Hello, I've searched for this or something similar but to no avail.

My 20 month old male GSD is well crate trained (for the most part). He goes into his crate with no issues. While my wife or I are handling him, he exits the crate in a calm manner. However, whenever our nanny (mid twenties, female) tries to take him out of his crate, he loses his mind. He barks aggressively turning around in circles. I've heard him growl at her as well. I'd like to correct this behavior. Any insights as to how to do this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

P.S. Our nanny is no pushover. Besides the crate issue, she has a great relationship with my GSD. She does 10 - 15 min. of basic obedience and a 30 min walk a day. This is in addition to at least 60 min on the treadmill at 3.5 MPH first thing in the AM.

 Quote: Sean Solan

Hello, I've searched for this or something similar but to no avail.

My 20 month old male GSD is well crate trained (for the most part). He goes into his crate with no issues. While my wife or I are handling him, he exits the crate in a calm manner. However, whenever our nanny (mid twenties, female) tries to take him out of his crate, he loses his mind. He barks aggressively turning around in circles. I've heard him growl at her as well. I'd like to correct this behavior. Any insights as to how to do this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

P.S. Our nanny is no pushover. Besides the crate issue, she has a great relationship with my GSD. She does 10 - 15 min. of basic obedience and a 30 min walk a day. This is in addition to at least 60 min on the treadmill at 3.5 MPH first thing in the AM.

Hi Sean, you've come to the RIGHT place

Simple question here from a basic Pet owner:

Are you using Marker Training with HIGH-VALUE Rewards for your young GSD ??? There are many outstanding trainers here who will probably give you really excellent advise SOON -- But meantime, I can just say that when one of my Adult RESCUE Dobies suddenly developed some "spacial confinement" Defensive Aggression issues such as crate-guarding & leash-aggro, directed at my other Doberman and toward me too (if she felt cornered) then I "went on a mission" to use Positive Motivation Only MARKER TRAINING with HIGH-VALUE Food Rewards ... She has over-the-top Food Drive, and this method has WORKED like a CHARM, so I recommend it wholeheartedly !!! Check out the articles & videos here on Leerburg that teach Marker Training, if you are not already familiar with it

Hi Candi,

Thanks for your quick reply. Yes, I am using marker training and I did deal with a bit of resource guarding of food before, so you may be on to something. I'll give it a try & report back.

This is often called barrier aggression.

Think about how many dogs raise hell when behind a fence, in a car, in a crate but can be all friendly and in your face happy when not confined.

It's the reason a chained up dog can become aggressive and the smaller the area of confinement the more aggression can develop.

As Candi commented, the marker training can work!

The crate should be a happy place yet the dog should earn the right to come out by staying calm and quiet...with markers.

Sean,

If the dog exits and enters the crate without issue for you and your wife, and even though your nanny works with the dog, it sounds to me as though there is a deeper nanny issue.

You used the word 'take' as in when your nanny tries to 'take' the dog out of the crate. Do you or your wife take the dog out of the crate or does the dog exit without issue?

Being 'no pushover' is not always the proper demeanor in working with a dog. Is the dog generally excited to be around the nanny or is its head down and reluctant occasionally?

There is more to the story, Sean, or I think there is.

If the dog doesn't have a problem with the crate but acts up when the nanny tries to 'take' it out, then I'd consider how the dog responds to you and your wife and try to get the nanny to replicate your approach and overall demeanor.

Marker training works best in the absence of contradictory trainer attitudes. I presume the nanny works with the dog when you and your wife might not be around, as a condition of her job?

I know I'm off base in your case but my mutts are good around people unless their routine and conditioned responses are 'reinforced' by a handler with a heavy hand. They signal their reluctance to be around some people, and I get it.

But what do I know.

"I know I'm off base in your case but my mutts are good around people unless their routine and conditioned responses are 'reinforced' by a handler with a heavy hand. They signal their reluctance to be around some people, and I get it".

But what do I know.



You know your dogs and are honest with what they sense in people.


Sean, is it possible that your nanny could be hesitant in opening the crate?

She could possible be hoovering over the crate when she opens it?

That can trigger defense in a dog.

In greeting a new dog in or outside a crate I like to squat down and turn sideways to the dog with no eye contact.

Obviously I want a feel on the dogs temperament before I do this but she could kneel down in front of the crate and wait out the dog till it stops the aggression and then mark and reward.

That could get the dog used to her at the crate door means reward.

Start from a distance far enough away that it doesn't trigger aggression.

 Quote: Bob Scott

I like to squat down and turn sideways to the dog with no eye contact.

Nanny could kneel down in front of the crate and wait out the dog till it stops the aggression and then mark and reward.

That could get the dog used to her at the crate door means reward.

Start from a distance far enough away that it doesn't trigger aggression.

YES, when my female suddenly became Crate-Defensive and would Refuse to Exit it even, marker training saved the day !!! She already knew that obeying my convenience command "Sit for Good Leash" (which meant Come-Sit-By-Me-While-I-Attach-Your-Leash) would instantly get her a HIGH VALUE food treat -- I then began giving that familiar HAPPY order in a very Upbeat Tone of voice, while I sat down on a chair purposely placed a bit to THE SIDE near the Front of her Crate (where I faced AWAY from its door, with the latch still within easy reach) ... She knew the Command AND Wanted the Reward, so that gave her something POSITIVE to do INSTEAD of displaying Defensive Aggression This new routine SOON solved that problem, and I have continued following it for reinforcement (just as I ALWAYS put a Treat Inside their crates before my dogs enter them, every time).

Excellent!

My grand daughter #3 had issues with her PomxPap mix whining to get out of the crate when they came in the door from school.

They pretty much ignored her after a "quiet" that she understood.

As soon as she calmed down she got her mark and reward.

I think the same could work for a barking dog because they would eventually get bored or just tired out with the barking.

With stopping any bad habits it just takes a bit of patience.