AboutAnne Springer, BSc.,CPCT, IPDTA, APDT Expertise I'm happy to answer questions on behavior and training. I prefer a training philosophy much like your physician might adopt when treating patients - first, do no harm. Dogs are generally best trained using humane methods that make sense to them and put you in control, not necessarily by physical means, but by controlling the dog's access to resources, such as food, toys, access to the outdoors, etc. I want your dog to behave, but also to trust you and rely on you for guidance.
Experience Professional trainer, owner of Paws for Praise, LLC in Danvers, MA. Educated, bonded and insured, all breed experience. We use positive training and behavior modification techniques, and are committed to having the dogs that come through our center be both as well trained and behaviorally healthy as we can help their humans make them.
Organizations International Positive Dog Training Association (Regional Director for Massachusetts)
APDT
Therapy Dogs, Inc.
Truly Dog Friendly
Publications Gloucester Times, Ipswich Chronicle, and more
Education/Credentials B.S., Cum Laude, Salem State College
Diploma, Dog Obedience Training/Instruction (Apprenticed also)
Graduate, New York School of Dog Grooming
Pet CPR/First Aid Certified
Certified Pet Care Technician
AKC CGC Evaluator
Therapy Dogs Inc. Tester/Observer
Question Hi, I have a West Highland White Terrier and we trained her to know that her crate is her home and it's the safest place to be. But she took it too far....
She was kicked out of her boarding house because if dogs got anywhere near her crate she would bite them and start a fight with them. We can't touch her crate without her scurrying over and tearing apart her blankets inside because, I assume, of frustration. What should I do about such a problem?
Answer This sounds like resource guarding behavior. One thing you can do is read Jean Donaldson's book "Mine! A Guide to Resource Guarding in Dogs", which will give you some general insight into guarding behavior, and perhaps some help dealing with your own dog. Your dog may need to learn that YOU own the crate, but just let her use it:-) One thing that I occasionally recommend is to change the location of the crate daily, and even the actual crate itself, fairly regularly. Plus, I train my dogs to enter and exit their crates on command. I would NOT feed such a dog in her crate, as that just makes it more valuable to her, and thus, worth guarding (if you have other dogs you may need to find another way to separate them during feeding).
Guardy dogs do better if they are placed on a strict system of NILIF (nothing in life is free), which essentially means that you are not harsh with them at all, but they need to learn to ask permission for EVERYTHING. Example - if the dog wants to go out you would ask the dog to "sit" or "down" first, then open the door. The humans in the family should start and stop all games or activities, and the dog should not be able to get what it wants by demanding it through barking, pawing, nudging, etc. If you have continued problems, you should seek the help of both a trainer (for the skills training) and a behaviorist (for the guardy behavior), who can come to your home and see the problem firsthand and give you suggestions that make sense in your individual situation. Good luck.
