A little background first - I worked hard with both my dogs to make their crates at home and in the car their safety zones. I think I may have succeeded a
little too well.
Now, Lily (and sometimes Kip) will growl and snark if other dogs walk close by the crate, or if well meaning new people crowd the front of the crate. Their
body language in both cases is growl, then look away. They are very uneasy after the encounter.
Mostly, I try to prevent the situation, and explain to the well meaning folks not to lean in and "trap" the dogs. Both dogs are very space sensitive
in general.
Is there anything else I can do to help them feel more comfortable? Once they know people, they don't exhibit the same reaction, so it's tough to set
up practice.
Any suggestions?
Sharon
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Crate Guarding
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 Sharon |
Crate Guarding |
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Posts: 559 07/18/08 12:27 AM |
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packopeebs |
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Posts: 894 07/18/08 7:27 AM |
Cover the crates to avoid the issue or drop treats in as people/dogs walk by - reward the calm behaviors.
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Sharon |
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Posts: 559 07/20/08 4:15 PM |
Usually the situation presents when the dogs are in their crates in the car, and I have the back hatch open to keep it cool. I don't cover the crates in
the summer because I want max air flow. Usually I am with them or near them, but the soft crate is zipped shut. Therefore treat dropping in is tricky without
unzipping.
Maybe I'll try leaving the top unzipped just a bit so I can easily drop in treats. I'll try to catch them when they are calm/ relaxing and not tense. Lily tends to get very tense when we are out visiting new places anyway, so reading her transition from "tense" to "snark" is hard for me when she is in the crate. They should come with signs for us dumb humans :-) Sharon |
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beckybishop |
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Posts: 2517 07/20/08 4:50 PM Professional Trainer/Moderator |
Are they herding breeds? How old, each dog.
So, only in the car, not when at home. If the crates were just on the ground and people/dogs walk by, they would be fine? |
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SW845 |
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Posts: 16299 07/20/08 4:53 PM Professional Trainer/Owns Board |
Is this happening at shows?
How about an ex-pen in a U behind the car to keep people and dogs (!!) back? They may be uneasy after the encounter if you've gotten upset in the past for this. Can you get them in and out with the crates facing the other way? Teach them to face away from the open hatch? That way it would be easier for you to reward averting, if you have some helpers.
Sarah Wilson
Your dog can change but you have to change first. |
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Sharon |
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Posts: 559 07/20/08 7:27 PM |
Becky, Sarah - Thanks for the questions. I'll try to answer each:
The dogs are: Kip - BC/ mini-Aussie, 6 years old. Very bonded to Lily and can get protective of her. He doesn't do this when she is not around. He is my avatar. Lily - Britney/ Eskie mix? Maybe some aussie. She was really undersocialized prior to 6 months old when I adopted her. She is coming around, but slowly. She is almost 4. This happens mostly in the car, but Lily has snarked when in her crate in the house, or at the training facility when other dogs or people invade her space. They are both just fine when people just walk by... it's when they go "oh hi puppy" and lean in that it happens. I think the fact that the people and dogs then step back and leave is rewarding now that I think about it. Urgh. She is practicing making them go away - which is a win for her. The last couple time this happened, we were visiting family. There were a number of small children running around, so I crated the dogs in the car while we got our stuff together and packed up. The nice relatives and kids coming up to "say goodbye" to the dogs triggered a growl/ bark from both dogs, even though they had been fine loose with everyone. When they can choose to move away, no growl. Also, their dogs are running loose, circling around on the multi acre property. My two have not been raised with kids, so I am pretty vigilant when the kids are around. They get put up if I can't pay attention to the interactions. They are getting a lot better with kids, but are no where near bombproof. I just had an idea - maybe I'll take an old sheet and clothespin it to the back of the hatch and the tie downs. That way air can move through, and they are shaded. Then the kids would not feel the need to lean into the crates so much... thoughts? I don't really have room for an expen in the back of the car, but a sheet would fit and block. I could also load them in through the back door, but I have not done that in this car. I always lift Kip down to the ground, since he has only one front leg, and that is easier to do out the back, not the side door. Sharon |
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packopeebs |
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Posts: 894 07/21/08 1:22 PM |
I just had an idea - maybe I'll take an old sheet and clothespin it to the back of the hatch and the tie downs. That way air can move through, and they are shaded. Then the kids would not feel the need to lean into the crates so much... thoughts? I don't really have room for an expen in the back of the car, but a sheet would fit and block.A blue tarp or one of the fancy solar shades (which work really well, BTW) would also serve to block the dogs and keep them cooler... |
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Sharon |
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Posts: 559 07/21/08 2:35 PM |
The Solar shade sounds attractive if the sheet works for an initial run through. Where have you seen them?
Thanks Sharon |
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packopeebs |
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Posts: 894 07/21/08 8:06 PM |
I got mine from Petedge. The dogs will still be able to see through it a little, but it will keep the car unbelievably cool and will keep people from
approaching the crates. Like you, I have found that my dogs have a 'critical distance' in the car - as long as that isn't violated, barking
isn't an issue.
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