The woman who lives in the house next door to Tom just got a new Border Collie puppy. Tom immediately gave her a print-out of my dog training book (which you can read more about at: http://www.dogproblems.com/secretsbook.htm )

She read the book. Especially the part about using a crate to confine your puppy when you're not home. (This is the same way you'd confine a baby to a crib or a play pen when you can't keep 100% of your attention on your baby). It prevents your puppy from learning bad habits, and it also gives your pup a sense on security and well-being, as it brings out their natural den instinct.

Now, I make it pretty clear in my book that the crates I recommend are the kind you can buy at any pet store. They are made of a plastic shell and have a locking wire mesh-gate door at the front, and wire windows on the side. (You can ask any pet store for the "airline approved" crates).

Anyway-- Tom's neighbor thought she'd get creative. Since it was only a 10 week-old puppy, she put the pup in a tupperwear box in front of her house during the day. (Yes, she left the top off, of course). But this was in lieu of buying the crate I recommended with the locking door... so that her pup would actually be confined.

The problem was that: The puppy wasn't CONFINED.

It didn't take a genius dog (or even a puppy) more than half a day to figure out how to jump out of the box.

Then it was off to puppy adventures