:
>We have a 7 month old English Cocker Spaniel (male, fixed) that we keep >in his crate for 5-6 hrs/day and 6-7 hrs/night. We have tried to make >the crate as comfortable as possible by putting either blankets or >pillows in it for him. Unfortunately, he has taken to destroying these >items in record time ( < 2 days). He is generally a reasonably well >behaved dog (particulary for 7 months), but he is very destructive in >his crate. Any suggestions on how to reduce the behavior, or is there >an indestructible blanket/pillow we could put in the crate?
Your doggy does not like to be away from you. He wants to get out to be hugged. My English Cocker Spaniel sleeps with me in the bed and gets hugged all night. Let your doggy out of the stupid cage and into your life to be hugged. Tony
Response:
>> We have a 7 month old English Cocker Spaniel (male, fixed) that we keep > in his crate for 5-6 hrs/day and 6-7 hrs/night. We have tried to make > the crate as comfortable as possible by putting either blankets or > pillows in it for him. Unfortunately, he has taken to destroying these > items in record time ( < 2 days).
To answer your question – at room temperature, most dogs don’t NEED a blanket or crate pad. If he destroys ‘em, don’t put one in. <shrug> Beats the heck out of surgery for an impaction, if he eats part of the silly thing and gets a bowel obstruction. >Go, Cocker! You keep him confined to a crate for 11-13 hours per day? >Uh, gee, I don’t know why he’d be frustrated by this.
Neither do I. A properly trained, exercised and entertained pup should have very little trouble with this amount of confinement. > I certainly can >understand some daytime confinement, esp. if he’s destructive. But why at >night?
‘Cause some folks are heavy sleepers, others are light sleepers, some have cats who resent being chased through the house at 3am, others have grumpy dogs who smooosh rude puppies at 4am. Except for the light sleeper, my household contains all of the above… >Is this guy neutered or not?
Relevance? > Not that it makes a large difference, IMO, but >if I was locked away in a cell for 1/2 of every day, I’d chew my "crate" >too!
Darling, unless you’re much more talented than the average canine, you aren’t a dog. What is good and appropriate for humans isn’t necessarily good and appropriate for dogs. And vice versa. The dog is shredding the crate pad/blanket – this is very normal puppy behavior. >… try looking at it from his angle.
According to Sam, his angle is stuff that rips and tears and goes all puffy is REALLY COOL! Even better if there’s a squeaky in there somewhere to kill. His motto: "the only good stuffed animal is a dead stuffed animal!" Mary H. & the Ames carpet killers (ret.)
Response:
Kyle asks: >We have a 7 month old English Cocker Spaniel (male, fixed) that we keep >in his crate for 5-6 hrs/day and 6-7 hrs/night. We have tried to make >the crate as comfortable as possible by putting either blankets or >pillows in it for him. Unfortunately, he has taken to destroying these >items in record time ( < 2 days). He is generally a reasonably well >behaved dog (particulary for 7 months), but he is very destructive in >his crate. Any suggestions on how to reduce the behavior, or is there >an indestructible blanket/pillow we could put in the crate?
A no-brainer here – DO NOT LEAVE A BLANKET IN THE CRATE! A very large number of 7 month old puppies are at their destructive best (for several months I might add!). He’s alone, he’s bored, he’s [appropriately[ confined. what is there to do? WOW _ these things are FUN to tear up! Your dog doesn’t NEED a blanket. Make sure the crate is in a warm enough area – leave him with his toy in his crate and forget cushy-ness for the next several months. Since I "read ahead" before posting, may I suggest that you confine him, crateless to your bedroom with you at night (no crate to lug up and down)? Clear the floor, put shoes in the closet and close the bedroom door (or gate it). this give him some non-lonely time, out of the crate, but not directly interacting with you. It’s very hard for a pup to be crated all day while you work, and the again at night (and in another part of the house to boot!). Janet Boss Best Friends Dog Obedience "Nice Manners for the Family Pet" "If you think posters misunderstand your posts and jump to conclusions, re-read before you post a message, and make sure you have been clear and complete with your information."
Response:
> He was neutered 5 days ago, but the problem has spanned the >neutering.
