Springer Spaniels

Question
QUESTION: We have a 9 month old springer and she will not let us out of the house!  We have to put her in her crate before we go out, at what age should this stop?  She has been crate trained and is happy to go in it, the odd thing is that for the last few months we have not worried about putting her in it at night as she is more than a happy to sleep on one of our chairs, and quite often we have to wake her up - however if we go to the back door she is there.  I have tried leaving her for short spells, however the damage that is done to the door is not good - have I done something wrong?

ANSWER: I have a few questions.

Does she go into her crate willingly?

What happens if you leave by another door?

What damage is she doing and how long does she keep it up?

What training has she had?  What commands does she know?  How much exercise (walks) does she get daily?

What methods have you tried?  And how long has this been going on?
Delores

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Yes she goes into her crate willingly and is happy in there.
We normally use the back door, yes we could use the front door however she is like Velcro when we are downstairs (she is not allowed upstairs), and would realise what we are up to and we are unable to get her to sit and stay in this situation.
Damage - will brake the cat flap, bark, whimper, claw the door and four footed jumping.  With regards to time I have listen to for no more that five mins, and to be honest I went back as I really thought she would hurt herself.
With regards to training, we have been to basic obedience classes, she sits, lies down, stays, comes and the walking to heel is improving.  We walk her two or three times at day and currently up to a total time of 1 1/2 hours a day.
We have tried to get her to sit and walk further and further away and closer to the door, I have on one occasion opened the door, but to honest she does not seem to be improving on it.  We have been trying to get this sorted since Dec - she used to sleep in the crate at night but from December she was quite content to sleep downstairs on her own.

Answer
Okay.  You have choices here.
1.  Crate her every time you leave (and hope she outgrows it:)

2.  Correct the behavior.

The method you're trying is good - but you need to do it 5 times a day until she gets it.

What I'd like you to try is an old tried & true "stop that NOW" technique and let me know what happens.

Get an empty pop/beer can - fill with about 15 pennies - duct tape top shut.

Open door, go out & close door & wait for her to start up.
When she does - open the door - raise can in the air, say NO, and bring it down hard ONCE!
No talk.  Shut door.  Sit quietly outside door and see what happens.

Now the trick here is to say NO and then make "ONE" thundering crash.  Don't shake the can..raise in air and bring down really hard one time. There's no conversation here - the tactic is "you do THAT and THIS happens".  End of story.  Do it again - it happens again.

When she's finally quiet - go back in and ignore her for a few minutes.
Let me know if this works.
Delores