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Pet Forum / Miscellaneous / Animal Health / September 2004Crate Training
I was wondering if anyone had any advice on crate training? I have an eight week old black lab and she hates her crate. We're trying to put her in after a long play time when she's tired for short periods of time but it's hard because you want to ignore her, but you don't want to keep her in there forever, you don't want to let her out while she's screaming, but you have to respect the neighbours as well! She's not big on toys either. We have a Kong, she's not interested in it. We put some peanut butter in it, and she licked it for about two seconds. She has a squeaky that she plays with sometimes and we just bought her a chew that we though she'd love but she hasn't tried it at all. We tried putting a few treats in there but she'll eat them quickly (yes she's a lab) and then start screaming. If anyone has any other suggestions that would help her turn her crate into her home, I'd gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) I have an older Black Lab that is so 'tied at the hip' he could have never done a crate. I adopted him at 15 mos. and he bonded so fast. The prior owner crated him and he rebelled. We never confined him, and he has NEVER misbehaved. I think it is part of the personality. He doesn't care about food or treats, just wants to be with us. He is ill now and we have so enjoyed him. I hope you enjoy your girl the same. > I was wondering if anyone had any advice on crate training? I have an eight > week old black lab and she hates her crate. We're trying to put her in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're > taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) Have you tried putting a ticking alarm clock or a softly playing radio next to the crate? I have seen that have a calming effect on alot of dogs. To try to make it easier on you and your spouse (we?), try putting the crate in a remote part of the house that is not close to your bedroom. I also always praise them when they go into the crate, when I close the door to the crate, and when they come out of the crate. My dog loves his crate, and views it as his safe place, his hide-away. He goes in it on his own, and I just leave the door open for him to use it whenever he chooses, now that he is older and is trustworthy to leave alone in the house. griffin > I was wondering if anyone had any advice on crate training? I have an eight > week old black lab and she hates her crate. We're trying to put her in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're > taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) The crate has to be a fun happy place. I like using kongs filled with peanut butter, treats, leaving a tv on, etc. My dog adjusted well with the crate in the living room at first so he knew he wasn't alone. I believe the crate is on the best things you can do for your dog. Dogs are den animals and the crate simulates that. Make it a fun happy place and don't give into the whiny. Start with short periods of time and slowly work up. HTH Nicole > I was wondering if anyone had any advice on crate training? I have an eight > week old black lab and she hates her crate. We're trying to put her in [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're > taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) I did try the Kong with peanut butter and also will it with some treats in it and she could care less. She's not into toys or treats (odd lab!). I did have the radio going also and it didn't help. I also read that sometimes a blanket over the kennel is calming but she cried more. Now griffin, what you told me goes against like everything that I have ever read and been told about crate training. I've always learned that it should be in a place that's comfy and that's around people. Most books etc say to put it in your kitchen or bedroom. And that you shouldn't make it a big deal. Like give them a treat/toy to have in the kennel and just close the door, and when you let them out you take them outside right away. I have to say that she was A LOT better last night though!! She slept in it with very minimal crying from 2am till 8am. I woke up at 8 and let her outside where she EAGERLY went to the bathroom. I gues we'll just keep up with what we're doing. Thanks for the advice. > The crate has to be a fun happy place. I like using kongs filled with > peanut butter, treats, leaving a tv on, etc. My dog adjusted well with the [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're > > taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) There are "toys" you can buy that have a heartbeat and warm up. A ticking clock and white noise sometimes help. You have to go slow... you can't just throw the dog in there for 3 hrs at a time (not saying that's what you're doing. But just a few minutes and try to make it pleasant as possible. The dog will protest but will get over it. In the end, you'll have a happy dog and happy owner. www.sitstay.com has the toys I'm talking about. Good Luck! Nicole What we did with our chiuahua to get her to like the crate was play a simple game of "go to bed" ordering her into the bed closing the door and then immedieatly opening it again. and letting her our and praising her the whole time. She would follow one of our hands into the crate at first and then follow it right back out with a puppy's desire to play with hands. It didn't take too long for her to get used to the idea and now (9 years later) that is her safe place and she will sleep in there with the door open or closed. It's also where she goes when things get too noisy for her. This same training worked about a year ago for a mixed breed dog we adopted (he's about 11) who had never spent any time in a crate or indoors. He's adjusted to it well and loves his crate also, however if his door is left open at night he sneaks out after all is quiet and finds his way onto the foot of our bed. I hope this helps. Remeber to have patience and your new pup will come around. Neil > > I was wondering if anyone had any advice on crate training? I have an > eight [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're > > taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) Thanks everyone for the advice! We are taking it slow and only leaving her in there for short periods (i.e. like 5mins or so) and then letting her out with treats/hugs. She's doing really great. She's sleeping from about midnight till 6:30am now which is great for us!! She's starting to like the Kong with Peanut Butter to distract her till we leave. I'll leave as is for now but I'll look into those toys as well. I've heard about them but never actually seen them. Thanks again for all the help!! > What we did with our chiuahua to get her to like the crate was play a simple > game of "go to bed" ordering her into the bed closing the door and then [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > > gladly appreciate it!! We got three hours of sleep last night so we're > > > taking turns napping today! It's a good thing she's adorable!! ;o) |
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