Help! Forcing her into Crate!!!

[Diva'sOwner]

Okay, before I get into this major problem that I am having, let me just say that I KNOW that ideally the dog should think of the crate as her den and that she should have had only positive experiences with the crate. I know all that. HOWEVER, this is not the case with my dog. She hates her crate--abhors it because her first experiences with the crate were negative. The first time she ever laid eyes on her crate was the day that she was being be shipped off via airplane in it. It was a long flight and when I picked her up at the airport, she didn't care to think about being in another city or seeing me for the first time in months, she only cared about getting as far away from the crate as possible. Ideally, she would have had sometime to get accostumed to it before the flight but those things were out of my control. Anyway, now that she is here, I am trying to get her friendly with the crate because she has to sleep in it at night. I know all the little tricks to get her to like it (like feeding her in it or tossing treats in it or leaving the door ajar during the day or putting soft linen in it). All these things have been tried for about 3 weeks now. But she still hates it and every night I have to literally drag and then heave her massive body into it (she's 16 months, 83 pounds). I know, I know, I'm only making the problem worse. But what can I do? Does anyone have any suggestions? I wish I could just leave her out at night and then slowly work her up to liking it, but she gets into too many things at night and its just impossible. After I get her into the crate, I do calm her down, give her a treat and then I go to sleep in the bed right next to her. Has anyone been through this before?

[SchH3K9]

I have seen this prob before with dogs and pups I have imported.

The 1st thing I do is change to a wire create.
I have seen they at times relate the “bad experience” to the plastic create they were shipped in.

I leave the crate where its easily assessable some where they have to be around it and the door open (as though its just another piece of furniture), put the dogs food in it, at the opening at first and as she/he feels more comfortable move it further in to the back, (doesn’t hurt not to feed the dog the day be for you first try this) something else; don’t stand over the dog while playing with this “fix”. They will fig out the create wont hurt them, and I know im to much a distraction and kinds of mess-up there confidence.

An other thing I do is get the pup hyped “playing ball” and throw it. in the create, I find the dog has to be really into the game.

Something I still do when I put my dogs is let them see me throw a “cookie” in before they go in and from time to time they get there meals in the create

Hope this makes sense and helps you and your pup.
I look forward to hearing other methods to handle this prob.

[Diva'sOwner]

Thank you SchH3K9. You bring up an excellent suggestion. It seems that you are right to observe that dogs often have a negative reaction to the crate that they were shipped in and switching to the other type of cage might solve this problem. Now as for me and my situation, it simply is not practical for me to buy the wire kind of cage since I already have this expensive, brand new XL plastic crate. I really wish I could just shell out the additional $80 plus dollars to get her the kind that you are talking about. Even if I could afford it,though , that won't really help me when we have to fly again (and we will have to travel by plane at least once a year). So now, despite your excellent advice, it seems that I am right back where I started, no? I will try to get her to chase items into the crate but I doubt that she will go in for her favorite Kong when she won't go in for a hot dog (and she is wild about hot dogs--will do anything else for them). Like I said before, I'm really bummed about this situation. I've read some of the previous posts on crate training and I know that some of you out there must have gone through this. Has anyone else had to overcome or undue the stress caused by constantly having to force your nearly adult Rott into the crate? Not surprisingly, this method is really starting to exhaust us both.

[SarasMom]

I've been trying to think about the best way to approach your problem. You said in your other post that a wire crate was not practical. That's OK. First of all, I think you have not given this enough time. 3 weeks is a good start, but it might be a while before she completely gets used to the crate since she has never been put in one before. Keep on feeding her, giving her treats and toys there, etc. Don't console her after you put her in, just put her in it. Is she howling when put in? I think you are just going to have to stick by your guns. Try getting one of those hollow bones, or a kong, and stuffing the middle with peanut butter. Give it to her ONLY when you put her in the crate.
Remember, it will take a while before this dog totally bonds with you and your home. Be patient with her, and remember, be firm but kind with her. And most of all, be consistent. She will soon get the new routines.

