[clearcreekranch]

It's actually once every other week haha. And that's thing I'd argue that my dog loves her crate. If I say "crate" she goes to it and lays down typically, not of course that's not a 100% but I'd say 80% of the time she does. She's been rewarded for every time she goes, so she knows crate = treat. She also doesn't leave the crate until she's freed. We open the door and she sits there and waits until I say "free." I think this is the main thing that has messed me up. I just assumed that our crate time must be right because she is happy in there. She never cries in her crate. The only time she ever cries is when she has to go poop, and that's very rare. Maybe once a week I hear her cry in her crate and if she ever does that I immediately go get her and let her out.

I love the Kong idea, the frustrating part is, I've heard of that idea. Why I don't do it I have no idea...I guess I'm just an idiot. I need to develop some routine. I never have the thing frozen when I need it to be frozen. Just gotta work out a freezing schedule. I was actually freezing canned food...but I love yogurt idea too. I only have one kong and it may be time to invest in a couple more so that I can always have like 3 freezing.

For some reason I've always fed her and given her all her treats in her crate. I read so much about getting dogs to like there crate, "do this and do that" I honestly think I went way overboard with it. I never giver her things like frozen kongs, ice cubes or things that take her a long time out of her crate. She only ever gets normal toys and normal pea sized treats outside of her crate. I just gotta switch up my routine clearly...

Ok, so now I have to put in my 2 cents. Don't beat yourself up, we have all made mistakes and been guilty of not thinking of doing something a different way. These dogs can be a handful and I think that we can all agree with that. And we are all trying to do what is right or we would not be asking the questions. Wolf and my other dog are crated when I am not home and at bedtime. My decision. They live with 4 indoor cats and all heck would break loose in the middle of the night if the dogs had free run of the house. And no one sleeps in our bedroom. My theory is that since they both can't be in there, then neither of them can. And no cats, since we keep the door shut. Makes for a peaceful slumber of my husband and myself.

 

[Pattycakes]

Personally, I would take the dog to the vet to rule out anything major. If it is pano, your dog will eventually grow out of it. But if it isn't, I know I would want to know what is causing my dog to be lame on a foot/leg.

 

[geissap]

Pano can't be treated but unless you know it's Pano it's worth a look. For instance my Zoe has been really itchy and has scratched a huge bald spot in her side...could have been mange or nothing, but today and $300 later it's not mange it's allergies. However, if it were mange and went untreated it would have gotten really bad so it was worth it.

Look in between her paw pads- my lab had the tiniest thorn thing stuck in his once and I checked multiple times before I finally found it. He would run and play like normal and then every now and then kinda pick it up. I could squeeze and feel it without a wimper or sign of pain but I guess when he stood just the right way it poked him. I found it and plucked it out with tweezers,lol

This sounds exactly like it. I'm gonna check again. Maybe I gotta bust out the magnifying glass. She doesn't exactly LOVE letting us touch her paws. She's pretty good with it, but it's not like she lays over and just lets us look haha...so I probably need to check again.

We have a friend that comes to the bible study that owns a adult GSD. He's gonna start bringing him over so the two can play in the backyard while we bible study. I think this is a good idea...Jada loves to play with other dogs.

 

[UofIowaGSD]

I'm a stay at home mom and I know you didn't want any advice from people that stay home but thought I would chime in anyway. I really think you should tether your dog to you at night. I do this at night, & trust me I'm exhausted mom of four kids with twins. After supper and this is the time my husband is getting home I take Charlie, my pup outside and excerise him in the yard with a flirtpole. Maybe I missed it but didn't see that mentioned. Google it, but I made mine out of a horse whip and one of those skineeze dog toys. I can walk Charlie around our block a couple of times and that doesn't wear him out but his flirtpole will. Then I do some training sessions. We built him a kennel (4x6) in our storage room so I put him in there while I put the kiddos to bed and then when we settle down for the night I tether him to me and he is much calmer. He ususally chews his bully stick while laying by us. I highly recommend bully sticks! My pup doesn't like the kong with peanut butter and he doesn't chew on any of his chew toys but he loves those bullys sticks. He is also tethered to me while I have people over. That way I can correct him for jumping and that puppy biting. Sometimes I don't want to mess with him while I have people over but how else is he going to learn? Maybe not for your bible study group but if you have other opportunities I would use them. I crate Charlie only when he eats and at night while we are sleeping. I know I stay at home so my situation is different but I highly recommend making a flirtpole and using that as a different form of exercise. I also use an exercise pen in my living room but you will definitely have to have patience to teach an 8 month old not to jump on it. Hope that helps.

