Dear Nottiee,
Blackie007 is correct. You should not beat your dog to prevent her from howling/barking. This will not solve the problem. And as you have already experienced, it may be a temporary fix but not a long term one.
The first step to when you're trying to get your dog to stop barking/howling is to find out why she is doing so in the first place. Once you have identified the trigger for her howling then the problem is easier to treat.
So, my first question to you is, does she bark only when she is in the cage alone? Or is she howling even if she's out of the cage? Some dogs will bark in the cage when left alone but not when outside but left alone.
Secondly, does she stop when you come up to the cage? Or only when you open the cage?
What is the longest time she's howled while in the cage?
Is the cage outside the house or inside?
Maybe if you can answer these questions, I can help shed a little more light to your situation.
Rubini M
ABC Certified Dog Trainer
Animal Behavior College (USA)
Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers
email:
doggonegoodtraining@live.com