Crate training a dog advice?

[commander bunnypants]

Thoughts? I am getting a pup soon and considering crate training.


DDQM

[molly]

1. Everyone that I know that has done it has had great

results. I just could never stand to hear a puppy crying. If you start out that way, it would be better for all.

[Punkingal]

2. That's what we did with our golden......

and it worked great. At first I thought it would be too cruel, but it wasn't, and he was trained super-fast, because he didn't want to go into the crate.

[Throckmorton]

4. My golden loves his crate,

Crate trained in a hurry, and even now that he is 6 years old, sleeps in it every night, door wide open. Around dark, after a good night pass around the living room, he wanders over to it and passes out.

I guess it's just his den, and he likes it. The command "Go Kennel" sends him straight into it, "Out Kennel" and out he comes.

No pooped on rugs, no midnight puppy in the bed syndrome, I endorse crate training.

[LuLu550]

3. It worked for me

I know some people don't like them, but my wonderful mini-schnauzer Lexi :loveya: likes her crate. Goes in it of her own free will when she wants to get away from us and be on her own.
Rule number one: If you are doing it to train the dog not to poop all over, make sure it is SMALL enough or else they go to a corner and go to the bathroom there.
Rule number two: As soon as you take the pup out of the crate, take him or her outside immediately to "go potty."
I always put a small treat in the crate when I put Lexi in, too,
so crate = good.
Good luck!
LuLu

[Richardo]

6. Schnauzies rule! **

...or so they tell me. Ruby (black) and Pearl (white) say :hi: to Lexi.

** Don't tell our JRTs :-)

[LuLu550]

8. Yea minis!

Hi back at Ruby and Pearl! :hi:

I used to have a wire fox terrier and she was a real pistol. When she died, we got a mini schnauzer because they aren't quite as hyper as WTFs. We really love Lexi a lot! :loveya:

LuLu

[nedlogg]

5. Buddy's not too crazy about his.

We just inherited a year-and-a-half year old beagle/shepard mix. He's the perfect dog in all ways except he can't be left at home alone.

I got him a crate and he'll go in, but he doesn't like it and barks and whines the whole time.

Any suggestions?

[LuLu550]

7. dogs do what pays off

If you let him out when he barks and whines, he will bark and whine to get out. Try letting him out or giving him a treat in the crate AS SOON as he is quiet in the crate. Tell him "good boy, quiet" or something short like that. Pay off comes when he does what you want him to do.
As for him being home alone in the crate all day..do you give him a safe toy or chew in there? It might help. If all else fails, and you have the money...there is always doggie day care!
LuLu

[Rainbowreflect]

9. My golden loves his kennel. Has slept in it since he was a puppy.

He wants to be in it when we are gone or sleeping. Otherwise he just hangs out with us.
When I go up to bed he follows me and walks into his kennel. If we try to lock him out he opens it up and goes inside to sleep.

[Scout]

10. I recommend it!

good suggestions in the other posts, I'll add one more:

NEVER use the crate as punishment!

Dogs will see the crate as their den, their nest, as a comfy place to be ... their own room, so to speak. It should be big enough for them to stand in comfortably (once they are full-grown) and they should be able to stand up and turn around, change positions.

I agree with puppies and housebreaking, to close off or block off part of the crate else the pup will poop in one end and sleep in the other!

I want a puppy! my dogs are grown ups and I love 'em, but puppies are just so damn cute.

[geniph]

11. I hardly know any dog trainers that DON'T recommend it

if you start with a pup, and as Scout said, don't use it as punishment, it'll be their refuge for life. It makes housebreaking SOOOO much easier, but remember, little guys don't have much muscular control and their bladders/bowels are very small, so they need to be taken out frequently.

[underpants]

12. Crate training? You are going to put your dog to work?

Just kidding I don't know what that is.

[commander bunnypants]

13. Train the dog to think the crate is his den

DDQM