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I have an 11 week old Australian Shepherd who I have been trying to crate train and have been unsuccessfull. I have read many many articles, books talked to people at the pet stores, family members, basically eveyone and tried everything. I will try to move the crate today, but if any body has a better way please let me know. I really need this to work for me. I have slowly introduced him to it all taken apart and then slowly put back together, tried treats special treats, picking him up at nap time and putting him in there, but nothing. PLEASE HELP US!!! Thankyou ↓
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| Name: lindalu | Date: May 27th, 2008 9:28 PM |
| Kristen, Why do you feel it isn't working? we will need more information. Example....he cries while in it, he pees or poops while in it. ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 28th, 2008 12:46 AM |
| Lindalu, I have tried treats, frozen babana in a kong, peanutbutter in a kong, letting him stay in there for time intervels, Like 7, 15,20 minutes and he just barks and barks. I try putting him in there when it is nap time. I have tried sitting there but he still barks. He did however sleep in his crate yesterday for about 30 minutes, it just happened. I put a blanket over it and stayed very quiet. Today tried the same thing, nothing. I do not pay attention to him when he barks, I wait until he has a quiet moment then take him out. I feel like I am doing something wrong. My neighbor has my puppy's brother same age and he just went in the crate and stay's. from the first night. ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 2:48 AM |
Kristen,
When you put him in the crate leave him in it, do not remove him until you feel its ok to remove him. He will bark, the only way to get him to not bark when he is in the crate is... to get him use to being in the crate. It sound like he doesn't have a problem with the crate its self, his problem is... he simply just doesn't want to be in it.
Put the blanket back on the top, some dogs like the closed in feel its kind of like a den. From what you said your dog seems to reap some comfort from the covered top. Forget about the 10 min, 15 min introduction routine. Put him in the crate at random times leaving him in it for 1hours at a time. He will bark! continue to ignore him and his barking while he is in the crate.
When you take him out of his crate bring him directly out or to where ever he relieves himself. After he does his buisness bring him directly in and place him back in the crate. What this will do is get him use to being in the crate appose to being out of the crate.
The more he is in it the quicker he will adapt to it, if he is removed every time he barks he will continue to bark every time he is in it.
The way I suggest crate training is to start as young as possible. I also strongly suggest NEVER to use them as a discipling tool. NEVER use them as a time out place and certainly NEVER scold or yell at them while they are in the crate. By doing any of the above will only discourage him from wanting to be in the crate, he will view it as a not so good place.
There is still so much I don't know,so all I can say... is to keep him in the crate. Only remove him for potty trips every hour, eating and supervised play. At night have him sleep in it, during the day keep him in it except for what I just listed. I know it sounds kinda mean! But it really isn't. After a couple weeks he will be use to the crate and the barking will be gone. In a couple months he should be just about house broken and then he will be able to spend more time out side the crate. ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 3:04 AM |
Also never change your routine to fit his, he must conform to your routine! When he is in the crate continue about your buisness doing what you normally would do. Don't stay quiet in fear of disturbing him let him get use to your routine. Trust me! the more he is in the crate the quicker he will get use to it. I don't mean to sound like I am suggesting to leaving him in it all day, never taking him out. All I mean is ....to leave him in it for the larger part of the day and of course at night.
Another thing be sure he is on a good food and potty schedule. If he is not... he may relieve himself in the crate and you don't want that. So be sure he is taken out to potty every 1-1/12 hours and when he wakes from a nap. ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 28th, 2008 5:21 PM |
Thankyou Lindalu, this does sound kinda mean, but I am willing to try anything at this point. So is what you are saying is put him it at nap time and just leave him, then put him in at night. I appreciate any help. So I guess I will try this and see what happens. Thankyou,
Kristen ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 28th, 2008 5:49 PM |
Lindalu, I am just writing because I just put him in the crate and BARK[BARK[BARK. Well is only been about 15 min. or so. I am a stay at home mom of 2 kids and then the puppy, so I don't really have a specific routine, I just know when his nap times are. So any way I appreciate any help you can give me. We have never had a dog so I am trying to read several books, talk to different people, look things up online. Everything, but so many different opinions. well still barking, I am also recovering from major surgery, so I guess while he sleeps I will try to ignore the barking and rest myself. Thankyou , I really hope this helps.
