[ColoradoSooner]

We adopted Mayzie about 6 1/2 weeks ago. She had spent her entire life in a backyard on the end of a rope without adequate shelter.

When we got her, she was scared of pretty much everything. Her crate was her safe place where she ran if anything frightened her. We've made sure that only good things happen in her crate. That's where she gets fed and anytime we ask her to kennel up, she gets a really fabulous treat.

Well...the good news is that she has become totally comfortable in our house. Her personality is really starting to shine and she's becoming more and more confident. At the same time, the crate is becoming less and less attractive to her. When we ask her to "kennel up," she looks at us like "I'm sorry. What? It seems I've suddenly gone deaf."

We can usually coax her in there with some high-value treats, but it's getting harder and harder to convince her. And of course, I REALLY don't want to have to resort to shoving her in there against her will.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[Curbside Prophet]

 

[ColoradoSooner]

Thanks. That was a really cute video. But it didn't show HOW they got those dogs so excited about going in their crates.

Any other pointers or ideas would be welcome.

Thanks!

 

[Thracian]

I'd love to get both my boys to enjoy (tolerate?) their crates more.

I think the video is for an instructional DVD you can get at dogwise.com. I've heard there's a book, too, but I've never been able to find it. If someone has a direct link, I'd appreciate it.

 

[wvasko]

You have had dog 6 weeks and now her personality etc is starting to come out and she is testing her edges. I don't understand the problem with placing a dog in crate. You can put high end treat at back of crate pick dog up and put her in the crate. Why would you worry about it being against her will as you know once she is in the crate she will get her treat, there is not an alligator in there waiting to abuse her so no harm is done. Once she realizes that the choice is not hers(she is not your equal) there are some choices in life you have to make for her.

When leaving for a bird dog training trip usually 20 dogs on a trip probably 15 of the dogs would be new dogs and they had never been loaded into a dog box mounted on pickup or into a kennel box in horse trailer. When 1st loading dogs I would grab collar and hand/arm under stomach pick them up and put them in compartment. 2 months later when loading I would say kennel tap truck and they would jump up into compartment. They lived in these compartment during the trip. There was no force, no beating up the dog etc just putting dog into box.

If I have a child that wants to go out and play in traffic and I say no, gee the child may not be happy. I am not going to be worried about the child because I know playing in traffic is bad and the child is not my equal. This may not be the advice or option that will help you because there are all kinds of ways to crate your dog. This is just one.

 

[Inga]

As with any type of training I try to make it fun. I give wonderful treats in the kennel and ignore pup for a few minutes upon getting OUT of the kennel. Praise In, nothing out. My dogs go happily into their crates. If I am standing in the kitchen I can tell Carsten "kennel" and he will run into the office and into his kennel. Kennel to my dogs always mean yummy things. Offer some boiled chicken pieces or some high end treat for kenneling. Good Luck. Don't make it harder then it is, have fun.

 

[ColoradoSooner]

Thanks Wvasko. I guess the reason I have hesitated to do that (which is what I did with our other dog when he went through this) is that she was rescued from a pretty bad, abusive situation. So we're working on building her trust in us. Physically "making" her do something tends to cause her to shy away and shut down. That's why I was looking for an alternative. (Probably should've clarified that in my first post.)

BUT I think you're correct in that she's testing her boundaries with us right now. "What are the rules and how much can I get away with?" I think we have remind ourselves that at times it's okay to "lay down the law" (in a loving way of course).

 

[wvasko]

Thanks Wvasko. I guess the reason I have hesitated to do that (which is what I did with our other dog when he went through this) is that she was rescued from a pretty bad, abusive situation. So we're working on building her trust in us. Physically "making" her do something tends to cause her to shy away and shut down. That's why I was looking for an alternative. (Probably should've clarified that in my first post.)

BUT I think you're correct in that she's testing her boundaries with us right now. "What are the rules and how much can I get away with?" I think we have remind ourselves that at times it's okay to "lay down the law" (in a loving way of course).

Remember I am not there to see dog and you can judge better than I can. I can understand your worries and there are other things to try but I believe the longer she is with you and surrounded by your family it will work out.(unless the abuse idiot was beating her with a crate) Good luck