Hints for how to get puppy to go to crate
Any ideas for training her to go get in her crate when we tell her too? |
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| Is she genuinely food motivated?
I have a jar of lowfat treats on top of the crate and then when I need to teach a dog to go in I just grab a handful and toss them in. Dog (puppy) goes in and while she's vacuuming the crate  you close the door.
I don't crate mine any more (all grown up) but the foster gets crated. When I reach for the jar all of the dogs try to jam their way into the crate of find another one they can run into  
It may take a while to get the association but it can be a strong one. Then to reinforce "crate good" have something safe and chew worthy in there she ONLY gets while crated. When you let her out, pick it up and put it away. And in the beginning just toss some cookies and shut her in there for a few minutes at a time while you're home. After she's exercised and pottied and due for a nap is ideal. Not so bad to snooze in crate if you're tired anyway. Kristine |
| treats always work for me too. Mr Newfie puppy went through a stage (unbeknownst to me) when hubby had to force him inot the crate (actually pretty funny sight when I discovered him doing it - this is a HUGE puppy. I just looked dat hem and said hmpf.
I wenet and got a cookie and yelled crate as I always did when crating puppy, and puppy went right it. Men! |
| Bert did not like his crate as a puppy but we stuck with it. He then grew to love it. Sometimes if he was being stubborn I would pick him up and put him in the crate, now when I leave in the evening I just put some peanut butter in the kong or have a carob cookie and say "bedtime" and Bert happily runs in. Now he sleeps there at night with the door open.
We would practice our "bedtime" when we were teaching Bert his sits and downs. But Bert is very food motivated so this might not help your case. |
Bert wrote: Bert did not like his crate as a puppy but we stuck with it.
For us, this was the key. My dog sounds like yours. Will tolerate being in the crate when in the crate... but isn't walking himself in it no matter what. It's slowly gotten better but we just make a routine of it. Say "Go in your crate" then we drag the dog into the crate. I mean, I don't blame him. I wouldn't want to be locked up while everyone is out playing or going upstairs to sleep!!! After awhile, we' only have to drag him half the way and he'd walk the rest of the way into his crate. ...and with each week, it's a little less. And at certain times (like after his morning pee at 3:30 a.m.), he'll just run right back in it b/c ...it's routine! |
| I realized that when I grab her collar it always means that she's going in her crate. So I've started introducing the collar grab and walk to anywhere. And then at the end of it whether she's is in the crate or not she gets a treat.
Mabey that will help? |
| Just be careful with the collar grab. Barney was fine with being grabbed by his collar, until he wasn't. At about 8 months I think he decided he really didn't like being grabbed by his collar and started to growl-snap at us. |
| I never do the collar grab - luring them may seem time consuming in the beginning, in the long run it works out better. |
| hmm true about the collar grab. Ahhhhh so much to learn. |
| Jenny didn't like her crate in the beginning either, but she doesn't mind too much now. She goes in willingly at bedtime and we still have to put her in when we go out. We just sort of guide her in and she doesn't give us a problem. Unlike her brother (Bert), I can't leave the door open or she would be into everything. |
| When ours were pups (or whatever age they were when they came to our house) they all learn "kennel up" by verbal command. They got a treat or stuffed kong as they ran into their crates. None ever need to be dragged or forced in - which is a real bad idea anyway, as others have already mentioned. Not all really love the crate once they are there, but they all go in willingly on the 1st command.
The same thing for getting off beds or couches - never pulled, just a verbal command that was always rewarded in a big happy way.  |
got sheep wrote: When ours were pups (or whatever age they were when they came to our house) they all learn "kennel up" by verbal command. They got a treat or stuffed kong as they ran into their crates. None ever need to be dragged or forced in - which is a real bad idea anyway, as others have already mentioned. Not all really love the crate once they are there, but they all go in willingly on the 1st command.
The same thing for getting off beds or couches - never pulled, just a verbal command that was always rewarded in a big happy way. Ditto, Ditto, Ditto! Some love their crates or kennels more than others. Our command is kennel. All go willingly. I will even find José in one of the kennels with the door open, as long as he can see me, when I am grooming one of the other dogs. (He's SUCH a good boy! ) |
| unfortunately our chiquita is soooo not food motivated or toy motivated. the kongs are Okay to her but nothing all that fabulous. What to do, what to do??? |
| You could feed her in her crate. I have 3 that do that as well.
My Chewie isn't that food motivated either. Thankfully, he loves to please me. Once he figures out what I want, and he gets lots of hugs and playing, he does about anything.
Another good crate rule - let her out when she's quiet, not when barking or crying to you. Sometimes it is quite the process, but it will pay off later. |
got sheep wrote: Another good crate rule - let her out when she's quiet, not when barking or crying to you. Sometimes it is quite the process, but it will pay off later.
I totally agree with that rule. On the rare occassion that Jenny is barking in the crate (usually when she is in for a timeout), I always wait until she is quiet even if only for 5 seconds, just so she doesn't think that she will get out if she barks and carries on. |
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