Need Advice

[Michelle]

My boyfriend and I have a 4.5 month old Boston that we are trying to train so that way she does not end up getting out of hand. My boyfriend emailed some dog behaviourist and this is the response we got.

Keeping a dog in a crate is INHUMANE. if you don't have to time to 'deal' with her WHY DID YOU GET HER? Your dog is being unfairly, inhumanely and cruelly treated by you. Pinning a five month old puppy to the floor (after POKING HER IN THE NECK) is abusive. It's amazing to me that you abuse and neglect this animal and then expect a professional in the field of animal behavior to correct your stupidity in this venue. This isn't a stuffed animal, it's a LIVING BEING with the right to secure, loving and consistent ownership. If the conditions under which this unfortunate dog are forced to live were observed by a humane officer, she would be removed from your home. My advice is to find another home for that dog IMMEDIATELY before you turn her into a raving, aggressive basket case, something she is no doubt (from your description of her reaction to your asinine alpha behavior) already becoming.

I HAVE NEVER PINNED OR POKED MY DOG DOWN IN AN ABUSIVE MANNOR. I held her down once when she was biting, which I learned from the Dog Whisperer. I crate my dog when I'm not at home or at night when we go to bed because she is still potty training. When I read this I wanted to cry.:( How could someone be so mean. My dog (Penny) is a VERY healthy and I have pictures to prove it. She eats like a horse and is growing like a weed.

Please help, I now feel like I've done something wrong. Any advice would be helpful.:confused:

[happyherd]

Hi Michelle,
This is just my opinion... I firmly believe in crating a new dog or puppy during the potty training stage if you can't be watching her. However, a crate will not teach manners or potty training. It is just a temporary "safe place" for them to be, when they aren't being supervised. Once they can be trusted, I like to give free run of the house and just leave the crate door open.

Since I don't know what was said between your b/f and the "dog behaviourist", I have no idea why he/she went off on such a rant, so I won't comment on that.

As far as the "pinning down", I think there are more effective ways to curb the puppy biting when it gets out of hand. Aggression on your part, will only lead to more aggression (or timid behavior) on their part, neither of which is good.
It sounds to me, like you have good intentions and may just need some guidance in training your new puppy. Perhaps you can ask your Vet for a local dog training club, or inquire at the local petstore, they sometimes have classes as well. It would be great if you and your little one can get into a puppy class and learn together.

I wish you all the best :)

[Michelle]

Thank you. I'm glad I posted my question here, at least I know I will get good sound advice without someone biting my head off.

[jackie's momma]

My boyfriend and I have a 4.5 month old Boston that we are trying to train so that way she does not end up getting out of hand. My boyfriend emailed some dog behaviourist and this is the response we got.

Keeping a dog in a crate is INHUMANE. if you don't have to time to 'deal' with her WHY DID YOU GET HER? Your dog is being unfairly, inhumanely and cruelly treated by you. Pinning a five month old puppy to the floor (after POKING HER IN THE NECK) is abusive. It's amazing to me that you abuse and neglect this animal and then expect a professional in the field of animal behavior to correct your stupidity in this venue. This isn't a stuffed animal, it's a LIVING BEING with the right to secure, loving and consistent ownership. If the conditions under which this unfortunate dog are forced to live were observed by a humane officer, she would be removed from your home. My advice is to find another home for that dog IMMEDIATELY before you turn her into a raving, aggressive basket case, something she is no doubt (from your description of her reaction to your asinine alpha behavior) already becoming.

I HAVE NEVER PINNED OR POKED MY DOG DOWN IN AN ABUSIVE MANNOR. I held her down once when she was biting, which I learned from the Dog Whisperer. I crate my dog when I'm not at home or at night when we go to bed because she is still potty training. When I read this I wanted to cry.:( How could someone be so mean. My dog (Penny) is a VERY healthy and I have pictures to prove it. She eats like a horse and is growing like a weed.

Please help, I now feel like I've done something wrong. Any advice would be helpful.:confused:
I understand that sometime keeping a dog in a crate is inhuman. Sometimes thouth it is a salvation to the dog. See I have a dog with anxiety issues and my vet suggested it for when I am not home or when he cant calmn down.

[Bailey's mum]

Hi Michelle, I crate my 4 month old puppy at the moment at night,& make sure I let her out at least twice a night to relieve herself. However during the day, if I am unable to supervise her, I put her in her puppy play pen. She has more room to move around, can play with her toys & its big enough to put her food & water in there too.
I also put her bed in one corner of it & a puppy wee pad in the other corner, so she can relieve herself whenever she wants too. It might be a good idea to purchase one of these pens, as I think it is a better option to put your pup in it when you go out ,rather than the crate.
With the biting, I would be directing her teeth to a toy, every time she bites you, I also put my pup in her play pen for time out & ignore her for 10 minutes when she gets too rough with me.
It would also be a good idea to get some good books on dog behaviour & training.
This behaviourist that you spoke to, sounds a little bit too nutty to me.

Nicole

[Lyka_01]

I think putting a puppy in a crate temporarily is not bad...sometimes we do that for a reason, especially if no one supervised it...but make sure that you will give him a time to walk and play outside...