Hello, I have (among other working dog) a 4 year old Mal/Shepherd mix that currently works in the Private Security / Investigations industry as a narcotics and PP dog. A bit of history about this dog is that it was purchased from a K9 school in virginia, for an unknown amount of money, and was purchased by a friend of mine that owns a private security agency in Florida. I currently train with Bob Gailey, and John Grasta, and am learning training from some of the best trainers in the industry. So to make a long story short, after many handler issues, and dog issues my friend in Tampa decided to send the dog to me (he fired the handler due to incompitence). The goal was to improve the foundation, and work the dog properly. When I recieved the dog he had 0 manners, but wasnt "alpha". He did preform bitework, and does great at narcotics. The bite was mungy, and shallow. So first stop was the vet to make sure there where no thyroid, dental, or other problems health wise. He had two bad inscissors, which where extracted. After the healing had occured he was started back in bite work.

Now the problem. The previous handler that had this dog claimed to have been crating this dog. I recieved a sky kennel crate with 4 point latch, that had no marks, chews, or scratches. The crate was over a year old, so I was skeptical that the dog spent any time in the crate, just from lack of wear and tear. I brought the dog home, began isolation protical, etc. Began building a bond with the dog while setting limitations, rules, and boundries. I learned quickly that this dog with the previous handler had never had to "earn" a reward, as toys, food, treats where given to him whenever. Which I used to my advantage. The dog has done a great job at bouncing back, and has become what he was intended to be. The only downfall, is he chews at his crate wall, along the door. He is in a new crate that is smaller, due to the sky kennel being to large, AND him eating out of it in the first week. The dog seems to only chew the crate when he is "loaded". If he hears gunshots, strange noises, a whip, or a knock at the door he begins to chew / tear at his crate. Verbal corrections, and obediance (down) is a temp fix for the moment, and we have used an e collar to reinforce the communication. I do not believe this to be a seperation anxiety issue, as much as a hectic behavior once loaded. I have spoke with my friend regarding purchasing, or having an aluminum crate fabricated, but in the mean time whats the best course of action?

I have recently purchased apple bitters, and am on the fence about this. I want to discourage the chewing on the crate, but do not want to add a variable that would prevent the dog from going into the crate when told. I tried a wire kennel type crate, and after finding blood on his gums, and in the kennel I decided that the plastic crate would be the lesser of 2 evils. The dog gets plenty of exercise, and play, as well as time to work. I have placed a black kong in his crate with him to allow him to chew on something other than the crate, but when "loaded" he wants out, and he wants out now. Just waiting for him to hulk smash out sooner or later. Any ideas?

I don't have much to contribute....just three things...

1. http://leerburg.com/crate.htm

2. http://leerburg.com/cratewarning.htm

3.I would go all the way back and teach him not to go nuts when he is "loaded"
Desensitize him to the things that trigger him.
Like possibly get an everlasting treat ball...mark the behavior out of the crate when he chews on it....then mark the behavior in the crate, then proof it as a command..then trigger him and give the command to chew the treat ball or what ever.
then proof that.
Not much..but its all I've got.
Willie

Question question (hand waving in the air).

How does the dog react when not in the crate?

If a handler is present, is he a model citizen?

Good Questions......

Out of the crate and if he is loaded while on lead, he is aware/alert, but not vocal until told to alert.

To give you a better example of the behavior that seems to be connected. Say I work him on a blank area (for narcotics), then put him up he is fine. If I work him in a Hot area, and reward him for the find, run him back to the crate, and tell him crate, he will go into the crate, spin around and nudge the door while im trying to close it, if Im not quick I will get a communication bite. We have worked on that behavior with an e-collar and a spotter, because it takes both hands to shut the crate door.