Frank, have you considered that this could be a Separation Anxiety problem? If he's only doing it when he's home alone, then that's what I tend to think. Either get one of the crates that Ed recommended, so that he cannot bloody himself trying to escape, or work on changing the SA.
The problem isn't with the crate, it's with being left alone. When he's left alone, he freaks out. Don't chain and lock him inside a wire crate, as he could really hurt himself trying to get out.....
Do a web search on "Separation Anxiety"........

Frank
Ed also sells a great book that covers this and most behavioral problems. Its not inexpensive but its well worth the price.
Applied dog behavior and training by Steven R. Lindsay.

Ron

The first thing that struck me about this post was, why was this dog in the crate all day long while you where home? He broke out three times? It sounds like this dog needs more excersise and attention.

You say the dog has no problem with the crate until he got ou tthe first time. Thats the whole problem as I see it. The dog got bored one day and everything went just right and he got out, now he expects to get out and keeps at it until he does. This is just like a bull that gets through a bad place in the fence. The bull realizes he is strong enough to push through any fence and becomes a rogue and cant be kept in. You just need to get a good crate that there is no way the dog can get out or hurt its self trying and the problem will go away very soon, as soon as the dog realizes it wont be getting out anymore.

I have solved the problem with him actually getting out of the cage. However, I would like to comment to Matthew, you misunderstood. We do not keep him in the cage all day long when we are here. What I had said was that if we can not constantly watch him, he has to go into the crate, which may be for only 20 minutes or so, while we are washing clothes or something like that. The only time he is in his cage for a long period of time would be when we are sleeping or when we go out to eat or go some where for the day. He gets plenty of exercise running around in the back yard with our other dog or when I take him for his walk. I also play in the back yard with him with his various toys. So, it's not a matter of not getting enough attention or exercise. Also, it does not seem to be a matter of not training him. I agree that since he figured out how to open it once, he figures he can open it all the time. Well, he is not going to be able to open it any more. All of us here, dog included, can sleep peacefully knowing that he (the dog) and all of our belongings are safe.

Hi Frank,

frank said:"The only time he is in his cage for a long period of time would be when we are sleeping or when we go out to eat or go some where for the day. He gets plenty of exercise running around in the back yard with our other dog or when I take him for his walk."

seems like plenty of crate time, I take it you put him in a crate every night, then again, when you leave durring the day. If that is the case try taking him on a long walk in the morning, then short one in the afternoon or evening.
leave toys in the crate.
A question: have you used the crate as correctional
method? If you have, that changes everything.
sounds like that dog needs more exercise

We have a couple of labs in our program now that can break out of a crate in literally seconds flat. One in particular breaks out due to separation anxiety..the other breaks out when he hears loud noises such as thunder.
Sounds to me as others have said that this could be a separation issue if he only does it when you leave him...if not, maybe he's just plain bored. Don't give him 'plenty of exercise' before crating him...WEAR HIS BUTT OUT <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> before crating him when you leave...and throw in a kong filled w/ peanut butter to keep him busy.
As someone else also mentioned...DON'T take him out of the crate if he is whining and having a fit because it is completely rewarding him for this behaviour and he'll expect to be let out if he so much as makes a peep in his crate after that. Good luck! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Vance it's not possible for me to walk the dog during the day because I have to work full time. If I was able to do that I probably would. He seems to get quite a bit of exercise with his hours of play time in the back and his walks I provide. I don't believe it is separation anxiety either. He does not freak out or whine when he is in his cage. Like I had said before, he seems to like his cage quite well, as he goes in there willingly to relax. Also, we do not put him in his cage for punishment. I would have to agree that he must have just been really bored that day for some reason and decided to go crazy!! All seems to be ok now, I put a lock on the latch and secured the opening where he pryed open previously. He seems to be quite content in his secure cage. I guess he figured out he can't get out so he just isn't going to try. Thank you all for your comments.

Frank,
try this:

start putting him in the crate everytime before you go for a walk, I'd say for few min than go for walk.
As days roll by increase the crate time before the walk. - just a thought

ps. my 8mo female Staff ate her way out of the crate few days ago - it seems I'll be gettin one of Ed's crates

Vance