crate training issues
We picked up Luke almost 2 weeks ago. He is almost 11 weeks of age. Housebreaking has been going ok. We have had only a few accidents. Where we purchased him from, he was in a kennel area with his parents and littermates. Knowing that sheepies are people dogs and I need to be around their family has helped us to understand many things with Luke. However, he really HATES his crate. I put toys in there throughout the day and random treats to encourage him to enter. I praise him when he does and do not makke a big deal when he walks out. He will not sleep in his crate @ night but does fairly well in our master bath where he can see us through a pet gate. When we leave the house though he will need to be on his crate for his own safety as he is still in the "I must eat everything" stage. I am in education so have the benefit of summers off to work on training. We have tried finding trial runs, leaving him alone a couple of hours @ a time. He did ok once, but the second time peed in his crate and the third time after an hour peed outside his crate (as mu_ch as he could)! HELP! Shannon |
|
|
Hmmm, the only thing I could think of is, did you give in the first couple of nights you tried him in his crate and let him out after crying etc? For the best crate training success, you need to have a heart of steel and be really firm in ignoring the crying/whimpering the first few times. Obviously this is very hard to do!  Another thing, with our first puppy, we tried to make a big deal of having her decide to go into the crate "by herself" with luring with toys and treats, a trainer we had told us to forget that, you want her in the crate, you put her in the crate. We started doing this and it made it a lot easier. Open the crate, pick her up, plop her in, close the crate, it's not a negotiation.  Also try and make sure he pees shortly before going in the crate, and don't leave any water in the crate while he's still so young. Their bladders are so small, they really can't hold it in. And just for the record, our first dog Mady was crated when home alone until a year old and crate at night until about 5 months, our second puppy Gracie was only crated at night until about 4 months and home alone was probably done not long after that either, she was in such a big hurry to grow up and be like her big sister!  "lemme outta here!" |
| We never had an issue with the crate after the first night. In fact, our dogs LOVE their crate and sleep in them every night in our room - doors open. Sounds like you are doing things right with the treats. How about putting her in the crate with a stuffed Kong, close the door and walk out for a few seconds and back. Maybe she is afraid you won't come back and has a little anxiety? If she gets used to you coming and going she may feel more secure. Make sure she is "emptied out", put her in the crate, close the door and go about your business in the house. let her cry a while. the minute she stops crying, let her out. Sort of like a baby you don't want to keep picking up all the time! |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|