Obsessive Springer Spaniel in the crate

by Lucy
(Grimsby)

Hi , we are having problems with our year old springer when we put him in his crate, he has started to snap at us as we close the catch, he has never let the children put him in or even let him out and this morning for the first time ever he did it to me. We are thinking of taking the crate away and just leting him have a bog basket now. Do you have any tips that would help us out.

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Obsessive Springer Spaniel in the crate

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Nov 14, 2010
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Crating
by: Michele

Do not allow your dog to get away with snapping at your or any member of the family. Once he has gotten away with that once or twice it will continue.

First - obedience training. Find a good obedience class or a trainer that will come to your home.

Second - his crate should be his retreat - his safe haven. He should get in there with one word from you. (My Springers know their crates as 'house'). Once you say that word, he should immediately get in there. And he should want to get in there even when not told to do so. Both of my Springers will go to their crates to take a nap without me telling them to do so.

Please seek help from a professional dog trainer. Snapping dogs usually progress to biting dogs.

Nov 14, 2010
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Aggression towards other dogs
by: Anonymous

Our rescue springer also displays the same snapping behavior when he is crated. We were only crating him a night but I would have to drop treats through the top back part of the crate to keep him occupied until I could get the door closed and latched. Unfortunately, he is also showing aggression to both my husband and myself at other times. It's a sad situation because we love this dog but aren't sure if his aggression issues can be changed. We have been advised to have him euthanized but we're trying medication before making any decisions. Our springer had once been a stray and came to us with serious aggression issues towards other dogs. We took him in because we thought we'd be the perfect home for him. Sometimes the best intentions just aren't good enough. Makes me sad.

Nov 10, 2010
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Re: Springer in the Crate
by: Jerry Springer

I had a springer that I used to crate because I couldn't let him loose in my small apartment, particularly unattended. He also started displaying the snapping behavior you mention, and a trainer I saw told me I was "over-crating" him, which makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, tethering him was a worse solution, and ultimately I had to re-home him with the help of a breed rescue.

I miss him terribly, but I know that since he went to a family with far more land and another springer to keep him company, he ended up in a much better situation.

Consider that you may be over-crating him and you also need to distract him when you close the door. If he can't keep busy in there—as with a chew toy or a Kong—he probably resents having to be put there all alone.

Nov 10, 2010
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snapping springer
by: Anonymous

when my 10 month old springer dosnt want to go out she does the same - I dont know any solution to this only when I had her at obedience training the lady said said to make her do something good like sit when she does this. v difficult

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