Crate Training...

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

So Demon and Diesel are being mean to Cocoa every now and then so instead of putting them to bed with Cocoa and the others, we've been crating them.

Demon gets it, and I don't have any problems with him. But Diesel just won't do it.

And they both have this thing where if they get scared, they pee. They've always done it. So Diesel pees every time its time to go in the crate and will not go to the crate.
I can't figure out why.

Anyone have any ideas on how to work with him on going to the crate?

Mind you, I work and go to school, so I can't do something that takes all day. lol

I've tried using treats. He still wont go in the crate. If I toss the treat in the crate, he goes to get it and runs out.

 

[Hammie]

I know you don't want to do something that takes all day, but you might have to spend an hour one day working on going in and out of the crate. Sounds like a waste of time, but it will work. Also, dogs respond to the concept of 1 vs more than 1. Reward for doing what you want in any capacity with 1 treat, reward for actually doing it with 3. Use tiny training sized bits so he doesn't get sick. Also, breaking up treats and spreading them along the back of the crate will take him too long to clean up for you to miss the opportunity to slam that door and lock it tight!!

 

[2manypets]

The only thing you can really do is let him go in the crate on his own. There is no way to teach him to go in the crate in an hour. He has to see it is not something to be afraid of. Just leave the door open all the time.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

Hammie - Well yeah. Working with him an hour or a few hours a day isn't a problem. I just can't do any techniques that require like every so many minutes to do.

2manypets - The crate door is open at all times.

I just don't understand why he is afraid of it. We've never used it as a form of punishment or anything, and we've had him since he was 8 wks. old

 

[Peep_erz]

What i have found works best is turn the crate in to the "magical treat giving crate". While you are home and he isn't looking toss a treat in. Let him find it himself and don't close it or do anything. Maybe a little praise but don't scare him! It should take about a week for him to start feeling more comfortable with the crate.

for times when crating is necessary make sure you are treating AFTER he is in the crate. Using a treat as a lure or a bribe is a set up for a dog that will not go in willingly. Gently place the dog in the crate and then treat. Treats should be treated as a reward so it is fun. Not bait because that makes it feel like a trap. If he can be distracted by treats while in the crate you can try giving a stuffed kong as the reward. The longer he is in the crate and happy the better.

Another method I used while I was home was sitting right by the crate while I was on my computer doing stuff. Bowie (my lab) naturally sits by my feet so I just put my laptop on the crate. When he would sit by me I directed him to the crate and then continued doing what I was doing.

 

[ChinnyMom]

slamming the door closed while he is in there will cause distrust and even more fear of going in.

whenever you are home, show him that good things happen in the crate (with the door removed). lead him in with a treat, tell him to lay down, sit in front of the crate but don't block his escape if he wants out, and give him lots of pets and praise for laying calmly in the crate. have an absorbent pad down in there until the peeing issue is resolved regarding the crate (his fear will go away once he knows the crate isn't a bad thing). if he likes being brushed, do it in the crate. put his food dish just inside the door, and gradually move it back inside the crate over the course of a week or so, a couple inches at a time.

 

[BooBoo*TheKiddo*]

Thank you all for the tips and ideas.

I've left the crate door open all day today. Demon went and laid in the crate. I'd get him to come out, he'd go back to it because he wanted a treat. He isn't helping the cause. lol
I'm afraid if he doesn't get a treat for going in the crate, he'll stop going in it. But I don't want to keep giving him treats every time he goes in it, so I've been praising him for it.

Tonight, went pretty easy. They both went and got in the crate. Diesel was a little unsure at first but went inside it after Demon. I petted them both and praised them, then gave them a treat each and shut the door.
And Diesel didn't get scared and wet himself. lol

Hopefully he keeps it up. He seems to be understanding it a little bit better.

Earlier today, I started a game of fetch with Diesel, Demon and Mia. (They all play with toys together, so I figured it'd work best if he didn't feel it had anything to do with the crate, and it was just a game fetch the toy) I toss the toy a bit, they'd race to get it and bring it back. Then I toss it near the crate every now and then before starting to toss the toy in the crate. At first, Diesel wouldn't get the toy out of the crate, but he'd get it if it was near the crate. But after a little bit he started going inside it to get it.

 

[ChinnyMom]

sounds like gentle encouragement and praise is working. good job Bonnie! )