My pup is a few months older than yours (8 months). We had the opposite effect with the crate. Having spent so much time in the kennel, I guess Syrus already knew what the crate was and routinely went into it on his own at bedtime.
Since then we have allowed him to lay on an old cloth chair in our living room (and not our leather sofas). Now he uses the crate less frequently and sleeps on the chair until my wife and I are ready for bed, at which point he goes to the crate.
We purchased a big fluffy dog bed and lined the crate with it. He loves the bed, which may be one of the reasons why he doesn't mind the crate itself.
One of the things that I have a little concern with in regards to potty training is the lack of independence it seems to have instilled in Syrus. For the last three weeks (since we have had him) we call out "Syrus, what are you doing" anytime he gets out of sight. He usually comes running into the room with me to be praised.
I am getting the impression that he thinks that he has to be with my wife and I at all times when he is out of his crate. I don't mind this too much, but I'd love for him to have a little independence. For instance, if I am the only person home and need to use the restroom, Syrus will sit outside of the door and wait for me. If he is laying on the grass outside and I quickly pop into the house to grab his water dish, when I come back out I find him seated against the screen door waiting for me.
For potty-training, we have moved more towards a routine than constantly watching for signs. If we see a sign (like him sniffing the floor excessively) we take him out, but in general we watch when he eats and drinks and head outside accordingly. Since changing to this routine we have only had one accident in the house versus 2 when we weren't paying as much attention to his eating/drinking times.
Since then we have allowed him to lay on an old cloth chair in our living room (and not our leather sofas). Now he uses the crate less frequently and sleeps on the chair until my wife and I are ready for bed, at which point he goes to the crate.
We purchased a big fluffy dog bed and lined the crate with it. He loves the bed, which may be one of the reasons why he doesn't mind the crate itself.
One of the things that I have a little concern with in regards to potty training is the lack of independence it seems to have instilled in Syrus. For the last three weeks (since we have had him) we call out "Syrus, what are you doing" anytime he gets out of sight. He usually comes running into the room with me to be praised.
I am getting the impression that he thinks that he has to be with my wife and I at all times when he is out of his crate. I don't mind this too much, but I'd love for him to have a little independence. For instance, if I am the only person home and need to use the restroom, Syrus will sit outside of the door and wait for me. If he is laying on the grass outside and I quickly pop into the house to grab his water dish, when I come back out I find him seated against the screen door waiting for me.
For potty-training, we have moved more towards a routine than constantly watching for signs. If we see a sign (like him sniffing the floor excessively) we take him out, but in general we watch when he eats and drinks and head outside accordingly. Since changing to this routine we have only had one accident in the house versus 2 when we weren't paying as much attention to his eating/drinking times.
