OK, another problem. Our GSD is 7 mo. Watched the videos, decided to crate as instructed. We are now on our second crate. (she tore the first one to pieces) She has hated the crate from day one, but we stuck to our guns and put pillows over our heads at night. Now, she is in the crate for only 3 hrs. per day, after I leave for work and my husband comes home. I give her plenty of exercize in the mornings. I leave toys in her crate. She destroyed the two toys Ed recommended-the ball and the other thing I can't remember. I leave kongs filled with peanut butter. Now, we have had this new crate 2 weeks. She has broken the lock and bent the entire front end in. I have to padlock it also. We tried leaving her out one day and she ate a third of the couch. What else am I to do?
Any help? Please???

A wire crate?? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I take it an outdoor kennel isn't a possibility?

ummmm... yes Lee, a wire crate. Pardon my ignorance, but what other kind is there? I'm not being facetious, I really don't know. We got this crate from Drs. Foster and Smith. It's supposed to be "gorilla tough". Ha. The past two days she has broken out of the crate. The first day she tore up some things of mine. Today she chewed up my husbands work papers. I really am at my wits end. I spent $100 for this stupid crate and if there is any other kind, I sure would like to know. She does not destroy anything when we are around. I think she is just
mad at being left. No, outside is not an option.
Please let me know if there is something else available. Thanks
Patty

Patty - I am not a fan of these foster and smith metal crates. They are not well made and too easy for dogs to get a grip on (as you found out)

If you go back and review my video you will see that they are not the ones I show. You should have got a Kennel-aire crate like I recommended in the tape. The dogs cannot chew their way out of these crates. There arfe times the owner needs to take a little extra precaution by using zip-ties on the side panals and if necessary a dog leash snap on the door

The only toys that I recommend being left with a dog in a crate are Giant KONGS filled with peanut butter or creme cheese and/or a big cow bone. Not balls on strings or anything else. A 7 month old dog is never going to chew up a giant Kong.

This dog needs to live in the crate 100% of the time until it accepts the fact that this is life. If I had this dog it would never get out of the crate except to go outside. How can you correct it if you only put it in the crate when you are gone.

The problem is that now the dog has learned that it can break out of crates so your work is going to be three times harder. You need to begin some serious obedience training right now. THis dog needs to learn right from wrong. That there are things that it should not be doing in life.

You need the Basic Dog Obedience video that I produced. http://leerburg.com/302.htm

Other than wire crates is the "Vari Kennel". There are now oter brands, but that is still what most people call them. It is a hard plastic. I had a dog that would chew up his crate and flood it with saliva. The real answer with this dog is going to be training. You may have some luck with bitter Apple, lemon juice, or some other taste aversion on things you don't want it to chew. It may also be worth a visit to a Vet for medication to deal with the seperation anxiety this dog is showing. My guess is this dog needs a change in the type of attention it is getting, and training will help a lot with that.

I have one of those Gorilla Crates from Foster and Smith; apparently unchanged after my complaint 6 years ago -- well I am using it for the puppy and it is held together with zip ties and a carabiner holds the door shut (it is a cinch to open)

I needed two crates for my car and normal dimensions would not work so I made my own and think they are QUITE sturdy.

I used a prodcut called gridwall - it is readily available for $10 for a 2' x 4' panel. The best way to describe it is go to a store and look at the wire displays with stuff hanging on them...1/4" thick wire, 3"x 3" squares, vinyl coated.....you have to use boltcutters to cut it and a grinding wheel to remove the sharp edges.

They also sell fasteners (use locktite) to hold the panels together. I use two padlocks to hold the doors shut when I am at dog events.

send me a pm and I can send you the pix through cartogra. Cost - $125 for 2 48" x 24" crates.

Ohh I think it may be cruel to keep a dog in a 24 inch tall crate all day but it is fine for travel --

anyway they also make 48 inch x 48 inch panels but those have to go freight. You can get them for a higher price at a local store fixtures store though (that may be cheaper than paying the freight)....at least it is an idea.

Patty, definately do what Richard suggests and get the Vari-Kennel. They are a tough epoxy plastic and the door grate openings are too small for the dog to get a mouthful. They're not a cheap kennel, but is also great for travel (cars, airlines) Also easy to keep clean w/o the rust!

You did not mention where your pup sleeps at night? Perhaps you can crate the pup at night when you go to sleep and keep him in the bedroom with you. This will get him use to the long haul and he will have the security of being with you. Then you can start weaning him to his designated area. BTW, those cow leg bones are a great distraction and does wonders for the teeth and gums.

You folks have not had a dog that eats its way out of crates. I will lay a side bet in here that this dog eats a vari kennel. Any dog that has done what this dog has done is going to get out of a plastic crate. I have seen it more times than I can count.

Maybe I did not make myself clear earlier. I did not mean that the dog should live in the crate 24 hours a day. I assume the dog is being taken for walks and taken outside to do her business. But when its in the house it should not be loose - not ever until it has learned to accept life in a dog crate without being stupid. This is not cruel. Its good dog training.

I would NEVER leave a young dog loose in the house unattended. Not until its 18 to 24 months old and then only for short periods of time - just to make sure its not going to chew up the other half of the stupid couch.

Frankly if a dog chewed up 1/2 of my couch I would --------- well maybe I should not say what I would do.

Definitely plastic. I have a couple of older Vari-Kennel with metal grates covering the side openings. My latest batch of crates are from Walmart ($65 for the largest size), and they have side openings cut into plastic, no metal, which may be even better for your dog. I find them as durable as Vari-Kennels.

Originally posted by Maggie Baldino:
BTW, those cow leg bones are a great distraction and does wonders for the teeth and gums. Not in the crate, though! You may try a giant Kong, as Ed suggested. My puppies were never interested in anything non-destructible. They go into their crate NAKED. They normally wear fur-savers which I remove prior to putting them in the crate.