I’m not sure what the reason behind getting him neutered was but it’s a bit of a waste of time as far as this type of behaviour is concerned. Neutering helps some problems but not what your are describing. – not a fix it all – but is popular with some folk. > Have not tried this specified toy, but will look into it. >Thanks. He >always has a nylon bone and a rubber chew toy, but that obviously isn’t >sufficient.
Dogs need company and play. They do not need miles and miles of exercise – just enough to keep them fit – Quality rather than quantity in everything you do. > Given how badly he destroys anything in his crate, I’m very >concerned about giving >him the run of the house when I’m not there. I would LOVE to let him >stay out of his >crate. I guess I could let him loose in one of the spare bedrooms and >see what happens, but
I think you might regret that. You have to train the dog to behave. It won’t on it’s own. When folk talk about training there is an obsession with obedience and stuff like that – there’s a lot more to it than all that. Without sounding too boring I think you might find reading some of the more modern books on dog training quite revealing- go for something that doesn’t mess about – "Culture Clash" (Jean Donaldson)would certainly get you thinking along the right lines. Regards David
Response:
> > He was neutered 5 days ago, but the problem has spanned the >neutering. > I’m not sure what the reason behind getting him neutered was but it’s a bit > of a waste of time as far as this type of behaviour is concerned. Neutering > helps some problems but not what your are describing. – not a fix it all – > but is popular with some folk.
The neutering was purely for population control. Not that he is ever outside without being on his leash, but you never now what can happen. I did not mean to suggest that the neutering was in anyway meant to reduce this behavior.
Response:
> Try putting a hook into a stud in your bedroom wall, and leash > your cocker up to it at night. This will allow him to be with > his pack, where be belongs, and will keep him from wandering off > and getting into things or going potty in your bedroom. It will > also keep him from jumping on your bed with you, if that’s what > you prefer.
I have read that letting him sleep in my bed is a very bad idea. So, I’ve been concerned about having in the bedroom outside of his crate. I think I will try some type of restraint for him and see how he does in the bedroom. Thanks for the suggestion. > This way he can move about a bit more freely at night, since he’s > been crated during the day, but it’s mostly so you don’t have to > haul the crate up the stairs every day. of course, you could buy > another crate — heck, I have 5.
Very true. So, crating him in the bedroom would be significantly better than crating him downstairs at night? > This is not bad, given his age. I have American cockers, and > they like to run about a mile every day, and it really helps > their attitude around the house. :-) But your little guy can’t > start running for a while, since all dogs need to wait until they > are about a year and a half old before doing serious running or > jumping exercise.
I’m not sure I can start running again at my age. :) I am going to start more vigorous play with him outside again. I’ve stopped since it is usually dark and cold out in the morning and not much warmer during the late afternoon. I don’t think I’m really tiring him out with just the walks. He really still seems to have a ton of energy.
Response:
> The crate is medium-sized. He can stand up, and lay out length >ways in it, but there >isn’t room to do much more.
Try putting a hook into a stud in your bedroom wall, and leash your cocker up to it at night. This will allow him to be with his pack, where be belongs, and will keep him from wandering off and getting into things or going potty in your bedroom. It will also keep him from jumping on your bed with you, if that’s what you prefer. If he chews thru the leash, go down to the hardware store and get some light plastic-covered wire rope, like the kind you see in the dog tie-outs, and cut a length of it, and buy those things that you use on the ends to make a loop, and buy two double-ended snaps, and put one on each end of the loop, and hook one to the wall and one to his collar. :-) This way he can move about a bit more freely at night, since he’s been crated during the day, but it’s mostly so you don’t have to haul the crate up the stairs every day. of course, you could buy another crate — heck, I have 5. > Have not tried this specified toy, but will look into it. >Thanks. He >always has a nylon bone and a rubber chew toy, but that obviously isn’t >sufficient.
Kongs are great, stuffed with peanut butter and some kibble or liver treats. > Our routine is as follows: > 6:30 AM - 1.5 mile brisk walk / play outside > 7:00 – breakfast > 7:30-10:30 – general play, etc. > 10:30 – 4 - crate > 4:00 – 1.5 mile brisk walk / play outside > 4:30 – dinner > 5 – 11 – general play, etc. > 11 – 6:30 – crate
This is not bad, given his age. I have American cockers, and they like to run about a mile every day, and it really helps their attitude around the house. :-) But your little guy can’t start running for a while, since all dogs need to wait until they are about a year and a half old before doing serious running or jumping exercise. > Given how badly he destroys anything in his crate, I’m very >concerned about giving >him the run of the house when I’m not there. I would LOVE to let him >stay out of his >crate. I guess I could let him loose in one of the spare bedrooms and >see what happens, but >that really won’t give him much more freedom. There really isn’t much >else he can do when >I’m not there to entertain himself. It’s not like he’ll be grabbing a >beer from the fridge >and watching Oprah if I let him out of the crate. Won’t he just get >bored outside the crate and >eat my couch?
