crate problems

[hardflip23]

I recently got an rott puppy she is about 8.5 weeks old. She seems to not want to ever go in her crate, and whenever I have to leave and try and put her in there she either runs out or will start whining. Any tips to help her to like going in her crate better?
THANKS!

[brunie's mom]

Start feeding her in the crate. Also everytime you want her to go in the crate give her the same command such as: "kennel up", or "crate", or "go to bed",etc. and throw a treat into the back of the crate so she can see you putting it in.

Most pup's don't like their crates at the beginning...within a few weeks they start getting used to it and enjoying it. Make sure she has a good safe toy in the crate also such as a Kong. You can get a Puppy Kong, they are not as hard as the regular ones. Put in a couple of dog bisquits in the Kong...and leave her in the crate to get them out of the Kong.

Gina

[toby01]

I did the same as Gina. I also moved my pup into it when he was sound asleep. If he fell asleep by my feet, I've move him to the crate and leave the door open. He wouldn't wake up during the move. I found that it helps to have the crate where you usually are. Don't put it off in a room that you never enter. My guy likes to nap in his crate provided I'm in the same room. But if I go elsewhere, so does he.

[Gunsey'sMom]

You can also do a search for threads on this, there are lots of similar threads with this info.

Another thing in addition to the good advice already given is to not give in to whining when she is already in there unless it is a scheduled potty break (for a puupy that age you are probably on a potty routine or may be able to didstinguish-"potty whines"- the older they get the easier it is to distinguish things like that sometimes)

The more you give in to whining the more they learn whining get the result of getting them out of the crate.

Try crating for short periods of time during the day. Also the command thing works WONDERS at our house. We call the crate a kennel here- and we say Gunner "kennel" and he goes. He also gets a treat he likes when he goes to his crate. Believe me there is NO WAY I could or would want to physically put him in his crate, and we have had the problem of him not wanting to go in there before simply to be a butthead.

Also another thing I have done is put treats in the crate-close and latch the door. It doesnt take long before your puppy will gain interest in the whats in side. I reccomend this for pups though and not older dogs- dogs generally do not take kindly to being "tricked in to compliance".

Gina also had a great idea about putting safe goodies like a puppy Kong in there to chew on for them. Just make sure anything yo uput in will b ea safe chew toy- Kongs are good.

A search should turn up tons more threads as well! Your crate is a very valuable tool, it can be hard but definately dont give up on it!