Crate Training

Hi

I am going to start crate training today, how long do I leave him in there ? a few minutes i gather at first and how many times during the day do i do it ? Or can someone give me the best way to start it off, as really I do not have a clue.

Thanks xx

Firstly, you need to get him used to it - does he already go in there to sleep or relax?

Leave some treats in there when he's not around so that every time he goes past it he wants to go in.

Every so often (especially if he's tired) let him go and lie down in the crate & then shut the door, just for a few seconds, so he can get used to the sound of it. Build that up, with you in the room until he's 100% happy with the door shut.

Next, shut the door & leave the room, just for a couple of minutes. Go back in & if he's quiet, open the door - if he's whining etc, leave him unitl he's calm. Again, just build it up.

Good luck I don't have a clue either!!

He is used to his crate, if i am round that area, he will go in his crate i think just to be near me. Sometimes he does go in there to sleep, chewing his blanket or hide things, i think he is comfortable with his crate.

Thank you Caryll

Thank you

I put him in for 5 minutes and he just played with his toys that was lunchtime, hes in there now just lying there watching everyone who's in the room and the world going by

he's gone to sleep now with the door shut

Why would you want to put him in a crate? Don't understand.

daisydaisy wrote:Why would you want to put him in a crate? Don't understand.

I don't know what the original poster thinks, but these are my reasons to crate train my dogs:
- to keep the dog safe when travelling
- to keep the dog from panicking if it gets hurt and *have* to be on crate rest for a time
- to have a handy home away from home to bring to events (giving the dog a place to relax)
- to give the dog its own little safe and secure den (many young dogs dislike being forced to "take care of" a large open space when left alone)
- to have a safe space where a young dog or puppy can be withouth getting into trouble if you go to the shop or something. It can be hard to make an entire room safe for a puppy (my puppy once got something loose from the wall and almost choked - I was just a couple of meters away, if I had been away he could have been in serious danger)
- to have a safe place to leave the dog if something happens, like broken glass all over the floor (not all people have a good room to lock the dog away, and most dogs would prefer to stay nearby)

Hi Daisydaisy

I want to crate train Bruno for when we're out and maybe at nightime.

We went shopping last friday came home to everything that was on the table was all over the floor,We have lost 4 tablemats which have now been replace, he ripped up paper which thank goodness wasn't important, my OH medication was all over the place (He's diabetic type 1) he managed to put teeth marks in the boxes but thank goodness no medication was missing and no needle ends went into Bruno, thank goodness the needle come in their own little container and now when OH is home , he leaves his medication on top of the freezer so that there is no risk of Bruno getting it, and this is why we feel a need to crate train him, The longest he is left is maybe 2 or 3 hours while we shop or go carbooting, we try and be quick as we can, so that he's not left more than 2 hours.

Aniemother wrote:

daisydaisy wrote:Why would you want to put him in a crate? Don't understand.

I don't know what the original poster thinks, but these are my reasons to crate train my dogs:
- to keep the dog safe when travelling
- to keep the dog from panicking if it gets hurt and *have* to be on crate rest for a time
- to have a handy home away from home to bring to events (giving the dog a place to relax)
- to give the dog its own little safe and secure den (many young dogs dislike being forced to "take care of" a large open space when left alone)
- to have a safe space where a young dog or puppy can be withouth getting into trouble if you go to the shop or something. It can be hard to make an entire room safe for a puppy (my puppy once got something loose from the wall and almost choked - I was just a couple of meters away, if I had been away he could have been in serious danger)
- to have a safe place to leave the dog if something happens, like broken glass all over the floor (not all people have a good room to lock the dog away, and most dogs would prefer to stay nearby)

Totally agree, Bruno does spend alot of time in his crate with the door open, we just need now to make sure, he's happy to be left it with the door shut.It is for his safety and our piece of mind, we have puppy proofed our lounge as best as we can but some wire cannot be hidden. Plus it will come in useful if bruno is crate trained for when we decorate in the lounge. He only has run of the lounge and kitchen as we have a stairgate between the kitchen and the hall and upstairs. But we're not decorating till he has properly housetrained

Saxon goes in his crate when we're away and at night. He is much safer in his kennel than he would be wandering around the house while we are away/asleep. He is very comfortable and happy to go into his kennel. He even goes in there on his own sometimes when he wants to nap. I got him to love his crate by giving him special treats whenever he went into his crate. Now all I have to do is say "Kennel" and he runs right in wagging his tail.

Hollie loves her crate so much, she goes in when she just wants a nap and some peace n quiet, when its bedtime I just have to put the key in the back door and she toddles off to her crate and lays down, she doesn't mind the door of the crate being closed when I go out and at night-time when i'm upstairs sleeping, but if i'm up and about I leave the door open, she's happy and content to just lay in there, it's her safe place

That's an interesting concept. Never heard of that before.

I'd never used a crate before I got Dempsey, but it was recommended by several eminent bull terrier people because they are known as fanatical destroyers! And they tend to eat whatever they chew up. Also, being a strong willed, active & heavy breed there are times when a quiet time is a must for everybody.

His crate very quickly (within a couple of hours) became his den. He goes in and out whenever he wants and uses it a lot. I used to close the door only when we went out and couldn't watch him, or overnight when we obviously couldn't watch him. It also helped with his toilet training.

Well today i put bruno in the crate while i washed the kitchen/hall and lounge floors , so it was a good half hour to hour as i left him there while it all dried

And he just played and went to sleep so that is progress, so pleased with him.
next is to leave him in there abit longer