[TxRider]

I have never crated a dog of mine before, but the day has come.

Kaya is going in for her heartworm treatment in a week, and is going to need to be kept still for about 6 weeks I guess, so I stopped by petsmart on the way home from the dog park and picked up a folding crate and a pad to go in it.

I was thinking of just locking her in a seperate room from Hope, but the more I thought about it the more I decided a crate in the same room would be better, just so they can't play or roughouse while I'm at workand she will stay still. She'll only be in it when I'm not home.

Anyway I put it up, Hope went right in it, I think the rescue crated her when they had her. I decided to get one big enough for Hope, a 70lb GSD, Kaya will have lots of extra room.

Kaya took a step in when I coaxed her, the pad slid, and she backed off. I happened to have one of those rubber pads you put under mats and rugs so they don't slide so I put it under it, problem solved.

So then I crawled in myself, rubbed my hands and face all over the new fuzzy pad to get it all smelling like me, and curled up with some treats inside and had them both try to get in around me to get them.

Then I tossed and old dirty Tshirt in as well, and got each of them to go in for a treat one at a time, Hope first, and shut the door. Had each sit and down inside and treated them through the bars then let them out.

Neither seemed bothered by being in the closed crate.

Any thought or ideas on anything else I might do before crating Kaya in for the day when she gets back from the vet?

I want to avoid any response of trying to break out her first day when I walk out the door.

[Squeeker]

Good progress so far!

I would suggest that you start leaving Kaya in the crate for short periods while you are home, and reward her intermittently. If she does well with this, decrease the frequency of the rewards.

Then, start crating her and leaving for a few minutes. Gradually increase the time you are gone.

This way she will know what to expect when the time actually comes for her to be crated for the times you leave.

[didee]

Ah, poor Kaya.

Just one thought about getting her used to being in the crate. Maybe when you are at home, like relaxing and watching TV or on the computer, put her in the crate for little periods with a tasty treat* where she can see you so she can feel comfy that, hey this isn't bad...

*I just posted on another thread, a kong toy filled up with yogurt (mine likes vanilla) and bits of treats and then frozen takes them a little while to clean out.

Good luck, I hope her treatments go well.

You have a crate big enough for 2 big dogs? Wow, it must be huge!!

[TxRider]

Originally Posted by didee

Ah, poor Kaya.

Just one thought about getting her used to being in the crate. Maybe when you are at home, like relaxing and watching TV or on the computer, put her in the crate for little periods with a tasty treat* where she can see you so she can feel comfy that, hey this isn't bad...

*I just posted on another thread, a kong toy filled up with yogurt (mine likes vanilla) and bits of treats and then frozen takes them a little while to clean out.

Good luck, I hope her treatments go well.

You have a crate big enough for 2 big dogs? Wow, it must be huge!!

Ohh no it's just big enough for the big dog. Two would be too crowded.

Hope seems to be well used to a crate, I thought she likely was as the rescue crated her, and had her out all day in their doggy day care. Which is why she is very good with other dogs. I motion her in and she goes in, turns and lays down.

Kaya not so much. I did crawl back in it and curl up again though, my feet hanging out the door. Hope wanted to come in too but there is just no room. Little Kaya came in and curled up with me.

I have a week to get her acclimated before the treatment. I guess I should leave her in it at least one day next week.

Thinking about it, I might be better off crating Hope if Kaya shoes any anxiety when I leave her in there. I just need to keep them separated so they can't play when I'm not home.

[wvasko]

Well I know when they do the heartworm treatment they advise keeping dog quiet. I don't know if one dog in crate and one dog loose in same room is the best idea as it could cause crated dog to fuss if loose dog gets rambuctious etc. I would definitely have dog in crate as long a test period as possible before treatment starts with whatever way you're going to do it.

I know the tendency to coax dogs in crate etc is very popular, I just pickup dog and place in crate and close gate period. I'm not advising you to do this just letting you know how I have always crated dogs and it is an option if time constraint make it necessary. If what you're doing is working just keep on doing it.

[FaithFurMom09]

I know Faith took a bit to get use to a crate. (we have always crated her at night). We didnt really do anything to coax her in, we just put her in. Now we tell her "cage" and she knows to go right to her crate. I hope you find a solution though.

[TxRider]

Worked on it a bit more today. Little Kaya is not particularly liking it, wouldn't go in to eat her food inside, but did for some treats later, she seems to be wary of the the confinement like it's trap, but not seriously.