Kristen ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 10:46 PM |
Kristen
His feeding and watering should be scheduled, he should be fed in the morning wait about 20 minutes take him out to relieve himself. When you take him out do NOT let him play! In fact keeping him on a leash would be the best way to keep him focused. Tell him to potty, pee or what ever word you would like to use. Once he does his buisness.... praise him! then bring him directly in the house. You may play with him once he is already in the house, but be sure he is supervised! After about 20-30 minutes of play place him back in his crate....giving him a key word such as bed time, nappy time.... or some thing simple like.... in your house.
Once he's in he will bark but, ignore him!
Continue to take him out to relieve himself every 1 - 1 1/2 hours... doing the same as instructed above each time. Feed him again in the afternoon, remember to allow him to drink with his meals and while playing. Do NOT put water in the crate. Finally feed him for the third time in the evening be sure not to feed him any later then 7pm.
The purpose for crating is to keep puppy safe while not being supervised, just as human babies are placed in pens. The crate is also a great house breaking tool when used properly. It is not suppose to be used for an all day every day keeper for the puppy. It should only be used for the first few years when puppy is growing and learning what is expected of him.
If the crate is not abused he will eventually see it as a safe comfortable place, where you will be able to leave the door open and he will go in it to sleep. If you use a key word while putting him in it he will associate that word with the crate and go in on his own by command.
When he is out of the crate you should always leave the door open so that he can go in on his own if he wishes. If he does go in on his own praise him , be sure he knows he did a good thing.
As I mentioned before the crate should only be used for when he can not be supervised. But....until he gets use to it and can be trusted to be out alone he will have to spend a lot of time in it. You will notice that his need to be in the crate will get less and less with each week.
Also... when he is a puppy and going through the chewing stages alway crate him when you are out of the house. It is for his safety! ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 10:56 PM |
If he can last 2-3 hours between potty breaks then give that a try. Some dogs can hold for a very long time at a young age, others can not. If he is sleeping don't wake him to take him out ...wait until he wakes up on his own.
Another thing... when you take him from the crate to go out side to relieve himself ...put the leash on him while he is still in the crate and allow him to walk out the door him self (don't carry him). The reason for not carrying him is ....so that he will learn where the door is and he will know where he is suppose to go when he needs to potty. If you carry him he will not learn where to go when he need to let you know he needs to potty. ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 28th, 2008 11:03 PM |
Thankyou Lindalu, I tried it today. Did the first hour all he did was bark, then I let him out to go potty, then put him back in his crate for the second time, he barked and barked. I figured since I would be leaving him in for a while that I would run up to the store and hopefully he would have stopped barking. But no, instead when I came home and mind you I was only gone for no more than 10 minutes, he had had an accident, messy actually he had diareaha. So I had to let him out while I cleaned everything up and put in the washer, also had to give him a bath and completly take apart his crate and wash it. Needless to say I do not know if this is going to work, but I appreciate the thought that you have put into this with me and my puppy, by the way his name is Dozer. I will still look for any suggestions that anybody has but I don't think this was the way to go.
Thank you, Kristen ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 11:17 PM |
Kristen.
It sound like he became anxious thus causing diarrhea, some dogs get very anxious. Did he see you leave the house?
Lets try another approach....some dogs don't do to well with crating. I have seen several people try every thing in the book with no success.
Do you have a an area such as a hall, bath room or even a large closet that you can gate off? Some times a gated area will work just as good as a crate. I will suggest crating if the dog can tolerate it, but when they show signs of anxiety I suggest another approach...such as gating. ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 11:31 PM |
You see most of the time crating will work quite well, if the dog is crated from the first day and there is no interference. What I mean by interference is.....to not give in to his whimpers and wines. When things go wrong is when the dog wine and we the human feels bad then taking them out. Crating is some thing that one needs to be conssistent with, not giving in to human emotions. If there is any disruptions from the first day the dog will learn and it will make it more difficult to crate train.