 

[geissap]

I'm a stay at home mom and I know you didn't want any advice from people that stay home but thought I would chime in anyway. I really think you should tether your dog to you at night. I do this at night, & trust me I'm exhausted mom of four kids with twins. After supper and this is the time my husband is getting home I take Charlie, my pup outside and excerise him in the yard with a flirtpole. Maybe I missed it but didn't see that mentioned. Google it, but I made mine out of a horse whip and one of those skineeze dog toys. I can walk Charlie around our block a couple of times and that doesn't wear him out but his flirtpole will. Then I do some training sessions. We built him a kennel (4x6) in our storage room so I put him in there while I put the kiddos to bed and then when we settle down for the night I tether him to me and he is much calmer. He ususally chews his bully stick while laying by us. I highly recommend bully sticks! My pup doesn't like the kong with peanut butter and he doesn't chew on any of his chew toys but he loves those bullys sticks. He is also tethered to me while I have people over. That way I can correct him for jumping and that puppy biting. Sometimes I don't want to mess with him while I have people over but how else is he going to learn? Maybe not for your bible study group but if you have other opportunities I would use them. I crate Charlie only when he eats and at night while we are sleeping. I know I stay at home so my situation is different but I highly recommend making a flirtpole and using that as a different form of exercise. I also use an exercise pen in my living room but you will definitely have to have patience to teach an 8 month old not to jump on it. Hope that helps.

Nah I appreciate these suggestions. There's some great ones in there. I've looked into the Bully Sticks. They sound so disgusting lol...but we're gonna buy some. Where do you guys buy these though? Online? I've never seen them in stores?

Also I've heard of the flirt pole and I have no doubt that Jada would love it. She loves interactive toys. Anything that moves...I just haven't gotten around to making one. Which is another lame excuse...I just need to spend the time to MAKE IT! That's also going on my goal list for this week. Make a flirt pole! We also have talked about making a kennel outside for her...it's just a matter of making it happen also. I gotta be like Nike and "Just Do It!" (Sorry for that lame cliche...I couldn't resist though)

 

[Sunstreaked]

I'm amazed at how much mental stimulation tires these puppies out!

We had a very busy Saturday, mostly revolving around Eva (6 months) and the dog food store, the vet to get her tag, the beach, a restaurant, and then a cancer benefit.

Except for the beach, not much running, and she was tired for a good two days afterward!

So, my suggestion is more mental stimulation. Clicker training, the flirt pole someone else suggested, new places (even for a short time), that type of thing.

 

[Pattycakes]

I used to take my dog to doggie day care. I can't tell you how much she enjoyed going and she would be exhausted...physically and mentally afterwards. I only took her there twice a week for about 5 months. It was a great experience for her.

 

[CPH]

I totally agree on doggie daycare, i really can't suggest it enough. When we pull up to daycare Capone starts running in circles on my backseat! lol

 

[Rott-n-GSDs]

I'm actually not a fan of doggie daycare... but then again I'm not a fan of dog park like settings, either. I have heard too many horror stories... and know that my "dangerous" breeds would be blamed for issues even if a "softer" breed started it. It just seems like too much uncontrolled chaos. I also have a very nervy GSD boy that would be a wreck if he had to go someplace every day. He positively THRIVES on routine, and that routine includes being crated or kenneled when mom & dad are gone. He is extremely high energy, but even with the hours in the crate he is content, provided we give him enough exercise (physical and mental) when we are home.

Plus... even though my hubby and I both work full time there's no way we'd be able to afford a doggie daycare.

 

[Pattycakes]

The doggie daycare I took Uschi too was at a private home and the owner had 3 dogs of her own and she would take in up to 6 more dogs of all sizes. The owner was also a dog trainer. The dogs were monitored the whole time. It was great.

I'm not a fan of dog parks though...seen too many dogs left to their own devices while their owners are sitting, listening to their ipods and reading.

 

[Whiteshepherds]

I'm amazed at how much mental stimulation tires these puppies out! ...snip....

So, my suggestion is more mental stimulation. Clicker training, the flirt pole someone else suggested, new places (even for a short time), that type of thing.

:thumbup: I agree. If you can take 10-15 minutes a night and substitute mental games for some of her physical exercise you'll probably start to see a difference in her behavior.

 

[geissap]

**UPDATE**

So here's where were at today...since this post caused a firestorm I figured I'd update you all so you're not all continuing to call CPS!