Yep. Probably. :-) When you feel he’s ready, start by only giving him 5 minutes alone in a room, while you go outside, and then come back in and see how he did. But as long as he’s getting enough exercise and training with you when you are home, I don’t think your crate time is excessive. IMO. As for the blankets he destroys in his crate, I wouldn’t give him anything to lay on. He’ll be fine. It will be much better on him to lay on the bare plastic floor than to ingest a bit of material from the bed he ripped up and suffer an intestinal blockage that might kill him… If he gets past his chewing stage, you might try giving him old towels. Don’t invest in anything expensive if he’s just going to destroy it. good luck, Daisy
Response:
> The neutering was purely for population control. Not that he is ever >outside >without being on his leash, but you never now what can happen.
Very sensible precaution. Absolutely no criticism here I did >not mean to >suggest that the neutering was in anyway meant to reduce this behavior.
My mistake – That was how I read it. Regards David
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Try putting a hook into a stud in your bedroom wall, and leash > your cocker up to it at night. This will allow him to be with > his pack, where be belongs, and will keep him from wandering off > and getting into things or going potty in your bedroom. It will > also keep him from jumping on your bed with you, if that’s what > you prefer. > I have read that letting him sleep in my bed is a very bad idea. >So, >I’ve been concerned about having in the bedroom outside of his crate. I >think I will try some type of restraint for him and see how he does in >the bedroom. Thanks for the suggestion.
With some dogs, if they sleep on your bed with you they can come to view you as equal in status to them, and they can start challenging you for dominance. This is not the case with all dogs. But even with the really dominant ones, it’s still recommended that they sleep in the bedroom, just not on the bed, because the stress of being alone at night is enough to cause additional problems… > This way he can move about a bit more freely at night, since he’s > been crated during the day, but it’s mostly so you don’t have to > haul the crate up the stairs every day. of course, you could buy > another crate — heck, I have 5. > Very true. So, crating him in the bedroom would be significantly >better than crating him downstairs at night?
Yep. IMO. :-) > I’m not sure I can start running again at my age. :) I am going to >start more vigorous play with him outside again. I’ve stopped since it >is usually dark and cold out in the morning and not much warmer during >the >late afternoon. I don’t think I’m really tiring him out with just the >walks. >He really still seems to have a ton of energy.
Aw, I can’t run either. I bike with mine. You can buy a device called a "Springer" that attaches to your bike and makes biking iwth your dog pretty safe. I just use the method described in a book I read, where I loop the leash around the seat post of my bike and make it the right length so that dog’s nose is about even with the middle of my front tire. I have not had any problems doing this and I’ve done it now for almost a year with various dogs. It’s very stable. I would be concerned if I had to go alongside a bunch of trees or poles that my dog might try to go on one side while I go on the other (the Springer has a safety clip that would detach the dog if something like that happened) but the places I ride don’t have anything like that… take care and good luck, Daisy
Response:
> Kyle asks: >Any suggestions on how to reduce the behavior, or is there >an indestructible blanket/pillow we could put in the crate? > A no-brainer here – DO NOT LEAVE A BLANKET IN THE CRATE!
So true. My puppy went through the same stage. I wound up placing old towels (picked up at GoodWill and well washed) in there. When she finally stop tearing them up, I knew it was ok to put in other kinds of blanket. It takes a little while, but they eventually grow out of it. — Tibbi Scott Owned By: Jaybren’s As You Wish aka "Heris", Vizsla Paksenarrion aka "The Curmudgeon", Part-Siamese Cat
Response:
Quote: I don’t want to move the crate up/down stairs every day. Leave the crate in the bedroom. If you’re not home, he doesn’t need to be downstairs necessarily, does he? Jane Webb Moon and Mudpie
If you like this post and would like to receive updates from this blog, please subscribe our feed.