I'm not sure if this is a crate training issue or what, but it's driving me CRAZY....


My boy is crate trained, you put him in there and he's completely silent and goes to sleep. Leave the door open on a quiet day and he'll hang out in there while I work at my desk. Tell him to go inside during the day to get him out of the way (usually while I do art stuff so I don't have little painted paw prints everywhere) no problem at all. He goes into the crate on command, he likes his crate, he's happy in there, he loves to go right in....

until bed time.

As soon as it's time for bed he's deadweight. Once I get him to the door of the crate he'll give me the puppy eyes and walk inside (once inside he's fine and content, rearranges his bedding, lays down, assumes highly unusual contortion pose, and goes to sleep in seconds). Getting him to the door is like dragging a child into the doctor's office for a shot. He'd never growl or anything, he just flops on the ground in his best cadaver impression leaving me to lift him up and walk him, a back paw on each of my feet, front paws in my hands, to the crate door. If I drag him to his feet he'll stay there, head sagging but I have to "walk" him to the door myself by lifting his paws...if I put him on a leash and drag him he sort of falls over like a barrel propped up on poles...

I've tried food, I've tried toys, I've tried making it into a fun game, I've tried mixing up the bedtime routine, I've tried working on it with him through the day and early evening (which he'll do perfectly consistently on command until bedtime) yet as soon as it's time to sleep he's a ragdoll....is this something I should just live with or is there some way to fix it?

It actually sounds cute from this side of the computer!

I know it is no help, but the back paws on your feet and front legs in your hands image made me smile. I'd probably kill mine for it, as they weigh over a hundred apiece...

Have you tried starting the bed time routine a little earlier for him?

I have a certain 4 year old in my life that does the same thing. You can change it pretty quickly with a good treat. Something with alot of the yum factor. During the day play the go to the crate game and toss in something really good. Then at the end of the night do the same thing.

On the flip side I have a dog who loves to sleep in. I have actually woke up early and had to carry him outside because he wanted to disappear in the covers.

I have TWO dogs like this. Bedtimes are becoming a nightmare. Funny isn't it - they go in just fine UNLESS it's bedtime.

I have one guy waking me up at 3 AM crying too when it is his night to be in. "can I come out NOW?"

One of my dogs actually runs into his crate as an "offer" behaviour, hoping to get a treat. He looks at me, hops in his crate and waits hopefully. He does this all the time. But at bedtime, there are times I actually have to get a lead on him and drag him in. I totally understand the dead weight thing. It's a very frustrating problem.

Jamie, does he have a command for going into the crate? Is he also a deadweight if you give the command at bed time or is it only if you try to lead him in there?

... it is actually cute from outside eyes but sooo very frustrating when you're the one trying to get him to bed.

I've tried all sorts of treats as well as his favorite toys. The problem is he really doesn't have an amazing "OMG i'll do anything for it" treat other than these horrible walmart things and that only goes as far as learning stupid tricks.

Once he's in the crate he's 100% fine, no problems. He's never been a nighttime yelper or anything and once again, once he's in the crate he's all cuddled up and happy for sleep....he really does remind me of a little child who simply does not want to go...I swear I can hear him say "no, I don't wanna!" when he flops on the ground

Giving the command at bedtime puts him in deadweight mode (any other time he walks right in). I've even tried to trick him by taking him for his last outside trip then letting him hang out for a while, then having him go in the crate and once he's in I planned on doing my bedtime routine, I also tried putting him to bed really early one night because I was going out to a movie...nope, he knew.... Somehow he always knows... If I try to lead him there he flops over and does his barrel falling off poles routine and becomes a ragdoll.....

 Quote: Jamie Craig

... I've tried food, I've tried toys, I've tried making it into a fun game, I've tried mixing up the bedtime routine, I've tried working on it with him through the day and early evening ...is this something I should just live with or is there some way to fix it?

Are you starting with a well-exercised, tired dog?

A tired puppy is a good puppy

oh, I'm starting with a tired puppy alright, we do daily long walks, training, fun frisbee games, and our carting practice...he's pretty sleepy by the time bedtime comes around.... He's ready and willing to sleep....just getting into the crate to actually assume proper sleeping position (paws in the air, body contorted in knots...the usual goofy puppy sleeping poses) is the hard part...