Shopping - Went to Wal-Mart and Petsmart. I bought two more Kong like contraptions. I actually like the rip-off brand they sell at Wal-Mart better so I got two of those. Also got some non-fat yogurts, baby food, some canned food. And I bought a tug and jug as many of you recommended. tonight I build my flirt pole! Oh btw she totally doesn't get the tug n' jug. She just looks at me like...seriously can't you just put the food in a bowl? She refuses to get it out...I shook and showed her how there's food in there and it comes out but she was totally uninterested in getting it out herself.

Day 1 - I got home about 4:45 and let Jada out. She went outside and played for about 45 minutes then she came in. We trained for a bit and she just kinda roamed around. I fed her OUTSIDE of her crate at around 6:00 and she was so confused haha! She kept going into her crate and I'd call her back out and point to her bowl, she'd run back to her crate, and I would be like "No you don't have to eat in there" I'd call her back out and so we compromised. She would grab a mouth full of food and take it back to her crate, then come back out and get some more. It was cute...she just didn't understand the freedom.

Anyway around 7 o' clock bible study happened. I had an atendee bring over there 110 lb. beast of a GSD and they played outside for the full 1 1/2 hours. Jada was EXHAUSTED by the time I let her back in but she still had more. Everyone left and I let her settle down with her newly frozen kong. She worked on that for a good long while but again she wanted to take the Kong to her crate. We let her take it we just didn't shut the door so she kinda came out and went when she pleased. By this time it was bed time, we tethered her and she settled down pretty quick and fell asleep. Then about 1 AM she woke up and started causing havoc so I did crate her for the remainder of the night. I don't think she's quite ready for workday night tethering. However, we're gonna work with her on the weekends. It's just to much for us to handle...I can't settle her back down every hour while trying to sleep for work

All in all yesterday went a very similiar way. She's a handful, as she wants to chew everything and anything but it's going ALOT better than expected...tonight I'll construct the flirt pole. I have no doubt she's gonna like that.

 

[Mrs.K]

GREAT JOB!

Give her time, she'll adjust to her new freedom

 

[GSDGunner]

GREAT JOB!

Give her time, she'll adjust to her new freedom

:thumbup:

Yep, given time she'll realize she doesn't have to go to her crate.
And she may just not be ready for sleep time outside the crate yet. Gunner was over a year old before he earned that freedom.
As for new toys and such, give that time too. I've gotten things for Gunner that he didn't touch at first. Then next thing you know he's going to town with it.
Best to rotate what toys she has so she doesn't get bored with them. Gunner has two toys that are always out but the rest are rotated. Then when I take one out he hasn't seen in a while, it's like a whole new experience.

 

[GSDAlphaMom]

Great job!! (Don't worry folks, we have pm'd and we are good)

 

[GSDGunner]

Great job!! (Don't worry folks, we have pm'd and we are good)

I love when people can be adults and work out their issues. Good to hear.

 

[Bomber]

Mine is 7 mo old and always wants to play at sleep time. he hasnt been in his crate since he was 5 months at all. When hes creating a fuss at bed time I ignore him. I lay down and he'll come running up and do his whimpering "I wanna play" stuff. But it last for 1-2 minutes and then he lays down and lets out a big grunt/sigh like a little kid not getting his way.... and then goes to sleep.

Ive left him out during the day since he was 5 mo old. He got in a few things but not too much. I previously had a great dane, so my house is fortified dog proof. I got a radio and play the oldies all day for him while im gone.... surprisingly this ended pretty much all chewing on anything.. He must love to rock and roll.

 

[Mrs.K]

:thumbup:

Yep, given time she'll realize she doesn't have to go to her crate.
And she may just not be ready for sleep time outside the crate yet. Gunner was over a year old before he earned that freedom.
As for new toys and such, give that time too. I've gotten things for Gunner that he didn't touch at first. Then next thing you know he's going to town with it.
Best to rotate what toys she has so she doesn't get bored with them. Gunner has two toys that are always out but the rest are rotated. Then when I take one out he hasn't seen in a while, it's like a whole new experience.

Whenever the door to the "dog room" is open, Indra actually goes into the crate she flew to the US with, whenever she wants to be alone and mine are pretty much never crated at all.

 

[GSDGunner]

After Gunner was given his "freedom" he never went back in the crate.
His choice. He never had a problem going in the crate and I never heard a peep out of him when he was in there. But once he was no longer required to go in there, he didn't.

After about a month of non use on his part, we disassembled it and put it in the garage.
I've never regretted it either. He has never once gotten into anything, destroyed or chewed anything. It's almost like he appreciated the freedom and didn't want to do anything to ruin it.