She's eating her cage!

[KarenK]

I've slowly, over the past few weeks, been able to tamp down some of my little one's agression, which seems to be an extension of hyperactivity. My pup literally runs all day long, with short breaks inbetween (very short, maybe 4-5 minutes). However, I've not been able to crate her. Twice in the past couple weeks I've heard her screaming in panic. I rushed into the living room where her crate is and found her literally hooked by the incisors on the bars of her crate. It took two of us in the house to get her unhooked--there was plenty puppy crying, thrashing and general end-of-the-world theatrics. Thankfully, she was unharmed both times. We've since stopped crating her because she won't stop chewing the bars and keeps getting herself in trouble. Oh yeah...she's chewing, thrashing everything in the house, toys, paper, anything she can get ahold of. I've had to puppy-proof the whole house. I think I may have to get a new crate, but what do I do if she keeps this wild-ass create biting?

[stella123]

how old is your puppy?

[KarenK]

She's 11 weeks now. Really, really zippy. I love the little monster and am working with her, but her crate has become a hazard.

Oh yes...might be something others might want to watch for too. I never believed she could get hung up on the bars until she did it.

[AngelBunny]

Is she enrolled in class yet? And, how much physical exercise--aside from running around your home--is your puppy getting?? Taking her outside to as many different places as possible is fatiguing and while teaching her the world is a safe, fun place, it'll wear her out, too.

[dogsbydoug]

We have a frequent puppy visitor on weekends - she is 14 weeks old and full of tons of puppy energy. Her owners both have odd weekend work schedules for the next few weeks (completely unexpected and they're not happy about it), so she stays with us while they work - which reinforces why I don't think I'll ever be ready for a pup full time - they make me tired just watching them!!

She gets wicked zoomies every night...so much so that because we do not have carpeting in the house, we take her into the backyard and toss tennis balls back and forth for her to chase and fetch. That physically tires her out - it's tiring her mentally that is a challenge - so, we work on sits, downs, paying attention, recalls, etc...lots of fun training/puppy games. She's alot of fun and pick up on new stuff very quickly.

I will also pop her in the car and take her to the local training club or to PetCo, PetsMart, Home Depot, or to visit mom or dad at work for a little while - THAT tires her out as well because she gets new smells and sights....when she comes back home, she konks out in her crate for a nap fo at least 2 hours.

Obviously you have to puppy proof the whole house - you've got a puppy!! Get down on your hands and knees and check the house from her level... Give hera job to do - chase a ball, fetch a ball, etc...something to make her 'work out' both her mind and her muscles before popping her into her crate.

[pupmama]

We took Kona with us to visit her "cousins"...my brother has two dogs--one, a 10 month old german shepherd and the other is a 7 year old Jack Russell. They all had great fun (though it mostly the two pups that played together, chasing one another and playing tug of war). Needless to say that after several hours of this kind of play, Kona crashed hard for the night and slept soundly all night!

I make sure that Kona gets a good walk before I leave for work in the morning and another at noon time during lunch and one or two more after we get home....once before dinner and one more before bedtime. We have our route we take that takes anywhere from 10-20 minutes depending on if we take the "long" block or the short block and we vary the distance and direction.

[groupieindenial]

you might be better with a plastic crate if she's getting hung up. Is she wearing her collar in the crate? Thats a no no. Put her in the crate when she's so tired, and just about falling asleep. She'll sleep more soon, she'll need to in order to grow.

[kayozzy]

You might also want to start the crate training from the beginning, so she feels more comfortable in it. Start out with just a couple of minutes, then take her out of the crate and keep doing that several times. Maybe even stay in the room and give her attention during that initial stage. Also, put her in there with a stuffed kong or something that will keep her busy. She will soon learn it isn't a horrible place, but her own happy place.

[Ayoka]

A friend of mine got a rescue a while back that was TERRIFIED of the crate...so bad he would have marks on his teeth from the metal.

She basically had to start crate training from the beginning...and she bought a VariKennell, one of the plastic airline crates, and took the door off unless the dog was in the van.