Hope on the other hand now has a new command, "kennel up!" and she goes right in turns around and lays down like it's nothing.

So if Kaya doesn't seem comfortable with it by next week, I'll just crate Hope to keep them separated. Glad I bought one big enough for Hope.

I don't think either will get very active without the other involved. They tend to just lay around unless they start playing with each other, tug of war, wrestling etc.

[Elana55]

I suggest your get a DVD from www.dogwise.com called "Crate Games." Since the one dog is happy to go in a crate I also will suggest you get a second crate for her. Leave the door open on both.

When you put the dog food in the crate and the dog eats, do not close the door at first. This is all new stuff and shutting the door can create that "trap!" response from the dog.

When the dog is comfortable eating in the crate with the door open, THEN shut the door and open it before the dog is done eating. Toss treats in the crate etc. with the door open.

When you go to let the dog out of the crate (when you get to the point where the door is closed after the dog is finished eating) unlatch the door and stand with your back to the dog holding the door shut. Most dogs will sit.. and when your dog sits, open the door.

Do not make a big deal out of all this. When you let her out of the crate, just ignore her for a bit.

Making the crate a rewarding place AND making it a ho hum thing when you let her out will help this along a lot. That DVD I recommended has some good ideas too.

[TxRider]

Originally Posted by Elana55

I suggest your get a DVD from www.dogwise.com called "Crate Games." Since the one dog is happy to go in a crate I also will suggest you get a second crate for her. Leave the door open on both.

When you put the dog food in the crate and the dog eats, do not close the door at first. This is all new stuff and shutting the door can create that "trap!" response from the dog.

When the dog is comfortable eating in the crate with the door open, THEN shut the door and open it before the dog is done eating. Toss treats in the crate etc. with the door open.

When you go to let the dog out of the crate (when you get to the point where the door is closed after the dog is finished eating) unlatch the door and stand with your back to the dog holding the door shut. Most dogs will sit.. and when your dog sits, open the door.

Do not make a big deal out of all this. When you let her out of the crate, just ignore her for a bit.

Making the crate a rewarding place AND making it a ho hum thing when you let her out will help this along a lot. That DVD I recommended has some good ideas too.

Thanks for the suggestions...

Hope is already there. I wouldn't hesitate to crate her all day as it is. A few minutes of "kennel up!" with a tid bit of baked chicken for going in and she doesn't want to come back out.. She has no separation anxiety or anything, the only reason she wouldn't like it is she loses her opportunity to scam treats and attention Kaya might get by being loose.

Kaya ate one meal in there, door open, and next time wouldn't go in for the food.

Which is a problem as Hope will scam in there and scarf up her food without hesitation... So I can't leave it in there without watching, and if I correct Hope, Kaya wants to go in even less.

Right now I have a potential bigger issue, Kaya lost it last night totally in a thunderstorm, state of panic, and I live under the landing pattern at DFW airport, not too loud, but you can hear them overhead as a low rumble at times, and she seemed to be keying off the jet plane sounds this morning.

If she's not supposed to be getting her heart rate up, this might be a very bad time of year for it with all the T-storms we get with each cold front in the fall which are about weekly this time of year. Her heart was going 100mph, shivering, panting.. ugh..

[Elana55]

While on Heart Worm treatment, can she have any sort of tranquilizer to help with the fears?

If you have a wire crate you can cover it with a sheet so it is more like a "den" and she may feel safer. If your other dog is going in the crate and does not want to come out, she is ASKING for her own crate to have as a den. Trust me on this as one who has crate trained dogs for well over 20 years now.

[TxRider]

Originally Posted by Elana55

While on Heart Worm treatment, can she have any sort of tranquilizer to help with the fears?

If you have a wire crate you can cover it with a sheet so it is more like a "den" and she may feel safer. If your other dog is going in the crate and does not want to come out, she is ASKING for her own crate to have as a den. Trust me on this as one who has crate trained dogs for well over 20 years now.

I think she doesn't want to come out because whichever dog is in the crate is getting the baked chicken treat.. And she'll do anything for baked chicken..

She's a den type of dog though, always circling a few times to lay down, digging little lays in the yard, hiding her head in me when I scratch her ears. And as I said I think she was well used to one when I got her. She's got a spot behind a bush in the backyard she goes in sometimes.

I tried putting a blanket on it and I think that's what put Kaya off, I took it off today and she went in a lot easier, not seeming to mind it as much.

