For those with small children and dogs...

[April]

Elf has recently discovered Cajsa's crate and wants to constantly play on it, with it even in it if we don't catch her first. She is nearly 15 months old and understands "no" but is still learning impulse control so she will stop but then go right back until she is moved away and forgets. 
My question is how can I keep Cajsa's crate "her" safe place?  She will go there sometimes when she wants to be left alone and it is important that she has her own place.  If Elf gets near her while she's in her crate she will growl and nip at fingers (although she doesn't bite and break skin or anything).  I'm just wanting to protect Cajsa's privacy by getting Elf to leave the crate alone.  I don't know how to do that and still let Cajsa have access to it.   Any ideas would be welcomed.  (I also realize this is partly a parenting question and partly a dog issue question, but I'm trying to respect both of them but am at a loss at the moment.)

[BridgetLouise]

As a parent, just keep moving Elf away from the crate and explaining that it's Casja's place and not for babies.  Elf will gain the impulse control.  Casja is reminding Elf too by telling her, hey kid, this is MY house.  It doesn't sound like Casja will bite her.  Elf may get frightened when Casja nips, and that may be enough incentive for Elf to leave her crate alone. My step-children used to do that with Bridget when they were smaller, and Bridget let them know, like Casja has, that it's time for them to leave her alone.

[David C.]

You just have to be really consistent with Elf.  Unfortunately, Elf might misinterpret Cajsa's aggressiveness as being funny and will continue to push Cajsa buttons.   Constant vigilence is a must.

Jessica thinks it's funny when Max tries to snap at her.   Max has never touched her, but he does swing his snout around as if he is going to strike.  Max does not have a crate or a private space to retreat to, so he's pretty much wide open to her.   Max seems to have accepted this and knows when Jessica gets close that he might have to get up and move about.   Many times, Max tries to "hide" behind an adult when Jessica starts getting too rambunctious for him.  Eventually, he knows that she will take a nap or go to sleep for the night so he can get some peace.   

[April]

She does laugh when Cajsa growls or whines or makes any sort of "different" noise.  She even likes the barks!  Crazy child! lol  She doesn't know when Cajsa is playing and when she is really trying to warn her off though so that's where we come in. 
Thanks for the advice.  I"ll just keep moving her away and telling her "no".  Hopefully she'll get it sooner rather than later...

[Shumard4]

April,

I don't have little kids but I was wondering.

How about an ex-pen around her area, her crate, food, water and toys. Then I would take bolt cutters and cut out a section just big enough for Cajsa. You could either modify a doggie or cat door for the section. Or you could use those pool noodles split to cover the exposed areas if they have rough edges. I know consistantly telling her no and moving her away will work but it would be exhausting and this would give you both a break.

Just a thought!

[April]

Right now there is a small patch of carpet between the kitchen and the livingroom and that's wher I have her crate.  There is an open doorframe there with a gate (screwed into the wall - not a pressure mounted one) that when open leaves a small areasort of enclosed on three sides.  One side is the wall and one side is the gate panel, while the third is the swinging part of the gate.  I have the opening to the crate facing the stationary part of the gate and there's enough room on either side for Cajsa to get through to the opening.  That has helped with Elf climbing into the crate or reaching towards Cajsa while she's in there, but it's put the back side of the crate at the perfect place to climb on...I don't really have enough room to put up an ex-pen though.  Do you suppose if I covered it (the crate) so that it couldn't be seen so easily, Cajsa could hide in peace?  Elf gets to go everywhere in the house as long as someone is watching her and Cajsa needs her space away from Elf sometimes. 

[Marcia from MI]

April I started to cover the boys' crate when Sam had his back problem and the crate was near a window.  The boys just love - it's like a cave to them and now that Eddie sleeps in the crate at night it blocks the light from the nightstand lamp if I need to put it on.  I removed the blanket one day to wash it and Eddie refused to use the crate until I put his other blanke - Martha Stewart brand over it. 

Eddie says a blankie over a  crate is a good thing.

[April]

LOL!  Cajsa likes to have a blanket over her crate, but doesn't insist on it.  When she was a puppy she would cry if I didn't cover it though.  Covered she'd sleep away all night, uncovered she' d cry all night! 

[Marcia from MI]

Sounds like it's a magic blanket.