I have crated all my dogs with wonderful success. I have also assisted many others with proper crating, they to have found the crate to be a great tool when needed.
Take a look at your neighbor....you said there pup took to the crate. Why? there may be some thing you missed. Did they from day one put him/her in the crate? Did you wait allowing him to learn there is an alternative to the crate? It may also be that Dozer is simply not crate material! I have also met many that just did not take to crating. ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 28th, 2008 11:45 PM |
Kristen, there is some one that use to post here by the name of Petmaster. I found this person to be quite knowledgeable with problem solving. I do speak to her on occasion asking her for advice with many issues such as yours. I will send her an email asking her to drop in, she may be able to assist you with your problem.
I do know your pain! You seem like a person who is putting forth a lot of effort to make this work. ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 29th, 2008 12:19 AM |
| Thanks Lindalu, I appreciate it. I am also having my sister come down to see what she can do to help, she crates her dog and feels that every dog is crateable. I do know that my neighbor did use the crate the same night she brought home. I myself was not sure if we were going to keep this puppy, we wanted to see how he got along with the kids, but that night we gave him his name and here we are. So I had him in the bathroom upstairs for 2 nights and then got the crate and other gates and tried the crate from then. Talk to you soon thankyou once again for everything. ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 29th, 2008 3:03 AM |
Kristen
Is the crate in a common area such as a living room or den? If so try placing it in a bed room or a room that has little traffic daily.
I am guessing today when you went to the store it was the first time he was away from you. That could be a big reason why he was so upset.
I sent an email to Petmaster, she should reply to you any day now. ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 29th, 2008 4:33 AM |
Lindalu, I really hope that I am not wasting your precious time. I have left hime many times, but in the back yard which is totally puppy proofed. So I don't know if it was that or what. I moved the crate into the dining room where he sleeps during the day when I am here. Also I put his food in the back of the crate tonight and shut the door and opened when he was done with no problems. I thought about putting in in my room but with the potty training not tottally controlled I thought it would be best downstairs where I have tile, plus my bedroom is way too small. Anyway I will try this for a while and see if that works. I do not really care where he sleeps but I would like hime crate trained for a number of reasons. So I hope you enjoy your evening and helping out (we both know I need it) Thanks
Kristen ↑ |
| Name: lindalu | Date: May 29th, 2008 6:52 AM |
Kristen, no.... I don't consider this a wast of my time. If I can help... that will be great!
Be sure to put his crate in a place where you will be able to keep it permanently. You don't want to confuse or upset him by moving it around from area to area.
May I ask where have you been sleeping him?
How much time does he spend in the crate during the day?
Also you mentioned that you tie him out in the back yard, how much time is he out in the yard? and is he alone while out there?
I know I am asking a lot of questions, but if I am going to be able to help I need to know what your routine is with him. So if you can pleases explain to me what you do with him in a average day. Is he crated or out side? How often is he crated? where does he sleep? are you home with him all day? If in the crate does he have some thing to keep him occupied? ↑ |
| Name: Kristen | Date: May 30th, 2008 5:03 AM |
Lindalu, hi how are you? hope everything is going well with your dogs. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply but with baseball and school stuff. Basically I am home during the day except for the occasional trip or two for groceries. take kids and pick up. If I do have to leave him i let him run in the backyard. It is totally puppy proofed. But only for 1-2 hours. Tonight was the first night that we were gone for an exteneded period of time, but I had my neighbor come over to chack on Dozer and feed him and play with him for a while. After yesterday I am going very slowly on the crate, I let him eat his meals in there pushed way to the back, and I have noticed he has been going in by himself off and on during the day. I do not want another episode like yesterday, I felt like such a horrible mother. Yes I let my kids cry but after about 10 minutes they were asleep. At night I let him sleep downstairs blocked off by a gate in a tiled area, he does not seem to whine or cry at bedtime. My husband gets up very early so he lets him out for potty and then lets him run around downstairs and outside. I get up around 6:00 every morning and take him potty and then we eat breakfat at about 7:00 am, then dinner around 5:30-6:00pm. I think I will take this very slowly I don't know I am just a little weary, but I do believe it can be done. hope to hear from you soon.
Kristen ↑ |
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