I may go ahead and get Kaya her own, and yeah I'll ask the vet about something to keep her quiet in a storm, or if he thinks it's a big deal or not.

It's cold and raining still, has been all day, no walks, Hope is not pleased and is telling me so in no uncertain terms. Kaya is not acting strange like she was this morning well after last nights big thunder show, so I guess she's not going to decide that planes are thunder, phew!

[Elana55]

The rains of Texas are legendary... in the DFW area....

I was thinking of moving to TX when I retire (8+ years off) but the weather sounds anything but Arid. Maybe West Texas... or NM... LOL

I have found that when I can provide Atka with a "den" anywhere we go, she sleeps much sounder and is much fresher the next day. A dog that makes for a den is looking to have her very own. Doesn't have to have the door closed.. just that palce the dog likes and feels secure in.

I have seen this with other dogs. Once they get it in their heads that the crate is "their place" they want it when it is nappy time. LOL

Good luck with the Heart worm treatment.

Probably would not be a bad idea to journal this in the Helath forums so anyone who knows nothing about heart worm treatment can follow. Might also be good for all the folks who do not think HW prevention is necessary. Just a thought.. Education is the best defense against the cruelties of ignorance.

[TxRider]

Originally Posted by Elana55

The rains of Texas are legendary... in the DFW area....

I was thinking of moving to TX when I retire (8+ years off) but the weather sounds anything but Arid. Maybe West Texas... or NM... LOL

It's really only in spring and fall here, cold air vs gulf warm air.

In summer arid is apt here, when the climates collide it's pretty violent though.

Once the cold fronts get so weak they don't make it to us in the spring, it literally may not rain again until fall.

I used to live down on the coast south of Houston, it really rains there, lots and lots, all year.

Out in west Texas not so much. Land is cheap, neighbors few, and summers hot.

Central Texas hill country is where I'll likely retire, right between the different climates. SW of Austin.

Good luck with the Heart worm treatment.

Probably would not be a bad idea to journal this in the Helath forums so anyone who knows nothing about heart worm treatment can follow. Might also be good for all the folks who do not think HW prevention is necessary. Just a thought.. Education is the best defense against the cruelties of ignorance.

Heh, maybe I will. I saw a video someone linked in a post here of a vet pulling 80+ 8" long heartworms from a live dogs heart, talk about graphic...

Edit:
Heh, Hope decided to go lay in it the first time with no food or me asking her to tonight.

[Elana55]

Originally Posted by TxRider

Out in west Texas not so much. Land is cheap, neighbors few, and summers hot.

PERFECT!

Glad to hear Hope is getting the idea. Crates = Good place for Uninterrupted sleep.

BTW that crawling in the crate to get the dog to come in with you.. be careful. Some dogs have a lot of dexterity and you may end up being the one howling to get out!!!

[TxRider]

Originally Posted by Elana55

PERFECT!

Glad to hear Hope is getting the idea. Crates = Good place for Uninterrupted sleep.

BTW that crawling in the crate to get the dog to come in with you.. be careful. Some dogs have a lot of dexterity and you may end up being the one howling to get out!!!

LOL, yeah I just wanted to make sure the first experience with it was wanting to get in there, best way I could think of was having me in there as they always want to be where I am. And to get the new fuzzy cushion in there smelling of me.

First impressions of things can be pretty important with dogs I have found.

[TxRider]

Well I think I 'll be crating Hope for sure.

Kaya just isn't getting comfy with the crate. Last test was I put her in it, she seems ok if anxious to be locked in if I'm in the house, so I walked out in the back yard and peeked in a window to see her reaction.

She pretty much started trying to dig her way out immediately, and looked pretty stressed.

She goes in day after tomorrow for the treatment, so I think I'll just crate Hope, as she loves the crate and behaves perfectly in it.

Kaya is turning out to be a lot more fear based than I hoped she would turn out to be, so I'm going to have to be a lot more careful with her.

[TxRider]

Well the deed is done, Kaya is at the vet's for her blood work, first injection and overnight stay.

I feel so bad for her. As she has opened up this first month I have discovered she is a lot more fear based than any dog I have ever owned.

Thunder, cars, strangers, strange dogs, new sounds, even the clicker scared her to death. She won't take treats from most people, like the petsmart checkout girl.

Poor girl had her tail tucked tight to her belly when the vet tech took her away.

The vet said he would give me a prescription for some xanax for thunder storm panic while she's confined from exercise.

I hate putting my dog through this kind of thing.