hates the crate!

Chupa Cabras · 10-25-2007, 12:50 PM

Watson has been crate trained since he was 8 weeks old. He's now 5 1/2 months, and hates the crate more and more.

Each night when I say it's bedtime, goodnight, etc., he lays down in the kitchen with his head on his paws as if to say "fine, I'll sleep here." I coax and put special treats, toys, etc. in the crate, but he ignores me. So when I go to him, he dodges just out of my reach, and we do a chase around the house. No amount of coaxing or treats will convince him to go into the crate. I have no choice but to go after him, which I don't like.

He sees the crate as a prison, and is miserable when inside it.

At what age can they be left to roam the house at night? After teething is complete? (He still has a few more coming in)

Gates1026 · 10-25-2007, 02:04 PM

Does Watson have a favorite treat or toy? You may want to withhold that treat or toy until bedtime to give him something to look forward to.

Here is my own personal experience with this. I have two pups that both went through a stage with not wanting to go into their crates. My older pup would even spread eagle her 4 legs so that I couldnt put her in without a lot of work.

What I did was withheld her favorite treat (very food motivated dog) until it was time to put her in the crate. I lured her in with the treat for the first few days, saying "go in your kennel" each time. Eventually I would ask her to go in and she would pop in there waiting for the treat. After a few weeks, when she could see me getting her kong toy with the treat ready, she would go lay down inside of her crate waiting. If I took too long to make it, sometimes she will pop out as if to say "You must not have seen me go in, so I will try again!". Ok, so I put words in my dog's mouth!

The new little pup does the exact same thing except he does this trot around the kitchen while I am making the kong. It is pretty funny.

Cheetah · 10-25-2007, 04:06 PM

I would practice simply going in or near the crate during times when it is not bedtime. Just randomly throw some valuable treats in every now and then. It sounds like he's anticipating being put into the crate because it only happens at a certain time of day, when you say a certain thing.

Anela · 10-25-2007, 05:47 PM

Making the crating experience positive is essential to your problem.

Boiled or baked chicken liver is a great training treat, dogs love it and it really get's their attention. Use it for training only.

Try putting an old sheet over the crate, leave the front open so dog can look out. Make a trail of treats that lead in to the crate, when dog goes in, make a huge fuss like dog is the best in the world. Try giving more little pieces of treat when dog is in crate. You might also try giving bully sticks when dog is in crate or a frozen cong stuffed with peanut butter or cheese. These are great safe chew toys for dogs that keeps them occupied for long periods of time.

If your crate is not in the bed room, put it there. This will help prevent dog from getting lonely. If whining is an issue, gently tap on the top and firmly say stop. Soon dog will associate tapping crate with your command.

Anela

Durbkat · 10-25-2007, 06:46 PM

Snoopy hates his crate as well, he will sometimes stay in a bit but will bark and bark. So wait till he takes a breath to start barking again and then I take him out and I put him in this one area in my room that is boarded off to where its just his water,toys, and bed. I guess you could call it a home made ex-pen but its larger than anyone made.

Chupa Cabras · 10-29-2007, 04:15 PM

Thanks for the replies.

Watson gets chicken jerky and a couple of biscuits at bed time, but I could throw a whole side of beef in the crate and he still wouldn't go in. Special toys...he doesn't have any. He can make a toy out of anything! Lately it's been butternut squash from my garden, and an old coconut that's been rotting in the woods for 2 years.

Now he's barking for about 10 minutes after he/we go to bed. At first I thought maybe he had to go out for a potty, but after a few times of him playing (in the rain) I caught on.

I've tried going in the crate and making his bed, playing around, etc. and he just watches me. When I come out, he slinks to the other side of the house and peers at me from around a corner.

If Watson had his way, he'd be in bed with me chewing on a beef rib and squirming around on his back all night. I don't blame him for not wanting to go into the crate, but I'll try to make it more appealing.

Lonewolfblue · 10-29-2007, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I would practice simply going in or near the crate during times when it is not bedtime. Just randomly throw some valuable treats in every now and then. It sounds like he's anticipating being put into the crate because it only happens at a certain time of day, when you say a certain thing.

I do this with Betty all the time myself, and she is now so used to the crate that when I shut down my laptop in the morning to go to work, she goes directly to her training kennel, and waits for me to close the door. I also put in a bunch of her favorite larger toys, and she does great.

What I practice all the time, when I'me near the kennel, as say, In The House, and she goes in. Then I say, Out of the House, and she comes out. Doing this over and over again got rid of that fear she had of being enclosed, and now she goes in on her own because she knows I'm going to work, and will be back for her to play more. This is a very good practice for the dog.