Crate Training--UPDATE

I have finally decided that crate training my dog is a necessity.
You all suggested it over the last few weeks as well as some other helpful tips.
I tried everything and put off crate training in hopes that I wouldn't need to, but the time has come.

Does anyone have good training suggestions?

I anticipate that it will be hard for him (and us) at first.

TIA!

UPDATE: So when his food is in there and he goes in to eat. When we trialed him in it while we were home he was okay.
3 days in a row we put him in and leave the house and all 3 times he greeted us at the front door when we got home.
It's amazing. I have no idea how he gets out. Nothing is broken. He isn't hurt.
I have no idea what the next step is!

Message edited 3/14/2013 8:23:35 PM.

Crate Training

When we brought our dog home, we were given advice to make the crate a positive place to be. We gave her a nylabone for in there and gave her a high quality treat when we put her in (like a piece of hot dog, a filled up kong, stinky jerky type treat). We actually used the treat to lure her into the crate (and we said crate as we did to teach her the command). We praised her and made it a positive thing. Her bed is in there as well as a blanket. She sleeps in her crate now with the door open. We never use it for punishment. Only for positive reasons. It is her respite away from the kids, her den, her space. I've also heard that if they are resistant you can feed them in there as well.

Re: Crate Training

We started crate training right after we adopted our dog. Is your dog already house broken? Ours wasn't, so we used it for that reasons as well. At first, he would pee in there because he had too much space, so it's important no matter what that they have enough space to get up, make a turn and lay in, they don't need it to be this huge crate mansion.

At first we had some towels in there until he got used to it, and then put in a real bed for him. He has a few chew toys (no stuffed animals of any kind) - he has a kong and this other big bone thing that's made of a really thick plastic material.

We started to lure him there to get a treat - you never want to "make" them go in there - it should be out of his/her choice and using the treat really helps. We use turkey bacon strips, and his favorite is a kong w/ a tablespoon of peanut butter that I froze the night before. JUST loves it. He's now at the point when I have a treat in my hand and walk towards his crate he just knows to go in there. He's very outgoing, and we've learned the only place he'll sleep in is his crate - so we now have him on a schedule, which has relaly helped for him to adjust as well. He sleeps in there everynight while we're sleeping and we literally hear him snore. What's also important is to keep the crate if possible in a location of the house where there's things going around - not a basement or upstairs bedroom where he can't hear what's going on.

Also, VERY IMPORTANT - if he starts barking, etc., DO NOT take them out. The second you do, they know they can bark every single time. When we first got him we would take him out because we felt bad, but then it took some time to actually reverse what we just did.

Sorry, that was a novel lol but hope it helps. He loves the crate now and it really is a safe comfortable place for him.

Crate Training

PP's gave you all good advice. You may just be able to put him in there and follow all those suggestions... but if you think he is going ballistic and is exhibiting super high anxiety:

I know you said he gets wild when he feels confined so if you can't lock the crate from the very beginning, I'd start off the first week or so just acclimating him with the door open. I would do all his meals in there. I would spend a few moments throwing toys and treats in there. Say "go in your room" or "go in your crate" and praising him heavily when he goes in, praise the second he moves forward towards the crate. Praise the second his feet cross the threshold. Try shutting the door but not locking it. See how that goes.

If at first you can't close the door behind him, then the meals at the very least will keep him in there a few moments longer because he will be motivated by hunger. I'd start by just doing the food and maybe a splash of water in there rather than a whole bowl of water.

Once he seems comfortable, lock the door and leave him in there for short periods of time. Then gradually longer.

I would also add that once he is in there and the door is locked if he does carry on, and you do need to let him out. Wait until he is quiet at least 10 seconds before you open the crate. If he starts to bark, wait another 10 seconds.

At some point once the anxiety part is over, if he is just carrying on incessantly barking... you might have to move on to reprimands.

But stick with all positive as long as you can. Like PP mentioned DO NOT reward barking by giving treats, toys or letting him out. It's the worst thing you can do.

Also, like PP said... hold off on a dog bed for a while. They make a mess when they get destroyed. I would stick with a couple of towels folded up or a small quilt or other flat blanket (without stuffing). I rarely use dog beds, I almost always use cheap king sized pillows (one for small/medium dogs, two for larger dogs) I put waterproof pillow covers over them and then cheap pillow cases over that. It makes it much easier to clean up if they get sick in the crate. I usually buy the two packs at home goods. I don't know why they don't use water proof liners inside dog beds. If you do use a dog bed, only buy one that can either completely go in the washing machine or one with a removable/washable cover.

I would only put very safe toys in there, stuffed kongs or nylabones save all other toys for supervised time.

If it becomes overwhelming, I can give you a number for a really sweet trainer we recently started working with. She is very calm and easy to work with.

Message edited 3/12/2013 12:26:52 PM.

Re: Crate Training

Re: Crate Training

I heard from a trainer once that another way to get them used to crate is to never start off with training them to a specific time that they'er in the crate. One day put them in, take them out 5 minutes after. Another time, in for 10 min, out after, anotehr time 3 hrs in, then out. This teaches them that they won't be in there "forever" each time but its' very unpredictable.

I've also found that it's very helpful that we tire him before he goes in crate so he knows its rest time - usually after being out in the morning, playing with us, walking, etc., and then he gets a good walk/play time from teh dog walker in the middle of the day, and at night time he's out for a few hrs until we go to bed.

Crate Training

Thanks everyone!
We put him in last night for 5 minutes and he was okay.
Tonight he was in there for 15 minutes and my DH was in the shower and I was in the basement doing laundry. I heard him banging around a bit, but not much.

He still isn't going near the crate on his own, but does go in when I put treats in it.

Crate Training

Sounds great, it will probably take a few weeks before he learns that it is his own personal space.

Re: Crate Training--UPDATE

Oh geez, an escape artist. We have one.

Set up a ustream or video camera while you're gone so you can see how he gets out, and then fix it. Are you 100% sure you're latching the crate properly? (I'm sure you are) Do you have a crate with a double latch?

The best advice I can give is to watch through a webcam or video you set up (like a nanny cam) so you know exactly what the problem is.

Crate Training--UPDATE

ive had clients use carabiner clips (mountain climber clips) to clip the doors closed. he is probably pawing the door causing the handle to vibrate open. It would be easier to return/exchange your crate for one that has a better door. They have ones with hinges that are harder to open and ones that have a hinge on the top and bottom so it's not just one hinge in the middle.
If you can't return the crate then use the carabiners clips to clip the top and bottom.
Also you might want to remove his collar when he goes in the crate, it could get caught if he is really squeezing his way out.

Re: Crate Training--UPDATE

Crate Training--UPDATE

Home depot sells them, Get a few and make sure you put the clips in a few spots like the top, middle, and bottom etc.

I was actually just googling escape proof crates and I saw some super strong partially solid crates, but they were like 500-1000 each. You might need to upgrade to a heavy duty (thicker gauge wire). Some owners also end up having to use larger vari kennels rather than crates but you run the risk of them chewing them after a while since they are plastic. Real metal crates are better for air flow but a vari kennel might be safer if you think he will hurt himself. They make them pretty big.