Quote: Ben Gossler

Lynne - I used the method you described this morning, well yesterday morning now that I'm posting this, and all was well until i unclipped her leash. The snarls came out and she bolted at her kennel from 10 feet away (cause she knew her food was in there.) I didn't even have time to react. Should I leave her leash on for now when I release her and work towards getting her to stay in a sit, take the leash off, then release her while her food is 10 feet away?

I feel really bad that I didn't research all of this a bit more before diving into adding a dog to the family.

Hi Ben,
Don't feel badly, you are taking the right steps now to resolve her issues.

Yes, I would leave her leash on when she's inside the house, at all times. If it has a loop on the end of it, cut it off or rig another line that has no hand loop, so that it doesn't get caught on stuff. It's much easier to redirect with a drag line, if necessary, than by grabbing the dog's collar.

Try again today, and don't approach her after you put the food down. Because she's having growling issues revolving around the crate, you might want to consider putting the food down just oustide of the crate, at least for now, as long as she can be left alone in the room where the crate is.

Anyone else have any opinions about this?

 Quote: ben gossler

I have been taking her out and walking around the house with her leashed. One question that I now have is: Shes been kennel isolated(i really hate this word... maybe confined is better? Nope, not really...) for roughly a week now. She will go back in her kennel for sleep, and eating. Is it OK for me to always have her walking around with me other than these times without any negative encouragement of bad behavior? I guess I'm a little confused on the when she should and shouldn't be confined.

I feel really bad that I didn't research all of this a bit more before diving into adding a dog to the family.

My opinion (which may differ from others): crates are for safely containing a puppy/dog when you are unable to be with her giving her your nearly undivided attention.

So keeping her with you in the house (tethered to you on a short lead) is exactly what you should be doing. It's the best possible way for her to bond with you and for you to continually reinforce good behaviors and preempt bad ones. Tie her leash to your belt when you're home and just go about your business--on the computer, washing dishes, watching TV--and reward her for every time she looks at you, for every time you catch her sitting quietly, for asking her to sit 100 times a day.

I don't get what benefit there is to isolating a dog in a crate at times when you could be with her. When you can't (not home, taking a shower, sleeping, entertaining friends, or just need a break from being a dog mom) then the crate is where she should be.

Again--all just my opinion.

One other thought I'll throw out regarding the food issue. Since she (and you) have already established a series of "bad habits" related to eating in the crate...what if you just started a new mealtime routine? Sort of wipe the slate clean and start over with a whole new ritual, in a different room even? You know her better than us...but do you think that if you started over and fed her in, say, the kitchen--by setting down the bowl, releasing her--and then leaving her alone to eat...do you think that might change the dynamic?

Anyway--don't feel bad about what you did or didn't do in the past. You're fixing it now. Stick with it, and with her. You'll be surprised how much changing they way YOU behave will alter her behavior.