He won't go in the crate
I have to leave during the day sometimes and I don't want to leave him out until we know him a bit better. Any suggestions? He's about 15 months old if that makes any difference. Oh and he does have a few toys in the crate and water and we try to get him in there with a treat. He'll go get the treat but he'll make sure to leave at least 1 leg outside the crate so I can't get the door closed. |
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| I would try feeding him in his crate too. Then he can get a more possitive experience.
Also, teach a "kennel" or whatever word works for you, command and give him special treats for going in. I also use a stuffed kong with yummy treats and canned cheese inside when I have them stay in their kennels during the day. Most of the time one of us is home during the day, so I feel bad on the days both of us need to be gone. They only get the kongs in their crates, and they are picked up immediately when we get home and let them out. That way they stay a special toy/treat. They all RUN into their crates for them! |
| Note sure if it helps, mine wasn't a rescue but I wanted to crate train him first. I put him in the crate and basically sat there with him for 15 mins. Took him out. Repeat.
I slept on the floor right next to him in the crate. That seemed to calm him down. He only started to whine when I left him there alone. After a while he got used to it. |
Quote: We just got our rescue male yesterday
You got him Kayti?!  Yay!
I hope you'll post some pictures and tell us what he's like? Will you keep his name or select a new one? You've gotten some great advice from Dawn and Phlufie's mom. You probably already know this but remember to always remove collars before crating for safety. You can try putting a dark blanket over the top and three sides so it makes it more den-like at first. All meals should be fed inside the crate so he will associate it with good things. While you should never use a crate as punishment, consider using it if you can supervise him (especially since he's a brand new rescue)... this is for his safety and the kids.
You might try to get him inside the crate with a super treat offered through the back of the crate... close the door quietly so he doesn't feel like he's just been trapped... wait a minute or two to start, then reopen it. If you repeat this several times throughout the day, I think he'll get so he goes into the crate easier since he knows he'll also be getting back out soon. Once he begins to understand that a crate is a GOOD thing (ALL meals should be fed inside the crate with the door closed to make this positive association), then increase and vary the duration of time he spends inside. I've found that the pack loves to come together in the evening with us. You might try kenneling-up while you're watching TV or reading... have him confined yet close by and able to see you... give him a stuffed kong to keep him occupied. We don't use crates anymore but we always crate the first 6 months. All of my girls loved their crates and were eager to enter them... they were sorry to see them go. Again, congratulations on your new addition to the family! |
| Hang in there! It is tough at first, but it will work out.
We crate trained my three (10, 6 and 4) from the time we got them. When we travel, we still crate them at times. Once they pass the destructive stage, they are allowed to stay loose in their room (has french doors and has a view of the kitchen). Our oldest, Ben, is an "eater" and has had two emergency surgeries for foreign body obstructions - he can never be left loose in the house. We use the word and they all go into their room - incuding the cat! And at various times, I will find one of them chilling out in the crate. I am puppy-sitting my son's new rescue for the summer, so she won't be crated all day. (I love having summer's off) He has had her almost two weeks and she is doing very well in her crates. She uses my huge crate at our house. I feed her in there and she naps in there. We are working on her understanding of the word "crate" at this point. She is never let out of the crate while she is whining (think of the kid in the store whining for a toy and mom gives in - the kid learns whining gets him what he wants and the pattern is set). Scally often whines for a few minutes when we put her in the crate, but she settles down quickly. Remember these are velcro dogs, they want to be with their people. Our three sleep on the floor in our room - though they each started out in the crate in our room. We just keep the door to our room closed so there is no roaming. They do have access to our bathroom for the cool tile floor. Congrats on the new baby! |
| Do you have to crate him? It is quite stressful to be in a different house etc. without having to go through something unfamiliar as that.
If you would like to confine him, a baby-gated off room would be easier on him. And you can set up a crate for him there, with treats etc. so he gets used to it with the door open, first. Crate-training an adult dog cold-turkey is quite traumatic. There are some helpful hints in the training area of the forum. Good luck! |
| Congratulations and good luck! |
| If it is an airline type crate (two plastic halves), you can start with the top half off.
That is how we began the training for an adult dog that need to go for a long ride to Hawaii. |
| Congrats on your new addition!!!!
I'm with Bosley's Mom on this one. Is there a place where he can safely be gated in, rather than crated? Do you know yet if he is a chewer? Both of our sheepies DESPISED the crate, so we gated them in the kitchen as puppies (from 10 weeks old), without any destruction at all. Maybe we were just lucky...... 
Laurie and Oscar |
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