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Post by Summer Magic on Jan 16, 2006 12:16:43 GMT -5
I've been making Magic sit and wait next to me whenever someone comes to talk to me. She is not allowed to move from my side and if she does she gets a leash pop and ssssst. She usually complies by sitting down (this is been just a day or so I've been doing this) I'm impressed!
Now for my questions.....
I put her in her crate when I leave the house. She goes in willingly but then barks and growls and throws a fit when I leave the area where the crate is. I've been using a squirt water bottle to make her calm down and lay down (she hates water sprayed on her face and head and does comply, tho reluctantly). If I open the crate door and correct her she will start all over when I close the door again. Is this a good technique to use to make her stop her shenanigans? I'm inclined to believe she is just throwing a tantrum because she knows I'm going to leave her there. Is there another method I could use besides the water bottle spray through the wire crate on her to make her comply without opening the crate door and physically making her lay down? When she is out of the crate and on or off leash she complies with the command sit and lie down perfectly. It's only when she is in the crate that she objects to my leaving her there.
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Post by sibemom on Jan 16, 2006 12:37:22 GMT -5
Put her in the crate and WALK AWAY, do not squirt her with water, do not say anything. Once she figures out that you are not going to acknowledge her tantrum she will stop. Is the crate in a room where you can shut the door? That is where I would put it. I would crate her, make sure she has something to play with in her crate, walk away and shut the door to the room where the crate is. It may take awhile but you have to be stronger willed than she is. Do not go back in there untill she is quiet ;D
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Post by Summer Magic on Jan 16, 2006 15:30:42 GMT -5
We usually do walk away from her and let her bark it out, but I wonder how long she barks once we leave the house. I have neighbors very close to us here and the windows are most always open. The crate is in the living room. I live in a mobile home here in Florida and that room is the only one big enough to have it so, no, we can't close any door and shut her in. I usually give her a frozen kong or a bone to chew on when we leave her so she does have something to occupy her. Tho, lately I haven't been giving her anything in her kong when I leave her because I didn't think she deserved any special treatment. She has toys and a nylabone in there all the time.
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Post by Aussienot on Jan 16, 2006 15:36:45 GMT -5
Yes, I agree with Sibemom. Ignore the behavior. Don't acknowledge it with a punishment or a reward (returning and opening the crate).
Most people who crate train a puppy go through a couple of days of howls and shrieking. But if the puppy is never sucessful with the noise making, the behavior goes away. You have to be resolute to ignore it no matter how loud it gets (tolerant neighbors a must).
With Magic being an adult, it's going to take a bit longer. It's worked pretty well for her in the past, so she's not going to give it up easily.
I'd start off by putting her in the crate and leaving the room, but not leaving the house. Let her throw a fit, and as soon as she is quiet (which might take hours!) go back into the room and release her. She's a smart dog, and before long she will make the connection that quiet/calm gets the door open.
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