Hello again all.I have a problem with my 10mos. old in his crate.Let me start by saying this is the first dog I've crate trained.My first(now 4) was crated until he was about a year old then put up such a fuss about it that he now has the run of the house when we're gone.I got lucky though as he rarely misbehaves.Now that I've got this 10 mos old and am trying to do things the right way,I keep him crated whenever he's alone.Usually not more than 5 or 6 hrs. at a time.He's fed in the crate and always has a peanutbutter filled kong and rawhide to keep him busy.He goes into the crate perfectly without a fuss and also while we're home on occasion,so I don't think he minds it.The problem is while we're gone he must be going nuts,because I've replaced his crate twice now.The first time he destroyed the plastic bottom and I was able to return it for a new one and now I just replaced his whole crate due to bent and broken wires.I have since bought a more expensive and sturdier one so I don't think he'll ruin this one,but my question is what is driving him so nuts?I hate to think of him all geeked outevery time we're away.Like I said I try to keep a couple of things in there for him to keep busy and I have no other experience because I never went through this with my first one.Any ideas?

Michael,
Just a shot in the dark here but do your other dogs have run of the house and this dog is crated and able to see the other dogs? I would assume that if this is the case then he is being stimulated by something the other dogs are doing.
The other thought is seperation type anxiety coming out when you leave and things quiet down. Just some thoughts and questions for you. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 Quote:

Michael,
Just a shot in the dark here but do your other dogs have run of the house and this dog is crated and able to see the other dogs? I would assume that if this is the case then he is being stimulated by something the other dogs are doing.
The other thought is seperation type anxiety coming out when you leave and things quiet down. Just some thoughts and questions for you. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Also: Leave him tired. My big crate lesson (when I first started crate-training, way back in the other century sometime <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> was: Good structured exercise before I left.

OOOOOPS, nice save Connie, I forgot to add that. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Carol,I have one other GSD who has run of the house and I actually thought of putting a gate by the stairs so he can't go near the crated pup. I'll try it,Thanks.Connie,I do exercise both my guys before I go to work,but maybe I'll start working them a little longer,Thanks

Sounds like a great idea and possibly the answer to the issue. I would assume that the other dog may be playing around or barking at something which is stimulating the pup enough to cause hime to "eat" the crate and escape.
Let us know what happens. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />