Crate Training?

Animal Lover

Last week we bought a crate for Bella because she always seems to find something to chew on. I was even needing to put the garbage can in the bathroom and make sure there is *nothing* around that looks even remotely edible. She then decided she would try diapers, there was never a need to hide the diaper pail as she never took an interest in them before, but since hiding the garbage that is her new favourite thing to go to.

I'm pretty sure she was crate trained before because as soon as I set it up and put blankets in there she went in and took a long nap. She has learned that its her bed and can go anytime the kids get too roudy, but when its time to leave the house and I tell her in her bed she immediately lowers her head and ears and slowly walks in. It makes me feel bad that she looks so sad going in there. Is this normal for a dog to act so sad going into the crate when she knows I'm leaving?

seebrown

Even if she was crate trained before, you should still be giving her extra special treats when you put her in the crate. I've crate trained my dog in the last month, and if I stopped giving him treats when he goes in, I'm sure he'd start disliking it as well. Right now he LOVES going in his crate for a yummy treat (he doesn't like being there once the treat is gone, but usually by then we are out of the house and he lays down for a nap). I posted the things I do with him to make the crate a happy place for him in this thread: When your dog just WONT have the crate (APARTMENT LIVING). Since she already likes being in the crate in general, I doubt you'll have much trouble getting her to be happy to go in.

Animal Lover

ahh, thanks. She does have a few chew toys for crate only, but I'll be sure to buy her some Kongs and stuffing.
I don't think she dislikes going in, just looks sad about it lol. She doesn't bark when we leave or anything like that. She just goes in and lays down and gives me sad puppy dog eyes.
I swear she knows it makes me feel bad lol, but its a much happier household not expecting the house to be destroyed everytime I leave

seebrown

I don't have a whole lot of dog experience (yet), but from what I've read it sounds like she's associating the crate with you leaving. If you start crating her in short intervals while in the room with her (with high-value treats), and also start making the crate a game, she'll probably get over that. Others may have more suggestions based on their experience.

AlexC

Hey guys - I thought I'd bring my crate concern to this thread instead of starting a new one.

I've had my dog, Bos, for a month. Things are good; he was previously crate trained and is great at getting in the crate when I tell him. He sits and then gets a treat. The problem is after I close the door to the room (and within minutes, leave) - for about 10 minutes he barks his face off. After that he's as quiet as ever. Barking in general is very uncharacteristic of him - he's super quiet - even to other dogs - unless he thinks there's an intruder at the door.

Is there anything I can do to train this behavior out of him?

seebrown

Is this a new behavior, or has he done this since you've gotten him? Do you ever let him out/give him attention/yell at him when he's barking? It took Cannon 2–3 weeks to get over barking for the first 5–10 minutes of being crated (when we left the room) even though he would go in willingly because I give him plenty of treats. I basically just had to ignore the barking, and he stopped eventually. If this isn't a new development, your dog is healthy, you are doing all the positive crate training methods consistently (really delicious treats that will keep him occupied for awhile - see the post I linked to) and ignoring him when he does bark, I would say he will stop eventually. Does he bark if you leave him in the room alone as well, or just the crate - he may have some separation anxiety. You mentioned he was a new dog previously crate trained; he could miss his old family.

I know that dogs can regress a bit with life changes (moving, new family members, etc.), so it may be good to start from the beginning with a lot of crate training methods.

Criosphynx

that^^

som'times it will resolve if you ignore it.


how soon after you leave is he barking? Perhaps you can pick a day and pretend to leave a few times and come back BEFORE he barks and reward heavily.