Hey all

When you feed your dogs in their crates, do you put the food bowl in the back of the crate and then let your dog go in there? Or do you put it at the front of the crate with your dog already in the crate?

Kind of a random question, but I'm new to this crate business and was wondering what people's experiences have been. I'm getting a rescue dog half gsd/half lab from Puerto Rico tomorrow so trying to learn as much as I can. Thanks.

If the dog is new to you, then I would put the bowl in the crate first (where makes little difference) and then allow the dog to go in after. When it is time to remove the bowl, remove the dog first and then go in for the bowl.

This is to prevent any issues with resource guarding and conflict between you and the new dog.

As the dog's habits are figured out you can do what ever is comfortable for the two of you. I have no problem putting food into a dogs crate while occupied and removing it as I choose to, but I know the dogs at hand and have no fear of guarding issues. Heck, I don't even use a bowl half the time, just toss the meal in the crate and let 'em have at it!

Unless the crate has multiple doors, I fear you'll have logistical problems putting it in the back of the crate.

Are you worried that the dog will try to dash out of the crate when you feed him?

Good luck with your rescue dog, and welcome to the forum.

Wow, a rescue from Puerto Rico.

As far as crate feeding, mine are all different as far as placement and when I place it. My preferred method is to get them in the crate and then place it at the top. Some have taken longer to learn the routine and have had my shares of spills. It seems that a lot of the learning that food comes after with getting them in the crate and then giving a treat. I'm not sure it matters, but I have found consistency makes life easier.

(after I posted, saw the other posts...good thought Jessica had about caution with resource guarding!)

Edited by aimee pochron (06/29/2010 01:26 PM)
Edit reason: added

Hi and welcome. It probably doessn't make a whole lot of difference to the dog--he'll get used to it either way and come to associate the crate with good things like mealtime.

I suppose to start with, putting the food bowl in as a lure to get him to go in the crate would be a good idea. If you can get him to go in all on his own to eat the food, then you can quietly close the crate door and walk away.

When you do feed him in the crate (or even if you just throw a treat in for him to get in the crate) use a command word that you want to mean "get in the crate"--"crate," "go crate," or, (we actually used this) "get in the garage" ;-) Whatever the word/phrase is, use it every time he goes in--the goal will be to get him to go in there without needing a lure each time. Most dogs will quickly come to love their crates--it's their personal clubhouse, not a jail. But much of that attitude will be set by you--making it fun for him to be in there, and not using it as punishment.

If you feed the dog kibble, you could even turn most of his meal into a training session---throw each piece of kibble into the crate for him to retrieve as you tell him "go crate!" Once he gets the hang of that, you can even add a "release" word that requires him to stay in there until you say the magic word.

Have fun!

 Quote: aimee pochron

Wow, a rescue from Puerto Rico.

My sister in Boston has rescued "dump dogs" from Puerto Rico, too. She got the rescues through "Save a Sato."

Congratulations!

And back to the topic(s) ....

 Quote: JessicaKromer

If the dog is new to you, then I would put the bowl in the crate first (where makes little difference) and then allow the dog to go in after. When it is time to remove the bowl, remove the dog first and then go in for the bowl.

This is to prevent any issues with resource guarding and conflict between you and the new dog.

As the dog's habits are figured out you can do what ever is comfortable for the two of you. I have no problem putting food into a dogs crate while occupied and removing it as I choose to, but I know the dogs at hand and have no fear of guarding issues. Heck, I don't even use a bowl half the time, just toss the meal in the crate and let 'em have at it!

This is my own protocol with a new dog, too.

Like Jessica, I want to get to know the dog and make sure we have no food conflict in the meantime.

Who knows what this dog has learned around fighting to keep his food? IME, it doesn't take a long time, if I am scrupulous about his peace around the food, for him to realize that he and his food are safe, and that what I give him is his.

Thanks for all your quick responses and thoughtful input! I think I will start with taking the dog out, putting the bowl in the back, and letting him back in and repeating the process when taking the bowl out to avoid any initial guarding issues.

Thank you all again!

 Quote:

If the dog is new to you, then I would put the bowl in the crate first (where makes little difference) and then allow the dog to go in after. When it is time to remove the bowl, remove the dog first and then go in for the bowl.

This is to prevent any issues with resource guarding and conflict between you and the new dog.

As the dog's habits are figured out you can do what ever is comfortable for the two of you. I have no problem putting food into a dogs crate while occupied and removing it as I choose to, but I know the dogs at hand and have no fear of guarding issues. Heck, I don't even use a bowl half the time, just toss the meal in the crate and let 'em have at it!

Same procedure here with all my rescues!

I know many Sato dogs and they are wonderful...Congratulations!