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And as far as dogs being roaming animals and it being in their genes....dogs aren't solitary animals either. THEY ARE WHAT WE MAKE THEM. That's what the wonderful this is about owning a *domestic animal*.
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I'd agree to a certain extent. We do successfully change natural behavior in many ways. But usually, for every behavior we shape, there is a cost. If you force an animal that has roamed the earth freely for millions of years to spend most of the day light hours in a 2 by 1 foot area, you’re naturally going to end up with an anxious and possibly more aggressive dog. That pent up energy has to go somewhere, and often aggression is a release mechanism. The “we are what we make them” statement applies in that an unfulfilled dog eventually shows behavior problems. We may call them “domestic animals”, but inside, they still have the needs of a wolf. That’s why if you read this forum, every other post is “my little baby is biting/barking/crazy, and I don’t know why”. The reason: A Yorkie is a wolf with a teddy bear disguise. Admitting that is the first step to relief.
If you’ve ever watched the dog whisperer, the greatest lesson learned from the show is that the majority of behavior problems are fixed simply through the dog having more exercise and leadership. Leadership provides mental exercise; while playing and walking/running provide physical exercise. Long hours in a crate deprive a high energy soul of both. If this little soldier (because if dogs aren’t soldiers, nobody is) must go eight hours without leadership, the little teddy bear wolf should at least have the freedom to play and eliminate. Sure it’s a mess, that’s why you confine the little bear to a playpen at first.
I only write this to encourage people not to crate their little ones for long hours, not to judge anyone of piss anybody off.