I really hate to bring the crate issue again, but I need some help.

Before we brought Jacey home we got her one of the plastic airline crates. Rick insisted that the "Large" was just fine, so that's what we got. She went in and out of it fine the first couple of days. She even slept in it all night without a hitch (in our bedroom) the first night. I took that Monday and Tuesday off from work and Rick took Wednesday off so we could get her used to being in it while we were at work. I would leave her alone in the crate, gradually increasing the time. To make a long story a little shorter, I've been having a terrible time getting her in her crate! She has a kong, she has smelly t-shirts, she has the radio on. Last Tuesday I decided to use the baby gate and leave her loose in the kitchen, with her muzzle and an e-collar on. (The e-collar is from a freak accident she had as she sped out of her crate that first Tuesday afternoon) I went home to check on her at lunch time and back in the crate she had to go because the blinds on the back door were shredded and she almost ripped through the wood around the panes of glass. Jacey seems to be EXTREMELY clumsy/accident prone as it is. I don't want her to hurt herself. I also don't know if I can ever trust her alone with my small dog and the cat. She hasn't had any problems or issues with them.....yet.

Basically, should I get her the XL wire crate?? I will go get it tonight......

We got Andretti back in late June. The first couple days we tried the airline crate, it's extra large and he was still a little big for it. I had to force him in and shut the door and his head still pressed up against the metal. We went to the store and found him out of the crate. We started giving him 2 daily walks of 30 minutes each and he's not ancy when we come back and we don't even need the crate anymore. We took the gate off and he loves to sleep in it at night. On days where he only got a short walk or not one at all in the morning when we come home he is jumping off the walls and something is usually a miss in the house.
I think the exercise is the best thing for him and it keeps him out of trouble.
Sorry it's so long.

I know we talked about this in a pm you sent me. With Pandy i have her in an XL wire crate which is plenty big for her. She is about Jacey's size. With Trooper he somehow was getting himself caught on the latch and it tore off a few patches of hair so i went and got him a plastic crate. I would have preferred the wire one but it didn't work out. The plastic one is more closed up where the wire one is completely open. Jacey may prefer the openness of the wire crate. You can always drape a blanket over it to make her feel more secure. I bought my wire one at Walmart an XL and i think I paid about $65.00 for it. That is a lot cheaper than the plastic one I bought Trooper.
When i first brought Trooper home i had to lead him by the collar to get him in his crate. He would then put the brakes on and I would have to push him in from behind. He was very stubborn and with him as big as he is it was sometimes tough to get him in his crate. Now he will pretty much go in on his own without me having to drag him by his collar. Hopefully with a little more time Jacey will do the same.

I agree with Greytpilot about the exercise. If you can find the time for the walks that should help some. Good Luck!

If you have ever been around kids, once they get used to you they start pushing the envelope.

Greyhounds are just like kids. If you let them get away with it they will keep doing it and even try to go further.

It is all about the routine.

I brought Bernard home straight from the track. He did not 'like' being crated. Excuse me, you have been in one since you were a year old buddy. He cried, whined and bucked when I would try to put him in the first couple of weeks. Once the routine was set he now knows what "Go to your room." means. It means a cookie and that mom is going to work.

Does he 'like' his crate now, I dont think so, but he knows the routine and that is what matters.

All of mine have always been crated when I am not home. Mine are airline crates. Deniro is about 67-70 lbs in an XL and he fits fine. They should not be condos just enough room to sleep.

Gabby
You mentioned a Large crate. We suggest Extra Large plastic crates-in our handouts.
We have had people donate large crates and we turn around and give them to the ASPCA-they are not big enough for a greyhound.
Some dogs do better in a wire crate if you want to try that.
As Leah said-you have to let them know who is boss.
Did you bring your small dog to the kennel to meet Jacey? How did they get along? You should try one animal at a time-muzzle and leash on Jacey and introduce them separately.

i have the bigest of the plastic crates there are i guess it is the extra large. my digger was a big boy and needed the extra room. now that dash has that crate dash has a lot of room. didnt realize how big digger really was. when dash came home he was pur and total stubborn and wasnt gonna do anything unless he wanted to. he was ok at first with his crate but then started to refuse to go in and when he did he scream and cry and through a tempertantium. oddly enough as i had been giving him treats to get him to go in. i discovered he didnt like the treats. i got some different ones and he went right in.with persistant and i do mean persistant disipline he started going in with no problem. he now will even go in there to sleep even with the door open and stays there alot when not taking over the couch. there like little kids. (i myself dont have kids so i dont know much on that) but they will and do push your limits to see just how far they can go. jacey sounds like there's a bit of dash's stubbornness there. hey they even share the same skull and cross bone collar. maybe they need some playtime together and they discuss there stratigies.

Jacey has been going into her crate every morning without a fuss for a week now!



Gabby

Hooray Jacey!! That's a good girl!

After almost 2 whole weeks of not having to go in her crate, Jacey had to give up her freedom. I just talked to Rick to see how she was....she wasn't happy at all! She went in it fine for me this morning, but apparently she refused to go back into the house after doing her business so he had to carry her in!

It'll be 5 months this month, we leave her out when we go out and everything has been fine....should we consider not using it now?

I swear by crating. I know my dogs are safe and not getting into anything they shouldn't be. When I get ready to leave the house, I just say, "go get in your crate," two of the three of mine go right in and wait for their treat. Rietta just stands in the hall and looks at me like .."does that mean me too??" I just tell her come on...and she will go to her crate.
They have always been crated when left alone and are used to the routine.
Like Leah said...they will try to test you. You need to let them know you are the boss. It really is for their own good.

Are you still using a large size crate for Jacey? As I said once before, we recommend an extra large. They aren't going to want to go in one if they are cramped in it.

Memmie is the only one here that uses a crate. She loves her crate and sleeps in it all the time with the door open. None of my others use a crate. Jacey is a little girl, isn't she? Some dogs just don't like the crate.

Jacey has the "Large" plastic crate and an "XL" wire crate. We only used the wire one once because she peed in it. She is a tiny girl, still around 55 lbs. She's been doing well with it again, but you can tell that she'd rather lay around on the couch or one of the beds all day. I don't trust her not to eat just anything, so as long as we are at work she will be crated. I think she just needed to get used to her old schedule again. Rick says she's being "normal" again when he lets her out in the afternoon. I wish I could just bring her to work with me, there's plenty of room under my desk!