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amydv · Pup in Training Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 10

Charlie (used to be known as Boss) is doing v. well adjusting to pet life, except for one area - his crate. Now, we've only been together 2 weeks so I realize this is still the adjustment period...but given what happened tonight, I don't know exactly what to do... Dunno

I started him off in the crate - he eats in there, sleeps in there, and is in there when I'm gone. I did the "leave for a few minutes, then return" thing our first few days together, and he seemed fine. I don't make a fuss when I leave or come back, and give him frozen treat filled kongs (as suggested here!). I also leave the radio on. I come home at lunch every day, so he is in there for about 4 1/2 hrs at once (usually less). We walk in the morning & evening (20-30 min ea), and then a short walk at lunch (10 min).

Here's the thing - except for the first day, he has peed in his crate every day, and in the past several days, he has peed twice, morning and afternoon. I don't understand how he can have any more pee in him! And then tonight, I had the surpise of my life - he met me at the front door! Shocked

Somehow he figured out how to "fold down" the side of the crate and I honestly can't figure out how he did it! Oh, and he peed in the crate for the second time today... Sad

I took him to the vet for his checkup Saturday & she ruled out any infection (and he sleeps thru the night with no problem - about 9+ hours). I've never crated a dog before, so was worried I'm doing something wrong to make him hate it - he never goes in the crate without an incentive - treat, meals, etc. I would leave him uncrated, but everything I've read has said crating is best. He didn't do any damage after he got out today, but I just don't know...

I love my boy Love

- any help/advice/thoughts would be appreciated!!!!

Houndless · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:09 pm Post subject:

Someone else may be able to give you more info than I can but I'll give you my two cents if you don't mind.

As for the peeing in the crate, I really can't help you there as Tank was an easy adjustment. But if he didn't do any damage when he was out what if you confine him to a single room and see how he does, say for an hour or so? I can't make any promises but with these guys you can never tell. Raspberry

Redstripe · Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:58 pm Post subject:

Al always messed in his kennel. The first day i left and didn't put him in the kennel and let him run the apartment he did awesome!

I am no expert on the subject but i think it just depends on the grey and the situation as to what will work best for the grey!

Tracey · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 7:45 am Post subject:

In general, I'm a big fan of the crate. However, there are definitely some greys who just don't like it and do better out of the crate than in. If you are open to trying him for a short period of time out of the crate, it's probably best to limit him to one or two rooms. I would also recommend using the muzzle just as an extra precaution so he doesn't chew anything up.
I agree with Hannah, every grey is different and every situation is different.

Angela Macy · Graded Racer Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Posts: 267

Sorry to hear Boss is having a hard time adjusting to the crate. I'll tell you a story about Charlie. Smile

He was being REALLY affectionate to me one day, kept leaning against my leg just begging for attention. Which quickly made him become one of my favorites. Before I left for the day I went over to his crate to give him some loving and he slipped out of there quick as he could, and really didn't want to go back in. I accused him of tricking me with his loving, that he just really didn't want to be in his crate. Very Happy

At any rate, I agree with what Tracey is suggesting, if you're open to it. He may really just not want to be in his crate anymore.

My dog isn't a greyhound, but she's never been in a crate. When we leave I put every up that I think she can get into and close the doors to most of the rooms, so she only has free range in the living room, kitchen and hallway. I leave her some small treats in a kong before we leave, to distract her, and when we come back home she's normally asleep on the couch. We keep the TV on animal planet for her Raspberry

Good Luck!!!

Mack · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:06 pm Post subject:

We're a fan of the crate too, but like others have said it might just not work for every hound.

When he's peed in his crate did you just wash the bedding in detergent? The dogs have better noses than us, and he might still be smelling a hint of the urine, and feeling the need to mark his territory particularly if he is a little anxious in his crate already. I add about a cup of vinegar and a little bit of bleach to the wash machine everytime I wash their bedding (if its been peed on or not), if either of ours pees in their crate (a rare occurance but with our very inconsistent schedules it does happen) I scrub down the tray in their crate with vinegar.

If the vet has ruled out a bladder infection or the like, my only other medical concern would be something like diabetes incipitus (sp?) I assume dogs can get it just as humans do where they have an unquenchable thirst but you can determine that pretty easily based on how full the water bowl is when you get home.

amydv · Pup in Training Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 10

Thanks for the advice! I was home today, so Charlie & I just hung out. I'm pretty sure it's not a medical issue - he waited 8 hrs today before telling me he had to go out. And I have been washing his bedding with some vinegar because of what I read here (so helpful!)

And Angela - I laughed when I read about your experience with Charlie - he has done very similar things with me! Very Happy

I think tomorrow I'm going to try him uncrated...wish us luck! Smile

Redstripe · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:51 pm Post subject:

Good Luck! Let us know how it goes! Smile

Angela Macy · Graded Racer Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Posts: 267

Amy - I laughed too when I read you've experienced the same little trick Very Happy

Good luck with him tomorrow - let us know how it goes.

ORRN · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject:

I THINK CHARLIE PULLED THAT TRICK ON ALL OF US! Laughing

AND DORIE AT THE KENNEL DOES THE SAME THING---SHE ABOUT KNOCKED ME DOWN LAST MONDAY (AND THAT'S NOT EASY TO DO IF YOU HAVE SEEN ME Laughing

)

amydv · Pup in Training Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 10

Charlie did awesome today! Dancing Banana

I came home at lunchtime & he had been sleeping. No chewing, no pee, just looks like he slept most of the day! Smile

So......I think we are going to do away with the crate for now. He is SUCH a good boy & a lot of fun. So glad I went grey! Very Happy

Angela Macy · Graded Racer Joined: 15 Jan 2010 Posts: 267

Woo Hoo!!!! Dancing Banana

I thought about him several times today - REALLY hoping he'd behave while out of his cage. I'm so happy to see he was good and didn't pee on anything!

Redstripe · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2010 9:37 pm Post subject:

that is awesome! so glad its working out! Dancing Banana

BigPercyUpInMass · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:42 pm Post subject:

That's greyt Dancing Banana

Percy was the same in the crate, but he's awesome out of it, too. I did muzzle him for a very long time though, mostly because of the cat (she whacks him across his snout though if he gets pesky, so I don't muzzle him anymore)
Congrats on your boy Cheers!

Redstripe · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:18 pm Post subject:

still going well!!?? Very Happy