We have finally gotten Huckleberry (our 1 yr old Brittany) away from peeing in his crate, but now we are having other issues. We recently moved into a new house and he treats the crate like he would rather do anything than to go into it. He was never happy going into it, but now that it is upstairs, he will run downstairs to get away when he knows we are going to be leaving and he will basically make us carry him up the stairs before resigning himself and walking into the crate when we get about ten feet away. When we lived in an apartment, he would go in as we steered him toward it (same thing he does when we get close to the crate now.

He has also taken to licking his paws while he is in the crate, we will come home to his front paws just saturated. He never licks his paws when we are home and he is just around the house, only when in the crate.

I have tried to make the crate as much fun as possible for him, but he will chew pillows/blankets when he is in the crate, also, when he is stressed he will never take treats, so it doesn't do anything in the crate to treat him! I have left a big chunk of steak and a bone in the crate and it will sit right in front of him and he will ignore it, once you open the crate, he will immediately pick it up and eat it as he comes out.

Any help in making the crate more comfortable for him will help, I have been feeding him in it, and he will go in to retrieve toys or food with the door open, so he isn't absolutely scared of the crate, he just doesn't like to be in it! Also, i know people suggest to slowly work them into the crate (which we did originally and he didn't ever seem to like it, although he had been in one before from the breeder, so we weren't first to introduce it), but how do you slowly introduce it when there are time both myself and my girlfriend will need to be away for work and will have to leave him for 6 or so hours.

Thanks for all your help, I've always found great advice here!

Rob

Can you have a crate downstairs too?

It sounds like he is associating the crate with being left alone; I'd change this perception of the crate by (1) having a crate in the mainstream traffic area, and (2) making sure the dog spends some time in the crate after being exercised, trained, walked, and fed, while you are at home. That is, the dog is comfortable, tired, fed, happy, and with you, and also in the crate. I'd probably start with the crate door open and a fabulous treat inside, no attention paid to the dog as he goes in and comes out.

Also, are you careful always to leave the dog well exercised? A tired dog is far less likely to be foot-licking, and you don't want this. Aside from the possible progression to chewing, those wet paws are fertile yeast playgrounds.

So I would do a power-walk before leaving for the day (as most of us do ) and/or whatever else it takes to leave a tired dog who is not filled with frustrated energy and boredom. I'd leave him with something like a frozen filled Kong or an antler like this http://leerburg.com/1302.htm or whatever his chewing style makes safe for him.

I know you say that he is not interested in a chewie in the crate, but I think probably you need to do all of these steps before he is relaxed enough in the crate to settle in with one.

JMO.

Those Britts have SO MUCH ENERGY!!!! Used to call mine the "helicopter dog" because of what she did outside the patio door at times.

Agree - do it when it's cool if you can - but run that pup good before bringing her in. I also think moving the crate downstairs for awhile to keep her more in view of the world is a good thing. If you've recently moved, the pup is still stressed about the new digs. No sense adding to the stress with further isolation. You can eventually move the crate back up (or get another one) once you have this system working well.

The Britt is so people-oriented - hard to make them happy with toys or food. Repeat ad infinitum: A tired pup is a good pup!!!

Rob,
Hi! Well I hope you like having a Brittany!! I grew up with one, 16 yo old female american britt! They do have alot of energy. If he is one that jumps be warned they can clear a 6ft+ fence sitting at the bottom of it. Ours used to till she was about 5 or 6.

Brittanys are people pleasers. They will go till they drop, and it takes alot to make these guys drop. One thing if you have the space and time, do two-ball. Go for atleast an hour and don't stop. This will definitly take the edge off for a few hours.

I don't know if you hunt your dog, but you might want to look into your local NAVHDA chapter. http://www.navhda.org They do training for the "birdy" dog, well more like they train you to train your birdy dog. lol. I know these dogs can be taught to retieve in water so that might be something that will wear him out too.

The Brittany I had didn't like to chew, and if she did it wasn't much and its only when she wanted too. I have heard its from their "soft mouth". Agility might also be a fun way to blow off steam for these guys. Remeber you have a hunting dog. This dog is born and bred to point and retrieve. They make great pets but you really want to work them or give them something to do.

Our brittany didnt handle change very well. I remember when we moved our brittnay was sick and acted really off for the first few weeks. Hang in there, they will adjust.

The licking the paws, our brittany did that too. See if there is something that really gets him going. We did frozen stuff in kongs. Took awhile to get it out, and it kept her busy for awhile.

We were told when crateing Finn to have him where the family was. So if we are in the living room, crate him there. Do you know if he howls when your gone? Have you tried leaving the tv or radio on? Just something with voices might help him.

I will ask my breeder, we are getting a French Brittany in July, if he has any ideas that might help you with your Brittany. These are just my opinions from what I remember growing up with Ginger (American Brittany) and from what I have been learning about Brittanys now to prepare Hubby and my kids for Finn (French Brittany) when we get him in July. I hope some of this helps, we always thought of Ginger being more human then dog from the way she acted.

Mary McKeever

That's right, Mary, I had forgotten - my Britt almost never chewed. In bird dogs, that behavior is highly discouraged - referred to as "hard mouth." As you pointed out, Britts are often described as "soft-mouthed."

Good for you with the Empagneul Breton (sp?) on the way. I have been very seriously considering one myself. If I go the bird dog route - it will be a little French Britt. Keep us posted on your pup! (There is a decent forum on bird dog training - Gundogforum.com IIRC. Lots of French Britt handlers there). Have fun.

Is that your pup in the picture? What a cutie!!!!! I have read that those dogs are about the most trainable dog on the planet. You are going to have so much fun!

@ Rob Abel:
Epagneul Breton! Our sire is a French import from the Kernlauan (sp) kennel, and the dam was an Import from England. If your looking at one make sure whoever you go with invests time in the breed and make sure the hips are certified! French Brittanys on average about $1000.00 for good bloodlines that are from good breeders that work with the french standards. United Kennel Club as some exteremly interesting information on the breed standard.

I know plum creek kennels is good, they have a french recommended sire which is awesome. First we have had in the US if I recall correctly. Our breeder is wonderful. http://www.eb-broughton.com Even if you decide not to go with him he has some awesome information. He is actually the one that pointed us here about basic training!

Very easy training, but to quote my breeder "You determine how these dogs turn out". But he also has videos on youtube of E.B. hunting which I personally was wowed over! I will get over to check out the forum definitly! We are debating how we want to train him.

If we do the NAVHDA route he is scored on his performance only. If we the trialing route then he's scored against others. Sidenote: (just remembered this) if you plan on breeding your dog make sure he passes TAN, means you are assured of his hunting ability. I think it stands for Hunting Natural.

I am going to stop talking about E.B.s now because I could talk for hours and after our American Brittany that I grew up with, we decided to go with the French. Interesting story about the differences between the two. Let me know if you want to know it.

Mary McKeever

 Quote: Rob Abel

Keep us posted on your pup!

On another thread ...

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

 Quote: Rob Abel

Keep us posted on your pup!

On another thread ...

By all means. This is a FOCUSSED discussion board.

Lol, not a problem. Sorry Connie!

 Quote: Mary McKeever

Sorry Connie!

Yeah, me too. I just can't get past the French Britt distractions...need more training (with better reinforcers???)