Crate training

[Joshann]

We have a 10 week old Miniature Australian Shepherd. We brought her home two weeks ago. We stayed home from work with her the first week and she's getting pretty good about going outside when we take her out. However, the crate is a problem. The first week, we started out putting treats in her crate for her to find whenever she wandered in there, and the crate also has a water bowl attached to it. Every time she fell asleep, we would pick her up and put her in there where she stayed until she woke up. In a few days, she got to where she would go in the crate on her own for a nap. After a couple of days, we tried shutting the door for just a couple of minutes (while she was awake). She hated it, but as soon as she was quiet for a couple of seconds, we let her out and gave her a treat and lots of praise. After that, she refused to go in her crate at all. So we went back to not shutting the door at all for a couple more days, and she got back to where she would go in there on her own. Then we tried shutting the door again for a couple of minutes. The same thing happened, and now she absolutely refuses to go in there at all. Should we just force her in there and shut the door for longer and longer periods of time? We really want to get to where we can crate her overnight.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Cheetah]

Did you give the treats inside the crate, or after you let her out? If it was outside the crate, try giving them in the crate. It might help. She was being given treats for leaving the crate it sounds like. >^^;<

[Joshann]

She was being given treats inside the crate and then when she came out. We also periodically throughout the day left treats in there for her to find.

[Doberman's]

Hello and welcome to Dogforum.org. :)

Best thing to do is put her in there and ignore her. Go out and do some thing for an hour or two come home and open the crate let her out and basically act liek nothing happened. Do not make a fuss and do not treat her, act like nothing happened. She is very young and will have a hard time adjusting but she will adjust and after she does she will love her crate. I know these first few weeks are hard on you and the dog but time prevails and patience. :)

[Joshann]

Hello and welcome to Dogforum.org. :)

Best thing to do is put her in there and ignore her. Go out and do some thing for an hour or two come home and open the crate let her out and basically act liek nothing happened. Do not make a fuss and do not treat her, act like nothing happened. She is very young and will have a hard time adjusting but she will adjust and after she does she will love her crate. I know these first few weeks are hard on you and the dog but time prevails and patience. :)

We'll try that. Thank you so much!

[Pocono]

I'm crate training my puppy who is 10 weeks and she is doing a pretty good job. The hardest part is her crying. She used to cry when she went down for the night but now she doesn't. But everytime she hears someone she barks and cries hoping someone will let her out. When I do let her out to go the bathroom I make sure she is not currently crying so she is not being rewarded for barking. And I make sure I do not make a fuss about her getting out. Anyway, my question is do you know about how long it will take for her to adjust? I know all dogs are differant but I was wondering if there might be an average or what other people's experience was.

[CamzKees]

Especially, for example, when it's four o' clock in the morning and they're screaming to get out because they're lonley, or hungry, or the house is too quiet... Eventually, you start to wonder if you're hallucenating or if that noise is really coming from your puppy...:rolleyes:

Puppies thrive on the sleep deprivation of their new masters- they KNOW that when you're sleepy, it's easier to get away with chasing the kitty or chewing on a rug. ;)

Just teasing. I know its hard. At first you feel so bad that they're in that crate, and then in the next minute you just wish they'd shut up. Ah, the joys of puppyhood. :p

Crate training is probably the most important thing you can do for your puppy:
1) it helps with house training
2) helps curbing destructive behavior (if you can't watch them 100%, put 'em in the crate for nap time)
3) is a GREAT travel aid (for cars or airplanes)
4) gives the puppy his/her own space
5) is far more safe then the puppy wondering around the house w/0 supervision and chewing on something lethal

So, stay strong. Yeah, the first few weeks, life will be pretty tough. However, (and trust me on this one) it's so very worth it in the long run.