I am new to this website and actually found it the same day as our new Australian Cattle dog puppy arrived. I already have 3 year old Jack Russel living in the house. The big issues that I am trying to rectify is that after reading about crating dogs I ran out and bought two crates and immediately started the puppy in the crate. WOW the puppy took to it like a fish to water. The issue is with the JRT. He is terrified being left alone and is the pack leader in the home sleeping on the furniture and with my wife in the bed. He is house trained but as I said we have been planning evenings out and my wife leaving the house around this dog and I need it to stop. I want to absolutely crate train and start over with obediance training with the JRT. The concern is that I have been trying to coax him into the crate for 4 or 5 days. And have placed his food and water at the entrance during feeding time. He is very reluctant to even enter the crate and looks over his should when he eats at the edge like he waiting to be forced in. I do not want to make him a nervous wreck by forcing him into the crate without knowing that it will not make his self confidence less than it is. And I use the term "force" only because at this point I cannot see the dog going into the crate without some help. Should I be working on his confidence before I put/force him into the crate? Or should I start with crate training and work from there. I just dont want to "break" the dog and have him peeing when he sees me and other issues that I have read on this site. After seeing the almost instant and beneficial results of crating with the A.C.D. my wife and I both have commited to crate training this dog no matter what it takes I just need to know exactly how, so I don't permantely damage the dog.

This explains exactly how to familiarize an adult dog with a crate.

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/new-dog.html#crate_training

Since I adopt "previously-owned" dogs, I have some experience with this. In fact, I have had dogs who had obviously had bad crate experience, such as (I imagine) having it used a punishment.

I don't put the adult dog into the crate while he's scared of it/anxious about it; I make the crate a wonderful thing instead.

I agree with you about not using force. I would take all the time needed to make it am "up" and pleasant experience; it's a very worthwhile investment of time, IMO.

 Quote: matt minshall

... I want to absolutely crate train and start over with obediance training with the JRT. ...

I applaud that! IME, you can definitely start over with an older dog, and if you use motivational training, then it will enhance the bond between you and your dog. It also builds the dog's confidence every time he learns something and is praised/rewarded.

http://leerburg.com/markers.htm

http://www.leerburg.com/302.htm

http://leerburg.com/groundwork.htm

http://leerburg.com/puppygroundwork.htm

Do you have any suggestions beyond feeding him at the entry of the crate and dropping treats in the crate all the time? I have worked him into going into the back of the crate to retrieve treats and I have been closing the door for a few second while he eats the treats, and feeding him a treats before I open the door. Is there anything I am not doing that might get him to want him to relax to the crate with the door open. I have a pad in the crate hopeing he will relax or nap in the crate with the door open. I have also covered the crate with a blanket on all sides except the door side. I also dont know if I should be re starting obedience training with him or should I wait till he is absolutely comfortable with the crate. As I said before this dog has issues with being left alone and I dont want to overwelm him with other training if it is not the thing to do at this point. Thank you for the advise and I have previously visited the K9 link that you sent me and that is what I have been working from so I am glad to know that people on this site recommend what I have been using as reference mat'l.

 Quote: matt minshall

Do you have any suggestions beyond feeding him at the entry of the crate and dropping treats in the crate all the time? I have worked him into going into the back of the crate to retrieve treats and I have been closing the door for a few second while he eats the treats, and feeding him a treats before I open the door. Is there anything I am not doing that might get him to want him to relax to the crate with the door open. I have a pad in the crate hopeing he will relax or nap in the crate with the door open. I have also covered the crate with a blanket on all sides except the door side. I also dont know if I should be re starting obedience training with him or should I wait till he is absolutely comfortable with the crate. As I said before this dog has issues with being left alone and I dont want to overwelm him with other training if it is not the thing to do at this point. Thank you for the advise and I have previously visited the K9 link that you sent me and that is what I have been working from so I am glad to know that people on this site recommend what I have been using as reference mat'l.

Does he like any toy(s)? The toy could be just inside the crate door. Also, I don't think you need to put the treats way at the back immediately. You'll have the dog for a long time (and you have already had him for a long time); you could be pretty relaxed about this dog, who is already potty-trained.

About the obedience: No, I wouldn't wait until he's fully comfortable in the crate. They kind of go hand in hand -- he will become more confident with motivational training; you will become more of a pack leader to him; he will trust you more as you begin rewarding for asked-for behaviors (and praising).

If you read the Leerburg links and get the video, you'll see that this training is very good for the dog's sense of where he is in the pack structure. Right now he probably does not recognize that he has a pack leader; if he's like most dogs (and think of how relatively few were born to be pack leaders), he is uncomfortable, uncertain, and anxious about the lack of pack leadership.

The Groundwork and Markers links above will show you exactly what I mean.

P.S. Feel free to post if you hit a speed bump in the obedience work. There are a *lot* of experienced handers/trainers on this forum.

Thank you very much

I have been reading and reading and reading post on this site and I just read a post by "ED" that says place the dog in the crate and let him "bark till the cows come home". Of course I am speaking of my Jack Russel listed above. What to do.....what to do??? I have absolutely no problem placing my JRT in the crate and letting him go nuts but I dont want to make the dog "crazy"

one thing I forgot to mention is that my JRT is making every effort to growl and make aggresive posture toward the Australian Cattle Dog puppy. In fact I'm pretty sure he would like to end the pup's life swiftly. So I feel that it is a matter of time before my JRT takes a shot at my ACD pup.

When he was 22 months old, my GSD finally got tired of being dominated by my JRT. The JRT got chewd up pretty good and still thinks he won the fight. I no longer allow them out together unattended. When I'm with the two of them they are both in active avoidance of one another. I just don't turn my back.
My JRT is old, crippled and one eyed but STILL wants to rule the household.
I wouldn't have a terrier with any other attitude but it's a huge PIA!

 Quote: matt minshall

one thing I forgot to mention is that my JRT is making every effort to growl and make aggresive posture toward the Australian Cattle Dog puppy. In fact I'm pretty sure he would like to end the pup's life swiftly. So I feel that it is a matter of time before my JRT takes a shot at my ACD pup.

You have had the crate for 5 days, right? How is the older dog doing with it?

It's your job to ensure that he does NOT attack the pup. As OED Bob said, he does not let them be together unattended.