Protesting when confined (long and non-GSD)

[stealthq]

Hi all,

I hope you don't mind the non-GSD post. I've been hanging around even though I decided to go with a Standard Poodle because I like this forum and the knowledgeable people here. Besides, I still think I'd like a GSD in the future.

My puppy is 4mos. old and we have a problem. If he is confined when he doesn't think he should be (meaning off his usual schedule, when he still wants to play, or when he's not at home and not bone-tired) he is so loud that I can still hear him outside the house and across the street. He screams, he howls, he barks, he growls, and he'll do it for upwards of an hour before giving up.

I need to figure out a way to get him to relax when he's in the crate or ex-pen. He does have a bully stick and some other toys in there. What I have been doing is just ignoring him and letting him out when he's totally relaxed and given up. That's worked like a charm for all his scheduled confinements - bedtime, time for me to leave for work. Then, he's totally silent. He doesn't even make a peep when I come home to get him out.

But, it hasn't been working for other times. Put him in his ex-pen to feed him or so I can make dinner without tripping on him? He has a fit. Put him in his crate at my parents' place for any reason at all, bedtime or otherwise? He has a fit. I'm continuing to ignore him when he does it, and so far my parents have done the same though they disagree. They're in the 'go yell at him or shake a penny can at him' or 'buy him a bark collar' camp.

I believe that if we keep it up, he will realize that the carrying on gains him nothing and he'll eventually grow out of it. But, I've never had to deal with an issue like this and don't know anyone else who has, either.

So here is my question. Should I continue the ignoring tactic? Do any of you have another suggestion I could try? I am NOT going to use a bark collar. I bought Crate Games and hope it will help, but I've not gotten a chance to watch it yet.

[Msmart]

I've delt with the same type of issue with both my Gsd and English mastiff. To counter that I try and crate them at random times through the day just as you have done and wait till there quite and I'm ready and I'll let them out. When they get out I wait till they have settled down to show any attention. I don't think yelling at them would have the result your looking for only because it is showing them attention which is what they want even negative as it is. Good luck to you eventually my Gsd grew out of it but still working on my mastiff.