Hello,

I have two dogs that I have just started the Establishing Pack Structure program with because of past dog aggression issues. One is a 6 year old female spayed collie/gsd mix who is dominant and dog aggressive, ours since 6 weeks. The other is a roughly 5 year old flat coat retriever neutered male rescued from the Humane Society 3 years ago.who is submissive but barks at other dogs like the collie has taught him to do. This is why we are starting the pack structure program.

I have them both crated in my living room 24/7 and only interact with them when taking them in or out of the crate or doors as described in the program. Both do fine unless the other dog gets out of the crate for a exercise or potty break and moves out of sight of the other dog (short walks 2 times a day each, one long walk each every night plus pottying). Once they realize I am gone for a while, they settle down, but I need some advice on how to stop this behavior.

Since there is only one of me, how do I handle rewarding them for being quiet since they only bark/complain when I am out of sight with the other dog (and therefore I am not there to reward them when they quiet)? Do I just ignore this behavior until eventually it stops? They are calm and submissive in their crates at any time EXCEPT when the other dog gets out and they don't. Apologies if this has already been asked somewhere and I missed it. Any help is appreciated!

Edited by Kelly Eastman (03/08/2012 10:02 AM)
Edit reason: clarified last paragraph

I homed in on this:

"Once they realize I am gone for a while, they settle down, but I need some advice on how to stop this behavior. "


I'd ignore it, zero attention (ZERO!), and leave.

" Do I just ignore this behavior until eventually it stops? " Yes, but REALLY ignore it. JMO!


When you say 24/7, I assume you mean with plenty of exercise? How long are the short and long walks?


Welcome to LB!


You will get other good (better) help, too.

OK, thanks for the advice! I realize its probably a basic question but I read so much about praising when they are quiet and was concerned because I cannot do that in this situation.

They get walked for 20 minutes each (usually; unless i oversleep) before I go to work in the morning and then again for about the same time at lunch each day. Night walks each are about an hour each and we will have longer ones on the weekends.

I hope to be able to move out of this phase soon once they start settling down in the crate when the other dog gets attention! I am eager to start marker training with both dogs.

Thanks again for the advice; I am looking forward to having CALM well behaved dogs!

 Quote: Kelly Eastman

Thanks again for the advice; I am looking forward to having CALM well behaved dogs!

More exercise will increase the speed of success...especially if I am reading correctly that they are only getting about an hour and half of time out of their crates?

I find with my own dogs that "thinking" exercises tire them out more than walks...we do agility, obedience, etc.

They are getting that much for the last two days since I started the Pack Structure program. Generally they have been left free in the house, and got less frequent but more time intensive exercise before my husband got deployed a few weeks ago. Since its just us, we are having to adapt our schedules a little more, and especially since starting this program. My collie is adapting better and will not be in the crate phase long and will move back to being loose but on leash with marker training throughout the day. My retriever is much more of a barker, and may be in the crate a little longer than the collie. Either way, I do not expect it to take long.

I am starting marker training with them tonight so I think that will help with the 'thinking' part of things. My collie absolutely loves to learn and especially to problem solve, and the retriever will...learn to love it. It should really tire him out!