Excellent answer, just want to add that you need to create a balance between crate, outside, working, play and exercise time.

Keeping a dog crated too much will create a dog that needs to be exercised before working because they will be too wound up. Not enough time in the crate will create a dog that comes out with a "eh....okay" attitude.
When I know I am going to work my dogs and which dogs are going to work that day, I take them out of their kennel runs and they go into their crates in the vehicle. No matter if I am working on my property or traveling somewhere else, they go in the vehicle.

I do this because I want the dog to associate the vehicle with working since I will be traveling to scenes.

A well exercised dog also settles better in the crate. After I work my dogs they go back in their crates to "rest" and also "decompress and process" what we just did. If I put them in their kennel runs right after working, there are too many other things to stimulate them, so they do not settle, but rather get all excited because of other dogs out working or cats or whatever else is going on........I know dogs don't think about things like we do, it is just my preference to keep them quiet and settled before and after work......that and it helps cool them down.

Drive issue answered by me in the following post :-)

http://www.leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/149879/Board/134/page/1/fpart/all/gonew/1#UNREAD

Does anyone ever get that bittersweet feeling that goes something like.....

Yay my dog has a ton of drive!!!!!

and

Oh Man this dog has too much drive for me!!!

lol

 Quote: john aiton

Hi Penelope,

I've been told to not allow my dog to play with other dogs by a good number of people. I believe this to be sound advice as the consequences are a dog aggressive dog if things go wrong with "doggy play"!
John

This depends on what you want your dog to be? Sociable around other dogs...you have to let them play and let them know other dogs are a good thing..the earlier the better...constantly keep your dog away from other dogs will result in a dog that is at best wary of other dogs.....just my experience.

john

I caution new dog owners about following some of the information in this thread. While it has been posted with good intentions and it very well may work for the people posting the information - there are going to be a lot more people that this does not work for than those who it does work for.

Remember this - its much easier to prevent a problem than to correct a problem - usually 10 times easier.

Thanks for the information, I have let myyoung bitch play with a older female that is very gentle and tolerant with the pup, but in our neighborhood the habit has been to let the dogs run. I have put a end to that pattern of behavior. I want to train her in obedience as far as she is capable. She is 10 months and is doing well in her sit,stay, recall and healing.Thanks again for your input. One more thing I also have a old blind Jack Rullel that is her companion.