Re: Crate Training and Spoiling Puppies

In Reply to: Crate Training and Spoiling Puppies
Category:   General Training
Posted by:  Alan
Posted on:  December 27, 2002 at 10:01:03

: My puppy is 8 weeks old and he hates to go outside to pee because its too cold, but I know I must do this because otherwise he will just go in the house. When I see him doing his business in the house, I say NO! and hurry to take him outside. He doesn't like the crate at night and my wife really feels sorry for him. I want to crate train him early so that we won't have any problems with him late. When he gets to crying, I put a crate cover over top and maybe hit the top of the crate with the flat part of my hand and say NO BARK BROWNIE! I repeat this step as nessary. I don't put any food or water inside his crate yet because we are just now starting him on our work schedule and eating schedule. He is inside of the crate when we leave the house for the day with the crate cover over top. If he wines or cries I hit the top and say NO BARK. Any other suggestions? My wife is spoiling him and I think this will be a problem later on. When he is in the bed and my wife is holding him, he then leaves her and come lay under me for some reason. Maybe he thinks I'm the master and the ALPHA.. which is a good thing I guess. What do you think so far?

Response:

Dear Alan,

What do you think about being forced to spend time in a place where every time you made a noise you lost sight, and then amidst the darkness, you were startled by a loud noise/effect outside of what is supposed to be your safe haven? If your intent is to have your pup fear you and his crate then you're well on your way to accomplishing that goal...

Being an alpha does not require force between humans and canines nor does a show of kindness subvert the hierarchy. Since you are the human most threatened by your terrier's behavior, I suggest you should be the family member who takes him to training class; you will both learn a lot from each other. :-)