[Diva'sOwner]

SarasMom, thanks for your advice! I think I needed to hear that 3 weeks hasn't been long enough. You know how when you're working on something with them and they are slower to get it than you'd like them to be, it seems like the weeks are really months even though they aren't. I didn't know that dogs could eat peanut butter! I'll have to try that one as a special treat that she only gets when in the crate. So, you think I should still give her a treat even though she is going in by force? And I really shouldn't say anything to her when after getting her in? I usually beg her to get in and then tell her it's okay as I shove her in. Then I sit in front of the gate and pet her until she calms down. This is wrong?

(She never whines once in the crate until the alarm clock goes off in the a.m. If I happen to hit snooze, she'll really get impatient and whine until I get up.)

[SarasMom]

Oh yes, by all means keep giving her the treats. With the crate, everything should be positive. Don't beg her to go in, just put her in. You are the person (boss). I know this probably sounds funny, but when you console her after you put her in the crate, you are kinda reinforcing the idea that the crate is bad. The crate is good, and she doesn't need to be consoled. Give her lots of special treats when she goes into the crate. You say she is sleeping in there all night and not howling-you are doing better than you think.

[Diva'sOwner]

SarasMom, thanks for the encouragement. I won't beg her tonight and I will continue with the treats. The brief summer teaching job that I have now ends in 3 weeks so I'll be home during the day. I'm thinking that I will put her in it sometimes during the day when I'm home so that she'll get even more familar with it and associate it with more than just night time. I guess I am blessed that she doesn't howel when she's in it. She's really a quiet dog in general. But thank you so much for the feedback.

[rottmommie]

hey, mine is so spoiled that he really doesnt like the crate either, he will go in for treats, but nothing else seems to work. cant pick him up and put him in, he just gets angry and growly,(i think it hurts him cuz he is so big). but treats work, and he is happy then.

[Diva'sOwner]

Here's an update on the crate situation... she goes in now! Nothing spectacular happened, she just gave up the fighting, I guess. Now she goes in with no problem. I tell her to do it, she gives me a sad look and then in she willingly goes. Now I'm wondering if she should have water in there overnight. I was leaving a little dish in there but she kept knocking it over. Do other people leave water, or are the dogs okay without it overnight? (I do make her take a drink before going in.)

[SarasMom]

If your home is a normal temperature, water in the crate isn't necessary.
So glad to hear everything is working out.

[Diva'sOwner]

Thanks Sarasmom for the speedy reply.

[Goose71]

Hey, way to stick w/ it, glad you've made some progress. Thanks for keeping us posted. I personally no longer put water in there. I used to, but in the mornings it would still be full so I figured he didn't need it. I just make sure to let him out just before putting him in there. Eventually Diva should start getting more comfortable with it w/ the proper encouragement. Even putting her in w/ a treat and leaving the door unlatched will be good so she'll know that by going in there she won't always be stuck in there for long periods.

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"Luck happens when preparation meets opportunity"

[marianne]

Right now I'm looking at 5 crates with rotties in them...no water..in the morning they will get their water.

[franlofter]

My rottie is 18 months now and i got him when he was 5 months old. i used the crate on him when i first got him and he didnt like it at first but got used to it after awhile. I stopped using the crate for him 6 months ago he is perfectly fine at night sleeps at foot of bed all nigh intill i get up. crate is now in garage i see no need for it now.

[Diva'sOwner]

franlofter-- That's what we're aiming for (sleeping at the foot of the bed w/out crate). As if to prove to me that she is progressing nicely, Diva slept outside of the crate last night. I fell asleep watching TV and when I woke up the next morning, there she was cuddled next to the bed. The house was just as I had left it. (No half eaten socks!) So, I hope to let her sleep outside of it permanently some day in the future. At times I do feel like I should just give in and let her sleep in the bed with me but I am afraid that she'll always want to do it once I start.