Does crate training get better?

[JKent]

My 9 month old hates being trapped in the crate but I have trained her to like it with the door open using a variation of this method.

https://edenk9abilities.com/crate-training-step-by-step-guide-to-a-distress-free-force-free-crate-trained-dog-or-pup-by-emma-judson/

If you use Facebook there is a really good international group for puppies with separation anxiety. They recommend sub threshold training, so you leave them for the longest period they can tolerate (in some cases seconds) and build up from that with no distress. Hard to practice at the moment due to coronavirus restrictions.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/118337983401724/?ref=share

[rubybasenji]

Thank you all for all of these suggestions!

I have a white plastic crate that mimics a metal bar crate. It is a bit on the bigger side, but I padded it with an anti anxiety bed, blankets, etc.

Curious if 9 weeks is too young to crate train? Or fine?

[rubybasenji]

@jkent Thanks for the link - that's very helpful. How long did it take to enjoy being in there with the door open?

At this point, if you have to leave the house, do you leave your 9 month old in her crate?

[rubybasenji]

@eeeefarm She mostly only quits when I come home. There are some instances where she tires herself out and so sleeps, I think.

That's a good suggestion to put something she wants in the crate before I leave, but locking her out so she can go in there. I will try that and see how it goes.

When you leave yours, what do you do?

[eeeefarm]

@rubybasenji said in Does crate training get better?:

@eeeefarm She mostly only quits when I come home. There are some instances where she tires herself out and so sleeps, I think.

That's a good suggestion to put something she wants in the crate before I leave, but locking her out so she can go in there. I will try that and see how it goes.

When you leave yours, what do you do?

I seldom used crates for any of my dogs. The ones I raised from pups had some crate time early on, but as quickly as possible I changed to dog proof rooms, so they had more space. With the two that I had that had separation anxiety, they really could not be crated, but when I went out I left a roller ball that dispensed treats, which kept the dog occupied until I was gone. I found most of the stress of me leaving occurred in the first few minutes, so if the dog was occupied at that time generally things were fine. I would load up the ball ahead of my departure, so that by the time I was ready to leave the dog was wanting that treat ball pretty badly!

[kempel]

Hi, my crate training was hard but I got it working to the point that my basenji goes in there willingly . I usually say kennel , he goes inside , and I lock the door and walk out . Two days ago, he watched me getting dressed and just walked inside the crate on his own before I said anything . How ?

I simply kept the best treats only for the crate . When does he get delicious beef ? In the crate ! Chicken ? In the crate! And so he learned to love it .

But this of course after I had many dents in my crate because of his strong jaws bitting.

But now , he goes inside , sleeps and waits for me .

By the way , I tried leaving him in the room , and he chewed on a couple of doors! I tried to leave him free in the car only with a seat belt , I almost had an accident .

Now crate at home and in the car , it works perfect .

Good luck to you .

[JKent]

@rubybasenji quite quickly. I started by sitting on a chair by the crate every time she needed a nap and throwing treats in to encourage her to settle down in there, increasing the time between the treats until she dropped off to sleep. She would want to come out after a short time of sleeping but it still helped to get her into the habit and over time she started venturing in there herself.

I haven't left her home alone yet because she gets distressed and we are in national lockdown at the moment with a family of 4 home all the time so it's hard to practice short absences. I plan to start the subthreshold training as soon as it's practical.

[Zande]

@rubybasenji said in Does crate training get better?:

Curious if 9 weeks is too young to crate train? Or fine?

My puppies were all crate trained before they left me at 8.5 weeks. So no, certainly not too early. Use a large wire crate, NOT a Varikennel type. Basenjis like to be able to see all around them.

It needs to be big, so the doggie can lie out at full stretch, stand, or sit up very straight without discomfort.

Make is a fun place to be - feed the pup in it sometimes, hide treats (pieces of the daily kibble ration, NOT extras !) in it for it to find. Toys, a bone or two - my pup Kito loves BIG bones ! and get used to leaving the door open so that becomes a haven for the wee thing.

@kempel This is quite common ! I sold a pup once and the lady had to go out to work three mornings a week. It got so the puppy watched her and when she got her lipstick out, went into the crate. Door was never shut - Pup stayed until she returned.

[Nickmiller]

I think crates are good for dogs, it gives them their own little space. My dog uses her crate(like from this review) as a way to have alone time, if I'm cleaning or talking on the phone or doing something too loud while she's trying to sleep she goes and curls up in there.

[macattack]

I agree, but it does take time and patience for some dogs to understand. My basenji, Charlie knows now his crate is his “home”, but from 8 weeks to now at 12 weeks, focused first on making sure he felt safe in it. This meant a Charlie proofed area that ended in his crate if he wanted to be with me while I worked.

We are now introducing away time, but as mentioned, it’s building up from a mere few seconds to hours.