Help with Crate Training

gniemi · 05-15-2008, 08:50 AM

My wife and I just rescued a basset hound - she is the best dog whenever we are around - she loves to snuggle on the couch, she sleeps on the floor next to my bed - last night for almost 10 hours! Without any thought to waking me up to go outside. In fact two nights ago she went almost 12 hours without going since she fell asleep on the couch and didn't want to go to out before coming upstairs for bed.

She is almost 3 years old and I am really worried about her because she really struggles to be alone in the house

I gated her in the back room for awhile and the 1st time I left the room she peed/pooped everywhere
Same thing the next 2 days
So essentially I couldn't leave the house

We have had her for 5 days now and started introducing the crate 2 days ago.

This morning is the first morning she is in it - I am sitting next to her doing work while she is in the crate - after almost 2 hours of whining she finally laid down and is resting.

I need help creating a schedule for Suzie to be comfortable in the crate. I am trying to make it fun for her BUT she really does not like toys that much - kind of strange but that is who she is!

Any suggestions where to go from here would be great!

Thanks

briteday · 05-15-2008, 11:58 AM

I don't do anything special to entice the dog to like the crate. I just put them in the crate and go to work.

Crates are a fact of life at my house. All of our dogs have come home in the car on the first ride in a crate, and been put in a crate to sleep the first night. Anytime we are not home, at night, and if it is not appropriate for them to be loose...they are in their crates.

Some dogs will readily go into a crate right from the start. Other dogs fuss a bit for some time. And some have to be carried/led to the crate, not going on their own. It just depends on the dog.

You can bait the crate before calling the dog...put a high value treat or stuffed kong toy in there. And I've smeared peanut butter on the back wall of our plastic crates for an occasional foster dog who is too big for me to carry to the crate. But once they're in the crate I wouldn't make a big deal of it. Just crate and go. We also crate our dogs at night and a few of them are noisy sleepers (snoring, paddling, whining in dreams) so we have their crates at the opposite end of the house from the bedrooms.

Good luck!

gniemi · 05-15-2008, 12:06 PM

thank you - any more info is great
I have had labs before and never crate trained them
With Suzie's separation anxiety I think the crate will help her

Keep the info coming
Thanks

winniec777 · 05-16-2008, 02:26 AM

I just got "I'll Be Home Soon! How to Prevent and Treat Separation Anxiety" by Patricia McConnell. She has a PhD in animal behavior and seems to really know her stuff. We're trying her method with our girl, who gets a little anxious when we leave -- I think it could really help you. You can order it on Amazon.com. It's only about $4. And it's short (38 pp) and to the point.

SpudNZasha · 05-16-2008, 09:14 AM

so what do you do if you put your dog in the crate and she barks and howls the minute you leave the room, thus annoying the hell out of everyone else in your apt building?

briteday · 05-16-2008, 10:14 AM

First, let your neighbors know that you have a new dog, or are newly training the dog for staying in a crate. Sometimes if they think that the howling will be for a limited time it can make life more acceptable.

second, I would do the crate training in short spurts if you have one with separation anxiety. If you need to go down for mail then put the dog in the crate during the time you are gone. As the dog becomes more accepting try crating while you run to the laundry room, etc. Once your dog has accepted the crate then try longer periods of time.

I've never had to crate train a dog while in an apartment. But I would also ask the neighbors how long the dog carries on for before worrying too much about the initial howling when you leave.

Also, I would also get into some obedience classes and after that, agility. Be sure the dog is good and tired before crating. If you are crating to go to work be sure to get up a bit earlier and get the dog out for a good hard play session/walk/jog. Then you can come back to the apartment, feed the dog breakfast while you shower/dress for work, take the dog out one last time to potty, crate and go. Maybe leave a yummy stuffed kong in the crate for entertainment.

SpudNZasha · 05-17-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briteday

First, let your neighbors know that you have a new dog, or are newly training the dog for staying in a crate. Sometimes if they think that the howling will be for a limited time it can make life more acceptable.

second, I would do the crate training in short spurts if you have one with separation anxiety. If you need to go down for mail then put the dog in the crate during the time you are gone. As the dog becomes more accepting try crating while you run to the laundry room, etc. Once your dog has accepted the crate then try longer periods of time.

I've never had to crate train a dog while in an apartment. But I would also ask the neighbors how long the dog carries on for before worrying too much about the initial howling when you leave.

Also, I would also get into some obedience classes and after that, agility. Be sure the dog is good and tired before crating. If you are crating to go to work be sure to get up a bit earlier and get the dog out for a good hard play session/walk/jog. Then you can come back to the apartment, feed the dog breakfast while you shower/dress for work, take the dog out one last time to potty, crate and go. Maybe leave a yummy stuffed kong in the crate for entertainment.

Thank you so much for your response.

I will let my neighbors know. There are 6 apartments in my building. Tiring her out won't be a problem at all before I crate her, as I run every morning with her to make sure she's tired enough not to destroy the house now before I leave... and I always leave filled treats for both the dogs to play with to distract them from destructive behavior anyway, so she's used to that. I would absolutely LOVE to take her to obedience classes, but there isn't anything at all in my area of the city and I have no vehicle to take her to the part that does... and of course cabs don't accept dogs

Thankyou !