I am so confused. We got a puppy in April, Boston Terrier/Beagle. I don't know what to do with this dog. I've been trying to crate train her, but while in the crate she barks, jumps around which moves the crate and can get to things to destroy. She has a few toys in there. I had my brand new winter coat I just bought at the end of winter last year and it was hanging on the back of a chair. She pulled it into the crate and chewed a big hole in it. My ds is on his 3rd bookbag of the year for the same thing. Tonight she ate through my favorite purse! Not to mention the fact that she is going to the bathroom pretty much wherever she wants to. She can't be left outside because she's sensitive to temperature, and I don't like the idea of leaving her out there anyway. It's easy for me to say I want her to go when she has recently ruined something. However, I love her. She is very affectionate and playful. I don't know what to do. I can't live like this! I can not afford for her to keep destroying things. It makes me cringe to think of Christmas and this dog getting into the gifts.

By Brooke327 on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 07:41 am:

How old is the dog?

By Claire on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 07:45 am:

How are you going about the crate training?

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 11:01 am:

Is he getting walked and played with enough? Terriers are very busy dogs and need lots of exercise.

By Shellyg on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 11:42 am:

First, how often do you exercise the dog. I'm guessing the dog is a pup. He/She should get about a hour/mile a day. If you can't take her for a walk, then stick her on a treadmill. How often is the pup in the crate? Does the pup have access to all parts of the house? Spayed/neutered? Also, Beagle/terriers are working dogs, they NEED something to do. Do you play ball, catch, etc.

By Claire on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 11:55 am:

I have some of the same questions as Shelly.

The crate should be the dogs safe place to be - NEVER used as punishment & he should never be forced into the crate.

Dogs love their pack - the family is the pack. Your dog sounds bored & lonely.

Our dog gets walked at least 2 a day and gets an active ball session.

A tired dog is a happy dog.

By Mrsheidi on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 12:08 pm:

Ditto...a tired dog is a happy dog! Our dog destroyed our whole couch one day. It was awful. But, it's up to the "parents" to keep them active. Can you hire a local teen to walk her? I had to do that while my husband was deployed, especially in the winter.

By Rayelle on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 01:54 pm:

I don't use the crate as a punishment. I wanted it to be a place she could chill out and have her toys there, to keep them separate from the kids things. I read that they need this to have like a den and they won't go to the bathroom in it, unless left there unreasonably long or sick. I have to put her in there when we leave the house to keep her from wrecking things, only now she is getting to things even in the crate. We're never all gone for very long. She is about ten months. Is it possible she needs to go out more now that she is bigger? It is harder for her to be out for along amount of time now that it has turned cold, she shivers even with a doggie coat. Maybe if I take her out more, for shorter bursts. She is spayed. I really want her to be happy. (sigh) I need to quit listening to people telling me I should find someplace else for her to go that don't have pets. I wish there was someone who could come here and observe what might make a difference. How often should you get a dog a new toy? I know they can get bored with the same toys. Most of the dog training websites I've found want money for their e-book or it's what I already do. I'm going to try and increase her exercise to see what that does.

By Cocoabutter on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 02:14 pm:

It's not about the toys. It's about family. She's a baby. She needs more attention. She's nervous and energetic. When you are home, don't leave her in the crate. Get rid of her energy. She's going nuts in there!

When she goes to the bathroom in the house, scold her and put her outside IMMEDIATELY. After she is out then you can go clean up the mess. She'll get the message.

As far as her coat, some dogs just shiver a lot. Her coat will grow out to keep her warm. It's a natural thing that dogs do.

If I let my dog's hair grow out she has a lot of long hair, and when I took her to get groomed the last time I told the groomer that I wasn't sure how much to have her cut off because the weather was going to get cold. She said it doesn't matter, that she will grow thicker hair closer to her skin to keep her warm anyway.

Rest assured, though, that she will mellow out. Puppies are difficult, and this may last until she is at least 2. I couldn't crate my dog because she outgrew it so fast, and I couldn't afford a large one. My dog is so mellow that she sleeps most of the time now (when she isn't outside chasing squirrels. )

We also have en enclosed front porch that she LOVES to stay in when we are gone. She likes to watch people outside and stay alert to what's going on. She has a bed out there, too, and there was never anything that she could ruin on the porch, so that worked perfectly.

Everytime you see her chewing on something of yours or the kids that she isn't supposed to have, immediately take it away from her and give her her OWN toy. She will eventually learn what is hers and what is not.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 02:36 pm:

Jasmine stayed in the crate a lot, when she was new to us, because potty-training was unreliable at first and we didn't want her making a mess of things. Although, she made enough messes when we were home! LOL!

With potty training, what helped me a lot at first, when I got tired of her being in the crate when I was home, was just left a leash on her, and kept it looped around my hand. then she could be by me, but I could keep an eye on what she was doing. With her closer to me, I could react to potty-searching behaviors and make a BIG deal about getting her outside, and then she finally got it. When they do go outside, you should "throw a party!" and give her lots of praise.

By Nicki on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 03:14 pm:

Rayelle, have you ever watched the show, "It's Me or the Dog"? I think it comes on the Animal Planet channel. I thought of it when I read your post. Victoria Stilwell goes into homes and actually problem solves with people and their dogs. Sort of like the nanny show, lol. Just came to mind.
Hope you are able to work things out. Sounds like sweet dog with lots of energy!:-)

By Vicki on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 04:18 pm:

Is there any place you can move the crate that she can't get to things? Could you have a dog bed out in your living area for her "space" and put the crate into the laundry room or something for when you are not home?

I am confused by this:

I need to quit listening to people telling me I should find someplace else for her to go that don't have pets.


Do you have another dog that she is having problems with also?

By Cocoabutter on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 04:51 pm:

I think that she meant that people who don't have pets are telling her to find another home for the puppy. Some people who don't have pets may not have the understanding of the bond that forms between a human and their animal companion, so it's hard to take their advice to heart. She wants advice from people who have BTDT.

HTH.

By Claire on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 05:50 pm:

When you are home she should only be in her crate by her choice - leave the door to the crate open and when she needs a safe place or to rest she will go there.

She needs more time with you & most likely more exercise.

By Vicki on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 06:52 pm:

Aahhh.... that makes sense! I agree, there are lots of people out there that don't understand how they are just one of the family!

By Rayelle on Friday, November 9, 2007 - 06:58 pm:

Yes, Cocoabutter that is what I meant. My mom was here when I discoverd my coat and that is all I've been hearing about. "this is why we never had pets..etc" I need the doggy nanny! This is all new to me. I was trying to figure if something could spark this, since she hasn't been this difficult from the beginning. We took her camping with us in September and that seems to be about when this started. I guess I really do need to get her out more. I hope that is all it is.