My mini Australian shepherd will NOT be quiet when in its crate and it’s driving my wife and I bonkers. Please help! (No judgement please)?
We’ve tried calming dog treats, vibrate collar, today vibrate/shock collar (goes from lowest setting to gradually vibrate and shock when dog continues- not cheap) and i even built a 3 layered mini shed that basically covers the dog crate with drywall, fiber sound board and then sound dampening panel material.. of course drilled holes in front for ventilation to breathe. We can’t hear her from bedroom with fan on when she’s in that but it’s super extreme. We live in an apartment and this dog can’t just be barking so it’s stressful and messing with our sanity / sleep. It’s like an anxiety thing but she has to be in the crate she already almost died from chewing through a lamp cord one time in mins
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You need to hire a dog trainer and evaluate whether a) this breed is for you b) this individual dog is suitable for you (it may not be) and c) how much time and effort it will take both of you to work with her to help train her into the dog you need then d) train or give her up.
Basically dogs are pack animals and by isolating her in this sensory deprivation 'shed' you are doing the equivalent of putting a human into solitary confinement, even if you have been trying to save your sanity and marriage. Get a professional dog trainer/behaviorist asap and get to work. Aussies are hella smart and you can turn this around.
This breed should NEVER be an apartment dog. This breed is VERY active and needs work and a exercise for most of the day to be happy. Obviously you are not giving her this and she is frustrated being crated most of the day.
I strongly suggest you rehome this dog to someone willing to give a lot more exercise and "job" work to do. Find yourself a better dog suited for apartment living.
Perhaps you shouldn't have purchased an "active breed."
Rehome the dog. It's just that simple.
I have never crated a dog, never, and I have working breed dogs.
All I see wrong is the lack of any training. I hate crates with a purple/green passion & have never used crates for any of my dogs over the last 50+ yrs. They are just little prison cells & no dog deserves to be crated.
You lack of knowledge about your dog & its needs makes you ignorant. Ignorant is is just the lack of knowledge. It is just a matter that training can fix. You have to learn how to train your dog. It is a dog so it has canine behavior, what do you know about canine behavior? Do you have any idea why the dog is so noisy? Knowing why can help you fix it.
Have you searched for? 'stop excessive barking'
I don't think he wants to be alone.
Potty train him, dog proof your home as you would to baby proof a home. Make you home a safe environment for the dog. Put things up that could be destroyed or chewed on, things that could harm the dog. Train it. Lack of training & the use of a crate is why the dog barks.
How old is the dog? Is this a new behavior?
Is this your first dog?
So....How OLD is this "Mini Australian Shepherd, which, by the way is not a registered breed. Just a dog bred by a byb to make money from.
However big or small, this dog has working genes in it and as such should be getting loads of exercise and mental stimulation daily. NOT kept in crate in an apartment. And as for using shock collars on a crated dog, that is just downright cruelty.
How long have you owned this unfortunate dog?
I suggest you give this dog up to a rescue centre where it will be found a home with someone who understands the dogs needs.
A well trained dog does not even NEED to be kept in crate.
I can only answer on the "very few" facts you have posted about this dog and what its daily routine consists of.
The dog is bored and frightened of the crate and shock collar......... your dog needs lead walking, exercising, playing with so all its energy is used in positive actions, it would not then use this unused energy it has now and bark.
why cage an aussie shepherd anyway. As for a shock collar you need to wear one and not the poor bloody dog, you moron.
People like you should be forbidden from keeping a dog with such an attitude problem.
just keep stuff like cords away frorn her and keep her out of the crate, shes probably barking cause she dont like being in it and i dont blarne her, i wouldnt want to be in one either
How old is she and how old was she when you bought her? Sounds like a puppy that was taken away from its mother and siblings WAY too young.
There's no such breed as "Mini Australian Shepherd". So odds are you bought a mutt puppy from a horrible backyard breeder. So being a sold a puppy younger than it really is is quite easy with no Breeder Slip to prove it's date of birth. There's a Miniature AMERICAN Shepherd but you don't have one without the Breeder Slip to prove it. Plus you wouldn't be calling it a bogus name if you'd gone to a reputable, registered breeder.
How long is she spending in the crate?
Sounds like she is bored and stressed.
Probably needs more exercise and training (exercise for brain).
You don't mention her age either.