Some Puppy Problems Can Be "Packaged"

by Maggie Blutreich

Many dog problems can be solved with just three words, "Get a crate." Dog crates come in many sizes and two basic styles -- closed plastic and wire mesh. The dog crate is not a cage or a prison. The dog crate is like a wolf's den, a dining room, a play pen, a car seat, and every teenager's dream come true -- a room of his own! A crate gives the dog a sense of peace and security. It keeps your home and your dog safe when you are not there to supervise. The crate is a toilet training tool. Crate trained dogs are less stressed by traveling, vacations, boarding kennels or stays with a vet or groomer. Sick or injured dogs often benefit from crate rest -- denning up. Dogs hide their favorite things under their crate mattresses.

Teaching the dog to enjoy the crate is literally a piece of cake! Just toss a bit of dog food in with an exaggerated underhand pitch using whatever term you want. The word, "in," works well because it can be stretched (innnnn) to fit the tossing gesture. If you decided to feed your dog's meals in the crate, he will find it an even nicer place to be. One suggestion: if the puppy begins to yelp or whine, do not open the crate during the tantrum. Do something to silence the puppy before opening the door. You can cover the crate with a sheet or towel, tap on the back of the crate, rattle a food bowl or even drop a book on the floor. The point is, you do not want to teach the puppy to scream when he wants out of his crate. Regular meals, naps, potty trips, and playtimes will teach the puppy to count on you to reasonably follow his simple schedule. Very young puppies do better with an open-door crate inside a safe area. A puppy room can be arranged by simply putting a baby gate in a door. A small area with an easily cleaned floor that has been checked for pup hazards is best. A normal puppy will not soil his crate and innately knows the difference between "home, clean crate" and "potty out there." As the puppy's bowel and bladder control mature within four to six months, "out there" becomes his outdoor fenced yard area.

My puppy bounces around in the car like a kite in a storm. How can I make him stay still? Frantic Fido is a real traffic hazard to you and other motorists. Even a minor fender bender could result in a popped open door -- a frightened dog leaping from the car into the traffic. The simple solution is a "car seat" Dogs riding in crates are safer and quieter. Remember, the crate is the dog's "home away from home." Always keep his going into the crate a happy, rewarding experience, associated with praise, treats or toys; it is not a trip to the principal's office.

We're going to get rid of this puppy if she doesn't stop chewing up the kids' toys. Any suggestions? All puppies lose their baby teeth; therefore, all puppies chew. Our job is to take control over when, where and what they chew! White Fang will not chew through an electric cord while you are on the phone, if she is safe in her crate with a favorite toy. You can easily make your own teething rings by dipping a knotted washcloth in water and freezing it. The cool sensation soothes the puppy's aching gums. Take the cloth away to refreeze when it thaws. A general rule is to give the puppy only one or two toys at a time. This makes everything old seem new again.

But when you have a box full of dog toys and the little so and so still chewed up three Power Rangers and a tennis racket -- when Barbie doesn't have a thing to wear --it's an even bet the whole family has second thoughts about the puppy. You could ask the children to keep their things out of the dog's area. Remember, puppies should not have full run of the house until they are reasonably toilet trained and done with teething. If a baby gate keeps the puppy in the kitchen or laundry room, the children can leave their toys elsewhere or pick them all up before the puppy has play time out of the crate and puppy room after nap time. There are several bittering agents available under such names as "Bitter Apple" and "Sour Grapes." A useful word association can be taught. Soak an object the dog would normally chew with one of these products and watch for the pup to mouth it. When the dog spits out the bad taste, softly, sharply say, "Yuck!" or something similar. After two or three such encounters, the dog should associate the word with the taste and leave objects alone when he hears you say, "Yuck!".

My carpets are all ruined and the puppy still makes a puddle every time I yell at her! The dog who puddles when stressed is usually showing a normal canine behavior. Her bladder may or may not be mature, but she shows her submissive attitude to the person (or older, higher ranking dog) by urinating. Obviously, correcting her for "saluting the sergeant" is counterproductive. She needs her self confidence boosted. A quiet, low key approach in general and in praising or correcting will almost always help. A crate can give this personality some peaceful "downtime.

" We can't take two steps without having this pup under foot. He never seems to settle down. Is he hyper or what? Most puppies are real little bundles of energy. If your Bouncing Bowser is constantly underfoot, crate rest would save a lot of wear and tear on human nerves and softly teach the little one to relax even in the midst of others' activities. Confinement should never be confused with isolation. Just balance this quiet time with plenty of safe interactive exercise in the puppy's outdoor fenced area. Teaching fetch is fun for all concerned. It is best not to play tug of war or any rough wrestling games with fragile puppies no matter how energetic they are. Teaching any rough, aggressive behavior toward adults and children is undesirable for puppies and dangerous for grown dogs.

Maggie Blutreich is the American Kennel Club Public Education Coordinator for the Piedmont Kennel Club and the Dalmatian Club of the Piedmont.