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Canine Behavior/Crate problem

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Expert: - 1/11/2008


Question
Hi, I have a 1 year old male pit bull.  He is the sweetest dog you ever want to see, however, lately he has become horribly vicious when we put him in his crate to go to work in the morning.  He resembles a wolf biting the cage door.  It takes both my husband and I to close the door using our feet - we are afraid to put our hands down there.  I have noticed that he has become larger than the cage.  I am going to buy a larger one tomorrow - could this be the problem?  We adore our dog and would hate to have him bite us or something.  There must be something psychological going on.  Please help!!

Answer
Confining a dog to a crate, no matter how large (but especially one too small for him), for anything more than four hours at a time is inhumane.

What you're seeing is barrier aggression.  The dog is frantic and is learning to use aggression to control you.  His first "aggressive" response, toward the barrier itself (the cage door) is beginning to generalize to YOU.  The more he reacts in an aggressive manner to his confinement, and the more you visibly respond with fear and removal of your body parts, the more he is learning that using aggression works.  He might soon begin to use it outside the crate.  

You must find an alternative method of confinement.  Leaving him in the kitchen with a bowl of water and some special toys when you are gone is the humane alternative.  You must also have him NEUTERED ASAP if you have not already done this.  If you perceive the dog beginning to growl or use any aggressive response for any purpose at any time in the future, repost immediately.

Canine Behavior

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Jill Connor, Ph.D.

Expertise

I have spent my entire professional life rehabilitating the behavior of the domestic dog and I can answer any question regarding any behavior problem in any breed dog. If you are a caring, committed owner and need advice, I'm here for you. THERE ARE NO QUICK FIXES for serious behavioral issues; not only is it unprofessional to offer same, it is also unethical. IF I ASK YOU SUBSEQUENT QUESTIONS, I NEED YOU TO INTERACT WITH ME. More information equals more credible answers and a more successful outcome. If you want ANSWERS THAT WORK, participate in any way I request. I'm quite committed to working on this site for YOUR benefit and the benefit of YOUR DOG. Help me in any way you can.

Experience

30 years of solving serious behavior problems in domestic dogs; expert in dog to human aggression; Internet columnist for ThePetChannel.com for 5 years; former radio talk show host, WHPC.FM, Garden City, NY "Bite Back" (1995 through 2000). List owner, international animal behavior experts, K9Shrinks@egroups.com. Seminar leader: "Operant Conditioning and Learning"; "Aggression in The Domestic Dog"; "Solving Problem Behaviors" -- conducted for various training facilities on Long Island from 1993 through 2000. Former clinical director of "Behavioral Abnormalities" in conjunction with Mark Beckerman, DVM, Hempstead, New York.

Organizations
Member, APDT (UK); Psychologists in Ethical Treatment with Animals

Publications
Harcourt Brace Learning Direct: "The Business of Dog Training" "The Fail Safe Dog: Brain Training, not Pain Training"

Education/Credentials
Ph.D., UC Berkeley

Past/Present Clients
Board of Directors: Northeast Dog Rescue Connection; The Dog Project; Sav-A-Dog Foundation; etc. Pro Bono counselor: Little Shelter Humane Society My practice is presently limited to forensics. I diagnose cause of dog bite, based upon testimony before the Court, for attorneys and insurance companies litigating dog bites, including fatal injuries. I also do pro bono work for bona fide rescue organizations, humane societies, et al, regarding such analysis in an effort to obtain release for dogs being held for death in municipal shelters in the US.

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