Free... I want to break free... Lord knows...

[OneSickPsycho]

Belle has been breaking out of the crate since... well since forever...


Most of the time it's come down to us not latching the bottom of the door... but recently, she's be pushing at the bottom and pullying the latch out... so it looks latched when you get home and find that she's destroyed everything...


We've added one of those faux-climbers clips from a keychain to keep it latched and that's worked... until recently when she bent it. We still used that until it finally broke yesterday...


I came home to this. This is the face of guilt. Pure, blissfull guilt.

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/onesickpsycho/IMAG0109.jpg


This is what I found... Flour. A LOT of flour.

http://s90.photobucket.com/albums/k259/onesickpsycho/?action=view&current=VIDEO0001.mp4


I also found some of my ONSSP's underwear destroyed, poop and pee on two bathroom mats, a number of destroyed CD's, a new package of TP opened and everywhere (though all the rolls inexplicably survived)...


A couple of months ago it was a bag of powdered sugar... apparently she wants us to bake more...

[Captain Morgan]

My parents had to put a lock on their dog crate to keep the dog from getting out.

[Rangerscott]

Cant blame the dog. I cant stand it when dogs are left in crates.

[marko138]

Can't help you. Manfred roams free when we aren't home. Occasionally gets pissed and pulls a pillow off the couch but rarely destroys anything.

[njchopper87]

Real climber buckle clip thing? I'm hesitant to suggest a lock and key because that could be hazardous if you need to get them out quick (fire etc). Otherwise you could baby proof your house, close bedroom/bathroom doors and let them roam. They might be excited at first, but they'll settle down and you can start trusting them more and more. If you're crazy paranoid you could throw the couch cushions in one of the closed bedrooms and/or get them a couple new toys to keep them occupied. :idk:

[Gas Man]

Yep, need to do other non-traditional latches. A friend of mine has to do this with his boxer's crate.

But I, like marko, don't kennel the dog. He has free range of the house. This actually works best for us. He really doesn't do much. I am working on a plan to put in a video camera to tape what he's doing in here while we are gone. My guess is he just sleeps on the bed all day.

[Amber Lamps]

Yep, need to do other non-traditional latches. A friend of mine has to do this with his boxer's crate.

But I, like marko, don't kennel the dog. He has free range of the house. This actually works best for us. He really doesn't do much. I am working on a plan to put in a video camera to tape what he's doing in here while we are gone. My guess is he just sleeps on the bed all day.

Here ya go, these work great and you can check it from your phone.
http://www.amazon.com/Mister-Robot-o-Pan-Tilt-Webcam/dp/B0029LA9CM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330646444&sr=8-1

[Rangerscott]

its the same with people that never let their dogs out. They're the ones that bolt out the door and never come back.

[Gas Man]

Here ya go, these work great and you can check it from your phone.
http://www.amazon.com/Mister-Robot-o-Pan-Tilt-Webcam/dp/B0029LA9CM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330646444&sr=8-1
Thanks Lon, but I already have a camera system...

[Sixxxxer]

Actually, They say Boxers LIKE to be in Crates...Because there like Cave dwellers in a sort...My buddy has a boxer and he goes to sleep in his crate everynight willingly.

Thats not to say he tries to get out. But it's not as horrible as you think it is for them.

[OneSickPsycho]

Actually, They say Boxers LIKE to be in Crates...Because there like Cave dwellers in a sort...My buddy has a boxer and he goes to sleep in his crate everynight willingly.

Thats not to say he tries to get out. But it's not as horrible as you think it is for them.

We often can't find one or both of the dogs and end up finding them sleeping in the crate... in fact, if we have the door closed and it's bed time, Taco will begin to whine and carry on until we let him into the room and into the crate.

That said, we do want to break them from being crated throughout the day, but there's two problems with that... 1) their prey instincts and the cats don't mix. not worried about them killing the cats, but they DO NOT allow the cats to have any freedom... that means not letting them into their litterbox, etc. Taco is just now getting to the point where a cat can hit the floor and he won't run through walls to get to it... Belle, not there yet. 2) destruction. We've walked them and played with them to the point of complete exhaustion - like passing the fuck out - leave for 15 minutes and come home to overturned couches, destroyed pillows, etc, etc. Again, Taco is much further along than Belle... he's ok by himself, but with her there carrying on - double destruction. Given Taco's progression and their age difference, I'm guessing another 9 months before they can be trusted together...

