Problem with puppy crate training

1034 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by waltw, Apr 1, 2009

JustAnotheRunner

Discussion Starter · Mar 31, 2009

First off, thanks everyone for contibuting to this site.This forum has a lot of good information and links. A week ago I adopted my puppy from Humane Society. He is a 4 month Collie/Shepherd mix. I have been doing a lot of research and I have seen some clashes in common training themes. The biggest one I wanted to mention and perhaps get some feedback.

I read a lot of sites which talk about crate training, they put HUGE emphasis on making the crate a positive place, it's not a punishment, slowly get them comfortable, a lot of rewards, and soon they will love the privacy and escape of the crate.

Now, thats great and all, but when you combine that with potty training, it's simply not possible, is it?

The bottom line is that we can't wait for the dog to love his crate. (We tried) He goes to the bathroom in the house at a moment's notice. We are making great steps towards getting him to wait to go outside, and keeping him in the crate is the greatest asset, because it forces him to hold his bladder. We go straight from the crate to outside and it eliminates accidents.

Right now, almost a week after I brought him home, he is going outside at regular times, doing his business, and then when hes inside he gets put in his crate if we aren't training him. He doesn't hate his crate, but he avoids it like the plague. We either trick him by putting treats in the back corner, or we pick him up and drop him inside.

Thoughts?

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Marsh Muppet

· #3 · Mar 31, 2009

When I watched the "Crate Games" video, I was massively impressed...with myself. I basically came up with a similar concept of my own devising. Actually, there is no huge trick to the program. You just use a puppy's natural instinct to play and seek reward in order to get him to run into the crate and stay in for progressively longer periods.

Obviously, there will be times when you have to put the pup up before he falls in love with his crate. You can work on associating the box with good things while still using it to confine him for his own safety. Older pups who've never been confined--or who've already decided that they don't like it--require more patience. Check your own attitude about the crate, too. You are teaching your pup about one of the good things in life. It helps if you believe that.

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