Comments | bitter_lily: Trench warfare episode 3

bitter_lily

Trench warfare episode 3

Jan 16, 2008 20:37

Yesterday went much as Monday had. Except that we had a light (several inches) blanket of snow, so I foolishly thought Ivory wouldn't dig and left her for the full half hour. She did dig, although she didn't get quite so dirty. I guess the ground was colder. Meanwhile, she let me know that she did not consider going out to be a treat in any way ( Read more... )

crate training, ex-pen

Comments 5

lemmingpie January 17 2008, 13:34:27 UTC

What a cute snowy girl!
Just about the Kong, since she has no interest in it in the crate , have you ever given it to her when she is comfy and happy with you so that she knows that she really likes it?
Ein for the longest time used to ignore his kong when I put him in the crate, but eventually he started eating everything out of it. I also use two other types of treat ball to switch it up a little.
But then I'm gone ten hours a day (he is not crated for that time any longer, and does get a break in the middle of the day, do not be concerned.) :D

bitter_lily January 17 2008, 19:01:56 UTC

Thanks for the photo compliment!

Well, like I said, my DH gave it to her Tuesday night, not knowing my intentions. She'd smelled it in the closed kitchen crate and started fussing about it. By the time I noticed she had it, she'd cleaned it out. At the time I thought that the mix-up might have been good for my plan anyway, in terms of focusing Ivory on the kong.

As for crating for ten hours, we now blockade Ivory in the kitchen when we're going to be gone that long, so she has access to her paper and food and water. We put her bed-crate in there too, so she has that as well. I'm not a big believer in giving dogs complete roam of the house when they're alone -- I think it makes them more anxious than relieved. So, given the break in the middle of the day, I wouldn't have been excessively concerned about crating him for that long.

bitter_lily January 17 2008, 19:03:45 UTC

My DH gave Ivory the kong.

lemmingpie January 17 2008, 19:27:00 UTC

Aw well that is good that she knows that she enjoys it (i don't know how i missed that, sorry!)

Ein doesn't really get anxious when left alone, he rather enjoys his time. And he actually goes into his crate and probably sleeps in there door open while I am gone. He does get on my bed and watch out the window as well (my blankets are always all dug up.)
He really does love his crate, but this way he can play with the cat, look out the window, etc. I don't mind as long as i don't have problems with him.

bitter_lily January 18 2008, 03:53:11 UTC

Late night update: Ivory started whining about wanting the kong, so I put her in the crate and set the timer for 10 minutes again. I was wrong in thinking that she hadn't paid the kong any attention at all; it turns out that during both cratings today she licked out the peanut butter immediately at the end of the kong opening. That gave way to the first of the stuffed kibble, and that's where her interest stopped. I guess it's a start....