[Amber Lamps]

Actually, They say Boxers LIKE to be in Crates...Because there like Cave dwellers in a sort...My buddy has a boxer and he goes to sleep in his crate everynight willingly.

Thats not to say he tries to get out. But it's not as horrible as you think it is for them.

I've never had a problem with a dog in a crate. My Rhodesian Ridgeback loved his crate and could be found there 80% of the time. It was his place, his "zone". Almost all vets and "experts" recommend them. The people that don't use them only do so because of misplaced sentimentality and the over-anthropomorphic-ification of their pets. What YOU as a human, wouldn't like has zero basis. Dogs are not people. Wild canines spend most of their time in dens and only venture out to hunt, relieve themselves, etc. If you are that worried about your dog's "freedom", you should allow it to roam outside wherever it wants. How dare you force it to stay cooped up in a house all day! Trapped in a fenced in yard... Etc

[Cutty72]

Yeah, mine are kenneled outside all day, can't help ya.

[Adeptus_Minor]

Can't help you. Manfred roams free when we aren't home. Occasionally gets pissed and pulls a pillow off the couch but rarely destroys anything.

Same with Lilly.
She's yet to destroy anything and even when I was keeping her crated, I never had a problem with her escaping.
I dunno how I got so lucky in that respect :lol:

[OneSickPsycho]

Same with Lilly.
She's yet to destroy anything and even when I was keeping her crated, I never had a problem with her escaping.
I dunno how I got so lucky in that respect :lol:

Dog breed helps a lot with that...

[jtemple]

We have labs. They're happiest just loafing around all day on the nearest pillow. Crate them up and they pitch a fit until you let them out.

They're 8 & 9 years old now. They lost interest in chewing on stuff that doesn't taste good a long time ago.

[marko138]

Yep, need to do other non-traditional latches. A friend of mine has to do this with his boxer's crate.

But I, like marko, don't kennel the dog. He has free range of the house. This actually works best for us. He really doesn't do much. I am working on a plan to put in a video camera to tape what he's doing in here while we are gone. My guess is he just sleeps on the bed all day.
My concern is that Manny won't bark at noises if he's in his crate so he's no deterrent if he's in there. That's why I like him to be free. Then he barks at random noise (people) he hears outside.

[OneSickPsycho]

My concern is that Manny won't bark at noises if he's in his crate so he's no deterrent if he's in there. That's why I like him to be free. Then he barks at random noise (people) he hears outside.

Our dogs are silent during the day... However, if someone enters the room they'll respond accordingly... Our roomie opened our bedroom door one night to let a trapped cat out and Taco growled at him... I'm also pretty sure that given the correct motivation, the flimsy collapsable crate wouldn't hold back a monster like Taco for very long... Hell, Belle's got the damn thing so warped it hardly goes back together anymore...

And as far as a house fire or something, they're crate is directly in front of a window so it'd be easy access to get them out... not a perfect system by any means, but it's the best we can do for now...

[marko138]

Our dogs are silent during the day... However, if someone enters the room they'll respond accordingly... Our roomie opened our bedroom door one night to let a trapped cat out and Taco growled at him... I'm also pretty sure that given the correct motivation, the flimsy collapsable crate wouldn't hold back a monster like Taco for very long... Hell, Belle's got the damn thing so warped it hardly goes back together anymore...

And as far as a house fire or something, they're crate is directly in front of a window so it'd be easy access to get them out... not a perfect system by any means, but it's the best we can do for now...
Manny got out of the house one day. I stupidly didn't lock the door one day when I went to work...and it wasn't latched tight either. So the wind blew it open. The mail man found Manny hanging out in the driveway. He put him back in the house and closed the door. Stand up guy, that mail man of mine.

[OneSickPsycho]

Manny got out of the house one day. I stupidly didn't lock the door one day when I went to work...and it wasn't latched tight either. So the wind blew it open. The mail man found Manny hanging out in the driveway. He put him back in the house and closed the door. Stand up guy, that mail man of mine.

Yeah, I think that if given the opportunity, most people would do the right things... there's just that 10% douche factor that ruins that perspective.

[marko138]

Yeah, I think that if given the opportunity, most people would do the right things... there's just that 10% douche factor that ruins that perspective.
For sure. I was pretty surprised that Manny was just chilling in the drive way too rather than roaming the neighborhood. Good dog, that Manward.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m95/markgraves138/IMAG0279.jpg

[RedRider2k2]

We have labs. They're happiest just loafing around all day on the nearest pillow. Crate them up and they pitch a fit until you let them out.

