he has never been a chewer. well, he will give a pair of victoria's flip flops hell if he can reach them....otherwise we have been blessed. of course, that means about 20 toys for him to choose from at a time...i really think that this helped...

i do need to get on the crate business more. putting him in there more i mean...i don't like the idea, but i guess i will have to do something to make him understand that it is meant for him to be 'safe' in.

i have heard that most dogs grow accustomed to it, and will eventually use it to rest in. well, murff doesnt see it that way...lol...as soon as i open it up, he grabs his stuff and "moves out"....kong, kong bone, and blanket....

i will see when i get home today what has happened....hopefully, he is still in there, and resting....as opposed to being a jail bird..i did not get a chance to zip tie the corners and edges last nite....i was after 1am when i got off of work....

also, i heard about the cow mats in the video as well, but could not find them on line, and we do not have a tractor supply co anywhere near here that i am aware of.....can someone post a link to one? thx..

http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&channel=s&hl=en&q=stall+mats&btnG=Google+Search

That is a google page for different places and types of mats...

Remember that crating your dog while at home will be good for him and he should learn to treat is a "den" so to speak. Right now he goes in it while you are gone, so he is rejecting the crate.

I know you may find it hard to get used to the idea, but in the long run you will see what beneficial effects it has on the dog, like going in on his own, eating in there, resting quietly while you are away and Victoria's flip flops being safe....

My Arkane is a crate buster too. He figured out how to pull the door in. He inherited this lovely trait from his mother. He only does it when he wants to get out on the track or if he hears the whip crack because he gets so excited to work. I now make sure the door of the crate is against one of the car tires or sideways in the car so it's flush against something. This disuades him from trying.