Crate Training Question

[rms78645]

Deuce is 4 months old. We started crate training him when we got him but he absolutely hated it. He did settle down eventually but my teenage son wouldnt keep him in it at night long enough for him to settle down, and he let him sleep on the bed. We have had a really hot summer here in Wa and I think that is alot of the issue with his crate. So the crate has gone by the wayside. When we leave, he goes outside into the fully fenced yard and sleeps in the shade under the deck and occasionally tears up my clematis! He's never been left for longer than 4 hours and that was one time.
Well, summer's almost over and the rain will start and the kids will go back to school and I want him to be in his crate during the day. I can bring him to work with me alot but there will be times that I need to leave him at home. How do I get him used to the crate? And why am i having such a hard time with this? I know hes safest there and this will be the longest he will ever be left alone. But I feel bad. Hes never loved his crate but thats our fault I think. Any thoughts!?Thanks.

[sophie's-mom]

Originally Posted by rms78645

How do I get him used to the crate?

Really, you should have continued with it even though he didn't like it if it were your intention to have him in it eventually.

Originally Posted by rms78645

And why am i having such a hard time with this?

Because you (meaning you or someone in your house) keep giving in.

Some will not agree with this but I gave Ian a pig's ear when I put him in his crate for the night. He would keep himself busy and not whine. When he became rowdy I would tell him to, "KNOCK IT OFF!!!! "

Sometimes I gave him a whap on his crate when I said KNOCK IT OFF.

He eventually knocked it off.

It may help, it may not. But that's what I did.

[rms78645]

I know its my fault. My husband thinks it cruel to leave him in there and instead of arguing with him I gave in and let him be in the yard. I know better. My son, who can sleep through an alarm going off, couldnt sleep while the dog was howling to get out. I never heard him. I would just go in in the morning to let Deuce out and he would be on the bed instead of in the kennel. So.... now I had to undo it.
Thanks.

[Joyful]

Zeus was a stray that found us and we started a kennel/crate right away. He was about one year old and got use to it. Start out with feeding him in his kennel, be sure to let him know that the kennel is a "great" thing and when feeding him don't close the door the first few times. I would suggest during the day when you are home to put him in the kennel and only leave him for a minute or less. And be sure not to let him out when he's barking or whinning, (they figure that a quick and will think everytime they're noisy you'll let him out.) Just wait patently until there is silence and tell him what a great boy he is and then let him out. You may need to only leave him in alone for 10 seconds, and then let him know how good he is. It really shouldn't take to long, but it will take patience from you!!!

He needs to feel it's his den. Do not ever, and I mean ever let him feel it's a prison. By this I mean, yelling and sending him to his kennel, or make it a time out. The kennel is always a happy place to be and to be in.

Good luck!!

[rms78645]

Thats exactly what I was doing when he was little. THen I slacked off. So I shouldnt put him in there for the 3 hours we'll be gone tonight? Too cold turkey?

[rms78645]

I mean little er. Hes still little.

[diddybopper04]

You have a young male Rottweiler who very soon will be over 100 lbs, an adolescent, and really proud of himself.

NOW is the time to get firm. Get in training class. Dogs need STRUCTURE, FIRMNESS, FAIRNESS, STRUCTURE, LEADERSHIP, and ***STRUCTURE*** in their lives to be happy.



Research NILIF. This is a good routine for ANY puppy to start out on. It helps get good habits started, and allows the puppy to admire and respect you as his leader.

When he is 14 months old, and decides that he will not allow you to go in certain rooms of your house, or you cannot sleep on the bed with him, and indicates he is willing to bite to get his way, you will have a lot more work to do than you do now.



I would start this puppy sleeping in a crate in YOUR room by YOUR bed. I correct ALL crate verbalizations. I start with a verbal correction, "AH AH!". If that interrupts the noise, say QUIET. GOOD QUIET, and treat the puppy. If it does NOT interrupt the noise, then I use a startle method to stop it. I whack the crate, and use the verbal at the same time. IMMEDIATELY praise and reward for any quiet time. As a last resort, I use a spray bottle.

Make sure the puppy is TIRED before bed. Make sure the crate is where you can reach it. Many puppies are comforted a lot by being able to smell or lick your fingers.

Be strong. He's had his way, and he will be determined. You must be as well. Once you win this battle, the hard part probably will be over. You will be glad for the rest of this dog's life that you did this. May be a good time to send hubby off on a business trip for a couple of day.

[Joyful]

No, I wouldn't put him in the kennel with no-one home. You need to retrain him and retrain yourself's too.

[Brooke&Ryan]

I would just plop his little (soon to be big) butt in the crate & go out for a couple of hours. Like Diddybopper said, just make sure that's he's nice & tired & maybe has a tasty Kong or something like that. Just make sure the hubby isn't home. Then just let him pitch a fit while you're gone.

When you come back home don't even acknowledge the dog in the crate. I used to grab a book, pour myself a glass of water & sit on the couch for about fifteen minutes. THEN, I would get Julius out of his crate calmly & take him outside to go potty. There was no big hubbub when we got home or when we put him in the crate.


Brooke

[Sue]

I'm fostering an 18 mo female right now. In her previous foster home, she had intimidated the guy. First night she slept in a crate, which she was accustomed to. The second night he put her in and she carried on, then "growled a deep, low growl", and he LET HER OUT!!!!! (why you would release a large dog that was growling at you I have no idea, but don't get me started). Since she's been at my house, she's crated every night, and when we're not home. She goes in readily. The first few days she fussed periodically. I verbally corrected her, then did it again and whacked the crate. Then I put a sheet over it. That helped a lot to quiet her down. And NEVER let them out when they're fussing, unless of course you absolutely know that they have to potty so bad their teeth are floating .

When I leave for work in the morning and crate her, I give her a kong with goodies inside to occupy her for awhile. She can't wait to get in there! It does take them time to get used to it, but it's also a power struggle that you have to win. Fairly, of course, but you must win!

[rms78645]

So, if they are crated while we are at work, then at night, they are crated for 17 hours or so a day. Isnt that alot of time in a confined spot? I guess it just seems like alot. Its never ok to leave them out at night if they dont pee or go wandering? Then crate them when no one is home with them?

[LikeToRun]

Originally Posted by rms78645

So, if they are crated while we are at work, then at night, they are crated for 17 hours or so a day. Isnt that alot of time in a confined spot? I guess it just seems like alot. Its never ok to leave them out at night if they dont pee or go wandering? Then crate them when no one is home with them?

I think you have to find the balance that's right for you. I personally don't crate at night, but I do expect any dog in my household to sleep in my room near (but NEVER on--despite Partner's allowing Toby to do it, he's the only one ) my bed. Door can be closed so that the dog doesn't wander the house all night. This has a double benefit of aiding the bond between me and the dog, as well as giving him a nice comfy place that he knows is 'our' den...then if he ever has occasion to be protective, he'll be protecting the spot I'd most like him to protect--me.

I do crate in the day when I'm not around. Dogs seem to get used to it quite quickly and don't seem to mind, as long as they've got a kong or something, but I do agree that we must make every effort to keep them stimulated and not treat them like prisoners when we can.

[Judi W]

As far as getting the dog used to being in the crate is concerned, I think some are making it much more complicated than it needs to be. Put dog in crate (I usually toss a cookie in and say "kennel") close door. Taa Daa - dog is in crate until you let it out.

[diddybopper04]

The reason I recommend starting crate training at night is the dog is by your bedside and you can correct and/or control undesirable behaviors such as verbalizing or trying to escape. Once he is ok in the crate during the night, you can certainly allow him to sleep free in the house if he is reliable. It's also easy to use a baby gate to keep him in the room with you if you don't want to use the crate at night.

Young dogs who live with me occasionally do spend quite a bit of time crated. I dont' worry about this because I see to it that they get adequate amounts of exercise and mental stimulation through socialization and training.

[OWQ]

Betsy loves her crate! She often stands by the closed door (closed to keep the cats out) and waits to be let in!