They're 8 & 9 years old now. They lost interest in chewing on stuff that doesn't taste good a long time ago.

Our labs were only destructive in the "Puppy stage". They stayed in a crate while were gone from the house. Once they calmed down a little, they were expanded to opening the door of the crate and letting them in a "Dog Proofed" room. Now they both have the house to themselves. When we get home, you can put your hand on the couch or our bed and feel for warmth to see where they spent their day sleeping :lol:

[lauralynne]

Boxers need something to do All. The. Time.
I've got 2 and if I don't keep them busy they will EAT THE HOUSE!! Kongs are great - nyla bones too. My 2 go through rawhides in a matter of minutes so we don't do those. Make sure they're getting enough work out too - tire them out.
And they'll be in the "puppy stage" until they're about 3.5years old. Then they mellow a little bit.

[wildchild]

both the boxer and the bulldog that we have went through a crate stage. for the boxer it was that or a trip to a vacation home somewhere else. she destroyed our house.
now days they both have free roam. I was worried coming down here in a camper that they would get bored quick. they seem to do very well. The bulldog has been slightly destructive. table corners and cabinet corners. now she;s all good. of course I won't be trading in the camper anytime soon in "like new" condition. LOL
I'll advertise it as "pet friendly" maybe.
They did both enjoy staying in their crates though and readily slept in them with the door open.

Is Taco in a crate? wonder if Belle is jealous that he isn't if gets free run. (if it's already been said I skipped a couple pages so I missed it. LOL

[Sixxxxer]

I believe OSP Crates Both of his dogs.

[goof2]

I've certainly had dogs loose in the house when no one is home, but that just isn't realistically possible in every case. Some dogs, if left to their own devices ,will do literally $10k+ in damage to a house. If I ever end up with one of those he/she is going in a crate.

[OneSickPsycho]

I believe OSP Crates Both of his dogs.

Yep, together in the same crate.

[wildchild]

Yep, together in the same crate.

we do separate crates or did. wonder if that may be the problem. they want their own space? just a thought.

[Dave]

Boxers need something to do All. The. Time.
I've got 2 and if I don't keep them busy they will EAT THE HOUSE!! Kongs are great - nyla bones too. My 2 go through rawhides in a matter of minutes so we don't do those. Make sure they're getting enough work out too - tire them out.
And they'll be in the "puppy stage" until they're about 3.5years old. Then they mellow a little bit.

Ghost only fucks up things he knows are toys. Only problem is he's so strong he shreds anything he can get his jaws around. Only thing that lasts longer than a day is the solid rubber Kong ball. The regular ones with treat holes will maybe last an hour

[Amber Lamps]

we do separate crates or did. wonder if that may be the problem. they want their own space? just a thought.

I was thinking that too...:idk:

[Sixxxxer]

I to think separate crates would be better...

[Gas Man]

But some dogs DO better in one crate. My bro-in-law keeps his 2 dogs together... when you look at them in there, they are usually laying against each other. Depends on the dog(s).

[OneSickPsycho]

we do separate crates or did. wonder if that may be the problem. they want their own space? just a thought.

Nope, tried that long ago... They both whine and freak out if separated... They love laying together, on eachother, etc.

[wildchild]

Nope, tried that long ago... They both whine and freak out if separated... They love laying together, on eachother, etc.

so much for that thought. LOL Taco wants her with him because he knows she'll bust them out. LOL

[skiergirl]

I've never owned a dog that had to be crated longer than 4-5 months until Rocky. He just turned 2 and in another month or two we'll start working on his freedom again. We've tried 2-3 times now and failed. In the process of failing we have completely lost a couch and all of the linoleum on the kitchen floor. His ass will be crated until he stops destroying expensive shit....and it's not lack of exercise or attention, he just gets bored those 7 hours alone and finds something fun to occupy himself with.

[KSGregman]

Max loves his den (crate)....He's waiting at the door to the mudroom every morning as I'm getting ready to leave for the day...knowing he's gonna get a cookie, the safety of his den and a big nap. He eats that shit up. I leave at 7'ish....my daughter gets home around 3:30 and let's him out....he's well adjusted and happy as can be. :idk: