I was wondering. My dog Shadow is doing well in the Crate/kennel he does not cry except the first 5 minutes or so. But he will not go into the crate/kennel when I ask him too. How do I train him to go into his crate/kennel?

Thanks

we used the "hot dog method" to teach someone else how to get their dog in the crate when it didn't want to listen.

Show the dog a hotdog, give it a piece by the crate. When you've got it's full interest in the treat, toss the hotdog in the crate and tell it "kennel" (or whatever term you want to use). When the dog goes in to get the treat, shut the door and praise. After a few times of doing this, you can try giving the command first then giving the treat for a reward for obedience. After a while, the dog will associate the command with a good thing (the treat) for going in it's crate.

Put a treat into the crate every time before you give the "crate" command. Don't make the crate a cage, don't close it all the time. Just send the dog to the crate and leave it open, they can sit back and enjoy the bone or treat and come back out. You don't want to build the association that the crate sucks. I always move a puppy to it's crate to sleep if they nod off anywhere else without closing the door. I keep a comfy bed in the crate so they always head that way to rest. I also always feed the pup in the crate.


When you do put them in and lock up, totally ignore the protests.


Besides thats where my dogs go to get away from the real monsters at my house. . .the kids.

I don't know why I did not think of the food idea. I will try it for a while and see if it works.

 Quote:

Originally posted by John Lister:
I don't know why I did not think of the food idea. I will try it for a while and see if it works.

tell you what, if it doesn't work, you can kick VanCamp right square in the rectum! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

had to get my stab in, it's been a while, don't want the Kampster feeling neglected. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Training my pup w/the treat method worked well for me. I trained her to go to crate using one type of treat, snausages. So every time she hears the bag opening, she immediately bolts for the crate and patiently waits for me to get there to give. (she will go by command w/out treats or with other kind treat if I run out of snausages <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ) Crate has always been a positive to her since she was 7 weeks old; she is now almost 10mths old. She is also fed in her crate.(it is a large crate)How old is Shadow? If Shadow is still young, try freezing something in a Kong to keep busy for those first few moments of stress; it could help w/the crying part. (But generally, the crying part will go away if you completely ignore it) Gypsy's crate, to her, is her domain of comfort not a prison <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hi John
I can sure relate to this problem. My pup hated the crate from day one. Still does. He will not go in there on his own at all, and he has had many positive crate experiences These include snacks, treats, soft bed, frozen knucklebones at night. I do short times in the crate for like ten minutes, with a good treat like cheese, then let him out. I will leave surprise toys in there for him during the day.
These things have helped. He has gotten to where I can lead him in by his collar and he keeps walking in, but he will still run from me if I just tap the top and say "bedtime".
He always gets a treat after he has gone in, and has one usually thrown in beforehand as well, although he starts running as soon as he sees me with the treats in front of the crate.
I tell you these things just so you know you may have to lead him in - I do everything the way the good folks here tell me, but my puppy man still avoids going in his crate. On the plus side, we have come a long long way in just the six weeks I've had him-he used to bite me, scream bloody murder, and fight wildly to avoid the crate.
Good luck!

Having crate trained my current two as adults, too big and strong to try and MAKE them go in, I must say the treat method really worked for me. I used a very gradual approach. First I'd toss the treat way in the back. The dog would stretch his/her neck as far as he or she could, then, only because they had to, put their front paws in, leaving their back paws planted firmly on the ground outside the crate. That was fine. I just wanted them to get used to the crate being there, and not put pressure on them to actually go in. After a few days of this, when the dogs were nice and relaxed and unsuspecting, I simply bumped their butt with my knee to get them all the way in, then immediately gave them a treat and let them out. THEN I would start closing the door and feeding them treats through the bar, then let them out. Then I would feed them a treat or two, walk away for a few seconds, come back and feed them another treat, then let them out. I gradually lengthened the amount of time I stayed out of sight to a few minutes, keeping track on my watch.
The crates are always kept open, in the living room, and they are fed their meals in there. They are crated sometimes when left home alone, and are given a stuffed Kong at those times. They do not hesitate to go in their kennels when I say "kennel up", so now I can put them in there if I want them out of my hair while I vacuum the couch or whatever.
I think that since it's not optional to crate the puppy when left alone, it's important to give the puppy something good that will last a while, until they get bored and go to sleep. Stuffed Kongs work really well for that.

Kick ME!

First plant one on the knucklehead that gave you the advice first. I just copied what he said. . . <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Besides, Mike is a wuss anyway. . .

One thing I've found with crate training is the noisy pan in the bottom of wire crates will often spook a pup when they step on it. I put a piece of cardboard between the pan and wire floor. Also,cardboard in the pan might make it less stressful to some who don't want to walk on the metal.