Let me just start off by saying that I do believe I will purchase a crate soon, but for the moment I can't afford one. I am training my GSD and sometimes he does bad behavior. I am not sure how to teach him to stop the behavior. He is still 2 and half months old. So, I am not sure if he is still too young to train or not.
He knows how to sit, and when to potty. Everything else can be stubborn with. Especially dropping his new favorite chew toy, a squeaking toy.
Its never too late. But for your own piece of mind and especially sleep, I'd find a used one on craigslist in a hurry. I got an xl wire one on amazon for $50. 2 doors, divider . . .
getting the drop command is easier with treats. then wean off treats when he gets it.
I'd be scared of the vet bills coming if a crate is too much, just food for thought.
I never used a crate raising my bullies in the past and never had an issue! BullMastiff/APBT/Lab adult and several Boxer, Boxer/pit puppies had free roam, no problems.
When I entered GSD world yeah kinda different a crate might have prevented "issues" down the road??
#1: He's not too young to start training. Keep your expectations reasonable though - he's only going to know what you've taught him, and his attention span is going to be very short.
#2: He's not "stubborn". He's still a baby and he doesn't yet know what you expect of him. Training is a process that takes some time. Stubborn can only be a factor when he's 100% sure what you're asking of him and he refuses to comply. I can guarantee that at his age, that's not what's happening.
Whether or not you use a crate is entirely up to you. There are many good reasons to use one, however. Whenever I couldn't be actively supervising my puppy (taking a shower, cleaning house, at work, making dinner, eating a meal?) puppy went in the crate. Housebreaking is much easier with a crate, as is preventing destructive chewing, which can be very expensive and potentially life threatening.
If you need to leave your dog at the vet for any reason, it's going to be easier on him if he's crate trained. Also, if you ever plan to travel and need to leave him in a hotel room, or if you're going to participate in any dog sports, he'll need to be in a crate. My dogs were crated when not being worked at nosework classes, and Halo is in a crate at flyball practice every week. We've traveled out of town for flyball tournaments, which involved staying in hotels and crates. Do you ever want to take him to someone else's house, either for a visit or an overnight stay? Your hosts will appreciate him being in a crate when you can't watch him.
You can get a smaller airline crate at TSC or Wal-mart for around $30. As someone else said, be realistic about vet bills... you've got several rounds of vet visits coming up that will cost a whole lot more than a crate (especially if you have a puppy who has access to anything and everything).
As for the behaviors... aside from the fact that crating is your best friend... keep in mind that he is a baby. He lacks impulse control, and he explores EVERYTHING with his mouth. What I found helpful was to focus on behaviors you DO want, rather than correcting what you don't want. Whenever he drops a toy on his own throughout the course of the day, reward him. If you turn it into a struggle trying to take it away from him, it just becomes a game to him and it is self-defeating. Don't expect too much from him- he's a toddler. Right now, make learning obedience and good behaviors FUN, make it a game. Good manners are ingrained through repetition and routine at this age.
Thank you for all the advice. Yes, I have been trying to teach him as best that I can. Sometimes he doesn't want the treat at all though even though he did what I asked him too. Also, I was going to buy a crate but spent it on the vet for an initial checkup and his shots too.
I use the crate when the puppy should be calm or sleeping. If he has a lot of energy, I don't use the crate for punishment or time out. He still needs to interact and get exercise. If he's getting bitey because he's really tired, then it would be appropriate to put him in the crate, but if he hasn't had exercise for the day, make sure you get enough of that in and redirect him to tug toys and stuff he can bite.
This is the format and regimen we are following with Sarge (11 weeks) We try to keep him engaged and active and tire him out. Crate is for safety, security and sleep. Thanks for sharing!
Though if you are frustrated with your training ... you can use the crate as a 'time out' for your puppy while you get your calm back. So the crate is never a PUNISHMENT. Should be there happy place that they love to be in and go to...
Dog training is 100% about us learning how to train our pups, then they learn so well! So if we are getting frustrated or something is not working then that shows a problem with what WE know and need to learn, not the puppies fault.
Try to find a set of puppy classes that progress into regular training. Such a great way to get a start on training the puppy and ourselves! I know I'm in puppy classes right now with my Osin and she's my FIFTH dog and 4th GSD. I'm still in classes too
I have tried redirecting him from treats, food and his toys he won't go for it.
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