Our 7 month old puppy hasn't been liking his crate much anymore. He's fine once we get him in there but getting him in there is a challenge, he used to go right in. Is this normal? He is in his crate less during the day since he's been a good boy and he does well (we are home), not sure if that is part of it.
Hi @mom2labs my guess is that he is now anticipating that you will lock him in there and that you will go away from him. Labs like to see what is going on. Try putting some treats in there without closing the gate so that he re-adjusts to the idea that going in there does not necessarily mean the door will close. When you put him in there with the door closed either make sure it's initially for a short period or give him a filled Kong to gnaw on.
Do you give a treat each time he goes in? Buddy went through a short phase of not really wanting to go in, I think it was a bit like a child feeling like they were missing out on something, so as always consistency is key, even down to which side I stand for him to go in! He’s absolutely fine with it again now, he goes in, we close the gate, and give 2 or 3 treats. Maybe change the treat slightly? A bit of cheese?
It is the other way around for me. Mango use to hesitate, now goes straight in. I guess he is more tired now, doing all the mental and nose work, since he is now on restricted movement.
So: You need to play lots of games with the crate and without closing the door. Can he go in the crate on cue yet? Follow this video:
No he has never gone into the crate on cue, although he does fine once in there I wouldn't say he's one of those dogs who will ever just love his crate. We always put treats in there for him without closing the door and every weekday at 3 (it's a time of day no one can be right with him) he gets a kong which he loves and as soon as I would get it out he would go straight into his kong, however the last couple of days he will pass up the kong to not go in there.
Hi @mom2labs in order to overcome the reluctance of going in the crate at 15.00, you have to either increase the payoff of entering the crate or lower the value of staying outside the crate or a combination of both. I would try raising the value of the treats ypu place in the crate at the hour of issue. A bit of roast chicken or watermelon perhaps. Something that the dog normally does not get, and something highly valued by the dog at that moment. A surprise creates a higher payoff than something you get routinely. If you received the same thing as a present each and every year would you be moved much? The general lesson is that we dog owners have to keep finding different ways of maintaining motivation. What worked last session may not work at the next session.
But have you even watched the video I posted, or tried to follow it? You'll see the dog is not expected to stay in the crate for a very long time. The idea is to be playing training games around and in and out of the crate regularly, since this will change the dog's emotional association with the crate. An agility dog gets very excited at seeing agility equipment, since it has repeatedly been associated with fun and training. The sight of the crate should achieve the same thing, for a puppy. That's not going to happen if the only time the dog does anything with the crate, is when he goes in once and you shut him in there for 3 hours. That's not much fun, is it?
sorry no I haven't watched the video yet. I will definitley do that this weekend, I just haven't had time yet. thanks for providing it.
