crate hell

[mooching]

Mine are in their crates for 6 and half hours every day total while im at work and it doesnt do them any harm (both working cocker).

Could I ask how old they are?
If they're adults, I'd say there's a big difference between an adult working cocker being crated for 5-6 hours a day and a nearly-teenage puppy who has only been with his owner a relatively short while.

The poster also hasn't said whether she and her husband are out at work when they crate their puppy, or whether one or both of them are still in the house. (Which is why I asked if there was a reason that the puppy is in the crate for this period of time). My understanding is that dogs tend settle better in their crates when they know their owner is out, than when they know their owner is around and want to get to them but can't.

[haygar]

we both out at work but i come home for my lunch my husband is out all day

[mooching]

She has my attention 100% from 5pm til shes goes to bed playing and other things to keep her brain going, and she goes to puppy classes on a sunday.

Is puppy classes the only time she has any training? In my experience, puppy classes are more about socialisation than actual training.
Do you do any training with her yourself, eg whistle training - if so, how often? Have you considered gundog training at all? Even if you don't want to work her, it would provide valuable stimulation and training for her.

[haygar]

yeah i do recall training with her and basics really. i havent considered gundog training is she not a bit young?

[haygar]

is there any info on whistle training i would be keen on trying that

[Jeanette]

we got her from a rescue so we were advised as that is they way she was trained from being 6 weeks old to continue so we have. i have never had a puppy or a dog before so im just learning.. so thanks for your advice/opinions.

She doesnt protest going in her crate she wanders in and out of it on her own accord most of the time and when i do have to go to work i leave her with chews, kongs  in her crate and i feel like i do everything possible to keep her happy and occupied...

She gets a walk on my lunch and is out of her crate for 2hours in total.. then i have to go back to work and shes back in there and she is always asleep when i come in from work.

She has my attention 100% from 5pm til shes goes to bed playing and other things to keep her brain going, and she goes to puppy classes on a sunday. I dont feel i can do anymore and she doesnt seem unhappy apart from this weekend she has been crying and been a bit more clingy. I hope no one thinks were cruel owners (as thats how i feel now) cos all i want is for to be happy

Did you work this weekend when she started barking, if you're around in the house then I can't see why she would need to be crated to be honest especially if you weren't out of the house.     I noticed in your earlier post that you said you put her in whilst she was asleep - this is a definite no-no for crate training - puppies/dogs should not be put in a crate whilst they are sleeping as can become distressed and fearful to wake up confined in a crate.   

I don't understand why you had 3 hours of in and out of the crate on Saturday though - if you make it a battle, shes is going to end up being fearful of the crate and will create more problems long term.   

I'm glad you've posted straight away after this happened as the longer you leave these things, the worse it can get.    A dog that has been previously fine in a crate can become fearful of it if its used in the wrong way.   I have absolutely nothing against crates, mine still has hers even though I was planning to get rid of it after puppyhood, however she now comes and goes as she pleases and the door hasn't been shut since she was 6 months old.   If we were ever in the house, she was never expected to be in her crate though except at nighttime 

[SkyeSue]

loads of information about whistle training on here.....do a search and you will find posts by TopBarks, who is our resident trainer   and lots of tips from other members.
A working cocker will benefit enormously from gun-dog type training, even from a very young age. My wee girl is from working strain, but I don't work her; we do however, do as much mental agility training as possible iykwim   I have trained her to the whistle, and do lots of distance commands and retrieves with her, very basic gundog stuff, but she thrives on it.

[mooching]

Did you work this weekend when she started barking, if you're around in the house then I can't see why she would need to be crated to be honest especially if you weren't out of the house. 

I was wondering the same thing.

[haygar]

i was working and my husband was in the garden painting the fence and daisy was trying to lick the fence etc!!!... so your opinion is dont have a dog if you work or need to do jobs on a weekend around the home that u cant do because your at work all week!

[Jeanette]

i was working and my husband was in the garden painting the fence and daisy was trying to lick the fence etc!!!... so your opinion is dont have a dog if you work or need to do jobs on a weekend around the home that u cant do because your at work all week!

Who said that     Most people on here work and have jobs to do at the weekend. 

[mooching]

I'm a bit confused!!

You said in your OP:

This weekend she has constantly barked when in her crate, even though she is that tired she is almost falling asleep..
we've tried leaving her to bark but you cant concentrate on anything and its not fair on neighbours its going on so long...
so we let her out and she mouths and bites due to her being so tired...!

That sounded like you were both there - didn't realise you were out at work. Was that just on Saturday or on Sunday too?

Maybe next time your husband needs to do such a job he could wait till you come home from work so that you can occupy her, or take her out for a training session while he does it?

haygar, your little girl is a puppy, a rescue puppy at that (and you don't know what she went through before she came to the rescue). Having a puppy is much more of a commitment and responsibility than having an adult dog, especially a physically and mentally active dog like a working cocker. You really do need to especially invest a lot of time and energy during the puppy months.

I'm not blaming you at all - really the Rescue should have given you different advice IMO, what with you both being out at work and with this being your first dog (let alone your first working cocker).

[haygar]

its just the impression i got from the posts...

just feel i've had more negative feedback rather than help...

and feel like a bad dog owner for having to put her in a crate

[vixen]

Hi Can anyone give me any advice?
This weekend she has constantly barked when in her crate, even though she is that tired she is almost falling asleep..
so we let her out and she mouths and bites due to her being so tired...!
thanks!

Hi haygar,
How old is your little girl?
I have re-read your posts but can't find out how old she is.
Do you think maybe you are doing TOO much with her that she is over stimulated and thus not able to relax in her crate.
You know how it is yourself when your mind is really active and you just can't sleep 
Just a suggestion 
Or maybe she just really wanted to help your husband with the fence   

p.s. my girls go in a crate when I work and I do not consider myself a bad owner

[mooching]

vixen

The pup is about 19 weeks old.

(And btw, no-one here has said dogs shouldn't go in crates while their owners are out at work.)

[rwasinski]

The primary reason we used crates with the door closed was to do with toilet training. We only closed the door overnight.

We have never shut them in their crates in the day for hours at a time, only for a few mins for example, when we were in the shower or in the bathroom to make sure they were safe - instead we used puppy pens during the day when they were very young - this meant they had space to wander around but made sure they were safe - now they have a room they can use for themselves, when we do leave them unattended.

You may be following instructions from the rescue centre, you're not a bad dog owner but do ask yourself why you are crating your dog.